HURC vs AME vs DHR vs MKSI vs A

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). Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) offers the better valuation at 26. 0x trailing P/E (19. 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 trailing P/E, Agilent Technologies, Inc.

(A) is the cheapest at 26. 0x 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: Agilent Technologies, Inc. wins at 1. 35x versus Danaher Corporation's 34. 35x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

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, Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 35x versus Danaher Corporation's 34. 35x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. 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, A (0.

8% yield), 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) and A (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

AME, DHR, A 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.