HURC vs MKSI vs SMTC vs FORM vs ASTE

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). Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) offers the better valuation at 31. 5x trailing P/E (14. 2x 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, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the cheapest at 31. 5x versus FormFactor, Inc. at 209. 7x. 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, 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 +1952% 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 Semtech Corporation's 2. 73β — meaning SMTC is approximately 217% 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), 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: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to -22. 5% for FormFactor, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SMTC leads at 7. 1% 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 -17. 8% for Semtech Corporation — 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 -5. 8% for HURC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SMTC leads at 50. 1%, 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 71. 7x for Semtech Corporation — 64. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MKSI: -9. 3% to $272. 86.

In this comparison, ASTE (1.

0% yield), MKSI (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. HURC, SMTC, FORM do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, FormFactor, Inc.

(FORM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1952% 10Y return). Semtech Corporation (SMTC) carries a higher beta of 2. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FORM: +1952%, SMTC: +460. 9%), 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 MKSI (Technology) and SMTC (Technology) and FORM (Technology) and ASTE (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

ASTE pays a dividend while HURC, MKSI, SMTC, FORM 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.