SOTK vs ACMR

For growth investors, ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) is the stronger pick with 15. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 1% for Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK). ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) offers the better valuation at 43. 2x trailing P/E (29. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) is the cheapest at 43. 2x versus Sono-Tek Corporation at 60. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) delivered a total return of +133. 4%, compared to +18. 8% for Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACMR returned +30. 7% versus SOTK's +386. 0%. 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), Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

43β versus ACM Research, Inc. 's 3. 24β — meaning ACMR is approximately 653% more volatile than SOTK relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) is pulling ahead at 15. 2% versus 4. 1% for Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACM Research, Inc. grew EPS -10. 5% year-over-year, compared to -11. 6% for Sono-Tek Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACMR leads at 32. 3% 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.

ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 4% net margin versus 6. 2% for Sono-Tek Corporation — meaning it keeps 10. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACMR leads at 12. 1% versus 4. 9% for SOTK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SOTK leads at 47. 5%, 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.

In this comparison, ACMR (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. SOTK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

43), +386. 0% 10Y return). ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) carries a higher beta of 3. 24 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SOTK: +386. 0%, ACMR: +30. 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.

In terms of investment character: SOTK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACMR is a small-cap high-growth 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.