ILMN vs A

For growth investors, Agilent Technologies, Inc.

(A) is the stronger pick with 6. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) offers the better valuation at 25. 5x trailing P/E (26. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) a "Buy" — based on 50 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, Illumina, Inc.

(ILMN) is the cheapest at 25. 5x versus Agilent Technologies, Inc. at 26. 0x. On forward P/E, Agilent Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 9x — 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 Illumina, Inc. 's 6. 33x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Agilent Technologies, Inc.

(A) delivered a total return of -8. 0%, compared to -62. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: A returned +205. 7% versus ILMN's +0. 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), Agilent Technologies, Inc.

(A) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 23β versus Illumina, Inc. 's 1. 23β — meaning ILMN is approximately 0% more volatile than A relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 50% versus 94% for Illumina, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Agilent Technologies, Inc.

(A) is pulling ahead at 6. 7% versus -0. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Illumina, Inc. grew EPS 170. 9% year-over-year, compared to 3. 2% for Agilent Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, A leads at 0. 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.

Illumina, Inc.

(ILMN) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 6% net margin versus 18. 8% for Agilent Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: A leads at 21. 3% versus 19. 9% for ILMN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ILMN leads at 66. 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.

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 Illumina, Inc. 's 6. 33x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) trades at 19. 9x forward P/E versus 26. 8x for Illumina, Inc. — 6. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for A: 39. 9% to $166. 00.

In this comparison, A (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. ILMN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Agilent Technologies, Inc.

(A) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 23), 0. 8% yield, +205. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (A: +205. 7%, ILMN: +0. 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 Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

A pays a dividend while ILMN does 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.