LASR vs MKSI vs IPGP vs ONTO vs AMAT

For growth investors, nLIGHT, Inc.

(LASR) is the stronger pick with 31. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 8% for Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO). Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) offers the better valuation at 47. 4x trailing P/E (37. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate nLIGHT, Inc. (LASR) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, Applied Materials, Inc.

(AMAT) is the cheapest at 47. 4x versus IPG Photonics Corporation at 139. 2x. On forward P/E, MKS Inc. is actually cheaper at 30. 4x — 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: Onto Innovation Inc. wins at 1. 12x versus Applied Materials, Inc. 's 2. 16x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) delivered a total return of +312. 6%, compared to -48. 5% for IPG Photonics Corporation (IPGP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMAT returned +20. 1% versus IPGP's +20. 2%. 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), IPG Photonics Corporation (IPGP) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

80β versus nLIGHT, Inc. 's 2. 86β — meaning LASR is approximately 59% more volatile than IPGP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 173% for MKS Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), nLIGHT, Inc.

(LASR) is pulling ahead at 31. 6% versus 1. 8% for Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IPG Photonics Corporation grew EPS 117. 8% year-over-year, compared to -31. 5% for Onto Innovation Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MKSI leads at 3. 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.

Applied Materials, Inc.

(AMAT) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 7% net margin versus -9. 0% for nLIGHT, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMAT leads at 29. 2% versus -10. 2% for LASR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ONTO leads at 49. 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, Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 12x versus Applied Materials, Inc. 's 2. 16x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, MKS Inc. (MKSI) trades at 30. 4x forward P/E versus 207. 6x for nLIGHT, Inc. — 177. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IPGP: 49. 2% to $151. 67.

In this comparison, AMAT (0.

4% yield), MKSI (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. LASR, IPGP, ONTO do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1432% 10Y return). Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 14 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ONTO: +1432%, AMAT: +20. 1%), 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.

In terms of investment character: LASR is a small-cap high-growth stock; MKSI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; IPGP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ONTO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AMAT is a large-cap quality compounder stock. 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.