HURC vs AME vs DHR vs MKSI

For growth investors, MKS Inc.

(MKSI) is the stronger pick with 9. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 3% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). Danaher Corporation (DHR) offers the better valuation at 34. 9x trailing P/E (20. 8x 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 trailing P/E, Danaher Corporation (DHR) is the cheapest at 34.

9x versus MKS Inc. at 68. 8x. On forward P/E, Hurco Companies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: AMETEK, Inc. wins at 2. 60x versus Danaher Corporation's 34. 35x.

Over the past 5 years, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) delivered a total return of +74. 5%, compared to -46. 0% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MKSI returned +750. 6% versus HURC's -36. 3%. 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 MKS Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning MKSI is approximately 206% 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 173% for MKS Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(MKSI) is pulling ahead at 9. 6% versus -4. 3% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MKS Inc. grew EPS 55. 5% year-over-year, compared to -4. 7% for Danaher 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 -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 — DHR leads at 60. 9%, 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, AMETEK, Inc. (AME) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 60x versus Danaher Corporation's 34. 35x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC) trades at 7. 6x forward P/E versus 30. 4x for MKS Inc. — 22. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DHR: 40. 6% to $247. 00.

In this comparison, DHR (0.

7% yield), AME (0. 5% yield), MKSI (0. 3% yield) pay 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, +423. 4% 10Y return). MKS Inc. (MKSI) carries a higher beta of 2. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AME: +423. 4%, MKSI: +750. 6%), 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 (HURC (Industrials) and AME (Industrials) and DHR (Healthcare) and MKSI (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

AME, DHR pay a dividend while HURC, MKSI do 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.