MASI vs HOLX vs BDX vs NTRA vs ABT

For growth investors, Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) is the stronger pick with 35. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -27. 1% for Masimo Corporation (MASI). Abbott Laboratories (ABT) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Masimo Corporation (MASI) a "Buy" — based on 23 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, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the cheapest at 11.

4x versus Hologic, Inc. at 30. 5x. On forward P/E, Becton, Dickinson and Company is actually cheaper at 11. 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: Abbott Laboratories wins at 0. 51x versus Becton, Dickinson and Company's 0. 72x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) delivered a total return of +115. 9%, compared to -20. 4% for Masimo Corporation (MASI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NTRA returned +1835% versus BDX's +76. 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), Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

22β versus Natera, Inc. 's 1. 17β — meaning NTRA is approximately 442% more volatile than ABT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Natera, Inc. (NTRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 78% for Masimo Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(NTRA) is pulling ahead at 35. 9% versus -27. 1% for Masimo Corporation (MASI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Abbott Laboratories grew EPS 133. 6% year-over-year, compared to -25. 0% for Hologic, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NTRA leads at 41. 1% 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.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the more profitable company, earning 31.

9% net margin versus -9. 9% for Masimo Corporation — meaning it keeps 31. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MASI leads at 20. 5% versus -13. 4% for NTRA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NTRA leads at 64. 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, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 51x versus Becton, Dickinson and Company's 0. 72x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) trades at 11. 9x forward P/E versus 32. 4x for Masimo Corporation — 20. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ABT: 47. 9% to $128. 71.

In this comparison, BDX (2.

7% yield), ABT (2. 5% yield) pay a dividend. MASI, HOLX, NTRA do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

22), 2. 5% yield, +166. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABT: +166. 6%, MASI: +282. 5%), 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.

In terms of investment character: MASI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HOLX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BDX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NTRA is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ABT is a mid-cap deep-value stock. BDX, ABT pay a dividend while MASI, HOLX, NTRA 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.