STE
STERIS plc
Medical - Devices
Market Cap$21.09B
5Y Perf.+29.3%
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Stock Comparison
STE vs TMO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
TMO
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
Market Cap$175.76B
5Y Perf.+35.4%
STE vs TMO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | STE | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Devices | Medical - Diagnostics & Research |
| Market Cap | $21.09B | $175.76B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.83B | $45.20B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $708M | $6.86B |
| Gross Margin | 44.1% | 39.4% |
| Operating Margin | 17.2% | 17.8% |
| Forward P/E | 21.0x | 19.0x |
| Total Debt | $2.20B | $40.85B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $172M | $9.86B |
STE vs TMO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
STE
TMO
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| STERIS plc (STE) | 100 | 129.3 | +29.3% |
| Thermo Fisher Scien… (TMO) | 100 | 135.4 | +35.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: STE vs TMO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: STE leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
STE
STERIS plc
The Income Pick
STE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 14 yrs, beta 0.69, yield 1.0%
- Rev growth 6.2%, EPS growth 62.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.69, Low D/E 33.3%, current ratio 1.96x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
TMO
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
TMO is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 229.1% 10Y total return vs STE's 224.5%
- 15.2% margin vs STE's 12.1%
- +16.6% vs STE's -2.5%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | STE | 6.2% revenue growth vs TMO's 3.9% |
| Value | STE | PEG 3.88 vs 9.02 |
| Quality / Margins | TMO | 15.2% margin vs STE's 12.1% |
| Stability / Safety | STE | Beta 0.69 vs TMO's 1.10, lower leverage |
| Dividends | STE | 1.0% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs TMO's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | TMO | +16.6% vs STE's -2.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | STE | 6.7% ROA vs TMO's 6.4%, ROIC 7.2% vs 7.5% |
STE vs TMO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
STE vs TMO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSTELAGGINGTMO
TMOThermo Fisher Scienti…
0leads
STESTERIS plc
6leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs TMOMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
STE4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
STE5/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
STE6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
STE4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
STE2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
STE2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
STE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TMO is the larger business by revenue, generating $45.2B annually — 7.8x STE's $5.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 15.2% (TMO) to 12.1% (STE).
| Metric | STESTERIS plc | TMOThermo Fisher Sci… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.8B | $45.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.4B | $10.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $708M | $6.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $917M | $6.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.1% | +39.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.2% | +17.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +15.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.7% | +14.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.2% | +6.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.0% | +11.3% |
STE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
STE leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 26.7x trailing earnings, TMO trades at a 23% valuation discount to STE's 34.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), STE offers better value at 6.37x vs TMO's 12.62x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | STESTERIS plc | TMOThermo Fisher Sci… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $21.1B | $175.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $23.1B | $206.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 34.60x | 26.66x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.04x | 19.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 6.37x | 12.62x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.22x | 18.99x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.86x | 3.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.21x | 3.33x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 27.10x | 27.93x |
STE leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
STE leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TMO delivers a 13.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $10 for STE. STE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.33x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TMO's 0.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), STE scores 8/9 vs TMO's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | STESTERIS plc | TMOThermo Fisher Sci… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.9% | +13.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.7% | +6.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.2% | +7.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.0% | +9.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.33x | 0.76x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.0B | $31.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $172M | $9.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.2B | $40.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.94x | 5.89x |
STE leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
STE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in STE five years ago would be worth $10,688 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,211 for TMO. Over the past 12 months, TMO leads with a +16.6% total return vs STE's -2.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors STE at 5.4% vs TMO's -4.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | STESTERIS plc | TMOThermo Fisher Sci… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.0% | -20.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.5% | +16.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +17.1% | -11.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +6.9% | +2.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +224.5% | +229.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +5.4% | -4.2% |
STE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
STE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
STE is the less volatile stock with a 0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TMO's 1.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. STE currently trades 79.6% from its 52-week high vs TMO's 73.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | STESTERIS plc | TMOThermo Fisher Sci… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.69x | 1.10x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $269.44 | $643.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $209.61 | $385.46 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +79.6% | +73.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.5 | 39.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 724K | 1.9M |
STE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
STE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates STE as "Buy" and TMO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 38.4% upside for TMO (target: $655) vs 19.6% for STE (target: $257). For income investors, STE offers the higher dividend yield at 1.03% vs TMO's 0.36%.
| Metric | STESTERIS plc | TMOThermo Fisher Sci… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $256.67 | $654.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.0% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 14 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.22 | $1.69 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.0% | +1.7% |
STE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
STE leads in 6 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics.
Best OverallSTERIS plc (STE)Leads 6 of 6 categories
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STE vs TMO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is STE or TMO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, STERIS plc (STE) is the stronger pick with 6.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 9% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO). Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) offers the better valuation at 26. 7x trailing P/E (19. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate STERIS plc (STE) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — STE or TMO?
On trailing P/E, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
(TMO) is the cheapest at 26. 7x versus STERIS plc at 34. 6x. On forward P/E, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: STERIS plc wins at 3. 88x versus Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 's 9. 02x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — STE or TMO?
Over the past 5 years, STERIS plc (STE) delivered a total return of +6.
9%, compared to +2. 1% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TMO returned +229. 1% versus STE's +224. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — STE or TMO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), STERIS plc (STE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
69β versus Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning TMO is approximately 59% more volatile than STE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, STERIS plc (STE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 33% versus 76% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — STE or TMO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), STERIS plc (STE) is pulling ahead at 6.
2% versus 3. 9% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: STERIS plc grew EPS 62. 7% year-over-year, compared to 7. 3% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, STE leads at 8. 9% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — STE or TMO?
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
(TMO) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 1% net margin versus 11. 3% for STERIS plc — meaning it keeps 15. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TMO leads at 18. 2% versus 15. 9% for STE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STE leads at 44. 0%, 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.
07Is STE or TMO more undervalued right now?
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, STERIS plc (STE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 88x versus Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 's 9. 02x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) trades at 19. 0x forward P/E versus 21. 0x for STERIS plc — 2. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TMO: 38. 4% to $654. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — STE or TMO?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
STERIS plc (STE) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 4% for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO).
09Is STE or TMO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, STERIS plc (STE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
69), 1. 0% yield, +224. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STE: +224. 5%, TMO: +229. 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.
10What are the main differences between STE and TMO?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
STE pays a dividend while TMO 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(STE: 9.2% · TMO: 6.2%)Net Margin>
%
(STE: 12.1% · TMO: 15.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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