HURC vs FORM vs MKSI vs COHU

For growth investors, Cohu, Inc.

(COHU) is the stronger pick with 12. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 3% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). MKS Inc. (MKSI) offers the better valuation at 68. 8x trailing P/E (27. 3x 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, MKS Inc.

(MKSI) is the cheapest at 68. 8x versus FormFactor, Inc. at 209. 7x. On forward P/E, Hurco Companies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, FormFactor, Inc.

(FORM) delivered a total return of +273. 9%, compared to -46. 0% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FORM returned +1997% versus HURC's -36. 8%. 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. 83β versus MKS Inc. 's 2. 56β — meaning MKSI is approximately 209% more volatile than HURC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FormFactor, Inc. (FORM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 173% for MKS Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(COHU) is pulling ahead at 12. 7% 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 -22. 5% for FormFactor, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MKSI leads at 3. 5% 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.

MKS Inc.

(MKSI) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 5% net margin versus -16. 4% for Cohu, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MKSI leads at 14. 4% versus -13. 3% for COHU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MKSI leads at 40. 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. 5x forward P/E versus 85. 0x for Cohu, Inc. — 77. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COHU: 4. 8% to $49. 75.

In this comparison, MKSI (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. HURC, FORM, COHU do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hurco Companies, Inc.

(HURC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 83)). Cohu, Inc. (COHU) carries a higher beta of 2. 12 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HURC: -36. 8%, COHU: +348. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (HURC (Industrials) and FORM (Technology) and MKSI (Technology) and COHU (Technology)), 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.