MKSI vs ENTG vs ICHR vs ONTO vs NOVT

For growth investors, Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is the stronger pick with 11. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 4% for Entegris, Inc. (ENTG). MKS Inc. (MKSI) offers the better valuation at 65. 8x trailing P/E (29. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MKS Inc. (MKSI) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, MKS Inc.

(MKSI) is the cheapest at 65. 8x versus Onto Innovation Inc. at 109. 7x. On forward P/E, MKS Inc. is actually cheaper at 29. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Onto Innovation Inc. wins at 0. 33x versus Novanta Inc. 's 11. 27x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) delivered a total return of +377. 9%, compared to +3. 0% for Novanta Inc. (NOVT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ONTO returned +1623% 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), Novanta Inc.

(NOVT) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 02β versus Ichor Holdings, Ltd. 's 3. 93β — meaning ICHR is approximately 94% more volatile than NOVT 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), Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is pulling ahead at 11. 6% versus -1. 4% for Entegris, Inc. (ENTG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MKS Inc. grew EPS 55. 5% year-over-year, compared to -140. 6% for Ichor Holdings, Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NOVT leads at 4. 4% 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.

Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 6% net margin versus -5. 6% for Ichor Holdings, Ltd. — meaning it keeps 13. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ENTG leads at 28. 9% versus -4. 1% for ICHR. 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 0. 33x versus Novanta Inc. 's 11. 27x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, MKS Inc. (MKSI) trades at 29. 0x forward P/E versus 59. 2x for Ichor Holdings, Ltd. — 30. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NOVT: 13. 4% to $150. 00.

In this comparison, MKSI (0.

3% yield), ENTG (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. ICHR, ONTO, NOVT 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 (+1623% 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 (ONTO: +1623%, 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.