SYM vs GTLS

For growth investors, Symbotic Inc.

(SYM) is the stronger pick with 25. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) offers the better valuation at 629. 6x trailing P/E (16. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Symbotic Inc. (SYM) a "Buy" — based on 18 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 forward P/E, Chart Industries, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 16. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Symbotic Inc.

(SYM) delivered a total return of +497. 3%, compared to +33. 2% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GTLS returned +740. 5% versus SYM's +496. 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), Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 56β versus Symbotic Inc. 's 3. 12β — meaning SYM is approximately 460% more volatile than GTLS relative to the S&P 500.

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

(SYM) is pulling ahead at 25. 7% versus 2. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Chart Industries, Inc. grew EPS -92. 0% year-over-year, compared to -100. 0% for Symbotic Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SYM leads at 55. 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.

Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 0% net margin versus -0. 8% for Symbotic Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GTLS leads at 15. 2% versus -5. 1% for SYM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GTLS leads at 29. 2%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 120. 0x for Symbotic Inc. — 103. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SYM: 10. 0% to $67. 30.

In this comparison, GTLS (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. SYM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 56), +740. 5% 10Y return). Symbotic Inc. (SYM) carries a higher beta of 3. 12 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GTLS: +740. 5%, SYM: +496. 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 Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: SYM is a small-cap high-growth stock; GTLS is a small-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.