ICHR vs UCTT

For growth investors, Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is the stronger pick with 11. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 1% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (UCTT). 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, Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.

(UCTT) delivered a total return of +72. 2%, compared to +24. 2% for Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (ICHR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UCTT returned +1440% versus ICHR's +593. 7%. 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), Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.

(UCTT) is the lower-risk stock at 3. 19β versus Ichor Holdings, Ltd. 's 3. 93β — meaning ICHR is approximately 23% more volatile than UCTT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (ICHR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 103% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. — 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 -2. 1% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (UCTT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ichor Holdings, Ltd. grew EPS -140. 6% year-over-year, compared to -869. 2% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UCTT leads at -4. 7% 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 -8. 8% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps -5. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UCTT leads at 2. 1% versus -4. 1% for ICHR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UCTT leads at 15. 7%, 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, Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.

(UCTT) trades at 35. 8x forward P/E versus 59. 2x for Ichor Holdings, Ltd. — 23. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UCTT: 2. 2% to $85. 00.

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, Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.

(UCTT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1440% 10Y return). Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (ICHR) carries a higher beta of 3. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UCTT: +1440%, ICHR: +593. 7%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.