IDXX vs TMO vs DHR vs A

For growth investors, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

(IDXX) is the stronger pick with 10. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 9% for Danaher Corporation (DHR). 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 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. at 43. 7x. On forward P/E, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 1x — 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, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

(IDXX) delivered a total return of +5. 1%, compared to -21. 1% for Danaher Corporation (DHR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IDXX returned +556. 2% versus A's +205. 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), Danaher Corporation (DHR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

94β versus IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. 's 1. 35β — meaning IDXX is approximately 43% more volatile than DHR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Danaher Corporation (DHR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 76% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

(IDXX) is pulling ahead at 10. 4% versus 2. 9% for Danaher Corporation (DHR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. grew EPS 22. 6% year-over-year, compared to -4. 7% for Danaher Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, IDXX leads at 8. 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.

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

(IDXX) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 6% net margin versus 14. 7% for Danaher Corporation — meaning it keeps 24. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IDXX leads at 31. 6% versus 18. 2% for TMO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IDXX leads at 61. 8%, 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, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) trades at 19. 1x forward P/E versus 39. 5x for IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. — 20. 3x 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), TMO (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. IDXX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Danaher Corporation (DHR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

94), 0. 7% yield, +219. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DHR: +219. 3%, IDXX: +556. 2%), 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 Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

DHR, A pay a dividend while IDXX, TMO 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.