ICHR vs AZTA

For growth investors, Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is the stronger pick with 11. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 5% for Azenta, Inc. (AZTA). Analysts rate Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (ICHR) a "Buy" — based on 14 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.

Over the past 5 years, Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) delivered a total return of +24. 2%, compared to -73. 7% for Azenta, Inc. (AZTA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ICHR returned +593. 7% versus AZTA's +185. 4%. 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), Azenta, Inc.

(AZTA) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 17β versus Ichor Holdings, Ltd. 's 3. 93β — meaning ICHR is approximately 81% more volatile than AZTA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Azenta, Inc. (AZTA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 28% for Ichor Holdings, Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is pulling ahead at 11. 6% versus -9. 5% for Azenta, Inc. (AZTA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Azenta, Inc. grew EPS 57. 9% year-over-year, compared to -140. 6% for Ichor Holdings, Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AZTA leads at 2. 2% 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.

Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is the more profitable company, earning -5. 6% net margin versus -10. 0% for Azenta, Inc. — meaning it keeps -5. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AZTA leads at -1. 9% versus -4. 1% for ICHR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AZTA leads at 45. 5%, 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, Azenta, Inc.

(AZTA) trades at 31. 4x forward P/E versus 59. 2x for Ichor Holdings, Ltd. — 27. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AZTA: 81. 5% to $44. 67.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+593. 7% 10Y return). Azenta, Inc. (AZTA) carries a higher beta of 2. 17 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICHR: +593. 7%, AZTA: +185. 4%), 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 (ICHR (Technology) and AZTA (Healthcare)), 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.