DOV vs AME

For growth investors, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the stronger pick with 6. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 5% for Dover Corporation (DOV). Dover Corporation (DOV) offers the better valuation at 28. 7x trailing P/E (21. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Dover Corporation (DOV) a "Buy" — based on 28 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Dover Corporation (DOV) is the cheapest at 28.

7x versus AMETEK, Inc. at 37. 7x. On forward P/E, Dover Corporation is actually cheaper at 21. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Dover Corporation wins at 1. 94x versus AMETEK, Inc. 's 2. 68x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) delivered a total return of +81. 5%, compared to +55. 5% for Dover Corporation (DOV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AME returned +433. 2% versus DOV's +377. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 93β versus Dover Corporation's 1. 03β — meaning DOV is approximately 10% more volatile than AME relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AMETEK, Inc. (AME) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 51% for Dover Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is pulling ahead at 6. 6% versus 4. 5% for Dover Corporation (DOV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AMETEK, Inc. grew EPS 7. 9% year-over-year, compared to -59. 3% for Dover Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AME leads at 6. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 0% net margin versus 13. 5% for Dover Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AME leads at 26. 2% versus 17. 0% for DOV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DOV leads at 39. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Dover Corporation (DOV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 94x versus AMETEK, Inc. 's 2. 68x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Dover Corporation (DOV) trades at 21. 3x forward P/E versus 29. 9x for AMETEK, Inc. — 8. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DOV: 4. 4% to $237. 08.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Dover Corporation (DOV) offers the highest yield at 0. 9%, versus 0. 5% for AMETEK, Inc. (AME).

For long-horizon retirement investors, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), 0. 5% yield, +433. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AME: +433. 2%, DOV: +377. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.