ENTG vs AZTA

For growth investors, Azenta, Inc.

(AZTA) is the stronger pick with 3. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 4% for Entegris, Inc. (ENTG). Entegris, Inc. (ENTG) offers the better valuation at 100. 6x trailing P/E (43. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Entegris, Inc. (ENTG) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 forward P/E, Azenta, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 23. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Entegris, Inc.

(ENTG) delivered a total return of +41. 8%, compared to -80. 3% for Azenta, Inc. (AZTA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENTG returned +1107% versus AZTA's +121. 7%. 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), Azenta, Inc.

(AZTA) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 17β versus Entegris, Inc. 's 2. 66β — meaning ENTG is approximately 22% more volatile than AZTA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Azenta, Inc. (AZTA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 98% for Entegris, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(AZTA) is pulling ahead at 3. 6% versus -1. 4% for Entegris, Inc. (ENTG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Azenta, Inc. grew EPS 60. 5% year-over-year, compared to -19. 7% for Entegris, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AZTA leads at 2. 2% 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.

Entegris, Inc.

(ENTG) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 4% net margin versus -9. 4% for Azenta, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ENTG leads at 28. 9% versus -1. 9% for AZTA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AZTA leads at 45. 5%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Azenta, Inc.

(AZTA) trades at 23. 4x forward P/E versus 43. 7x for Entegris, Inc. — 20. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AZTA: 143. 0% to $44. 67.

In this comparison, ENTG (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. AZTA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Entegris, Inc.

(ENTG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1107% 10Y return). Azenta, Inc. (AZTA) carries a higher beta of 2. 17 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ENTG: +1107%, AZTA: +121. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ENTG (Technology) and AZTA (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.