HURC vs AME

For growth investors, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the stronger pick with 6. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 3% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). AMETEK, Inc. (AME) offers the better valuation at 37. 7x trailing P/E (29. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Hurco Companies, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 7. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) delivered a total return of +81. 5%, compared to -45. 6% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AME returned +433. 2% versus HURC's -37. 5%. 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), Hurco Companies, Inc.

(HURC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 86β versus AMETEK, Inc. 's 0. 93β — meaning AME is approximately 8% more volatile than HURC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 21% for AMETEK, Inc. — 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. 3% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hurco Companies, Inc. grew EPS 8. 6% year-over-year, compared to 7. 9% for AMETEK, Inc.. 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 -8. 5% for Hurco Companies, Inc. — 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 -5. 8% for HURC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AME leads at 36. 4%, 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, Hurco Companies, Inc.

(HURC) trades at 7. 6x forward P/E versus 29. 9x for AMETEK, Inc. — 22. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, AME (0.

5% yield) pays a dividend. HURC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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%, HURC: -37. 5%), 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.

AME pays a dividend while HURC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.