Semiconductors
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TER vs ACLS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
TER vs ACLS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $59.95B | $5.54B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.79B | $839M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $854M | $120M |
| Gross Margin | 58.8% | 44.9% |
| Operating Margin | 26.9% | 14.2% |
| Forward P/E | 53.1x | 46.9x |
| Total Debt | $347M | $42M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $294M | $145M |
TER vs ACLS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teradyne, Inc. (TER) | 100 | 571.3 | +471.3% |
| Axcelis Technologie… (ACLS) | 100 | 636.9 | +536.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: TER vs ACLS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
TER carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 2.60, yield 0.1%
- Rev growth 13.1%, EPS growth 4.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.4%
- 19.7% 10Y total return vs ACLS's 16.1%
ACLS is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 2.00, Low D/E 4.1%, current ratio 4.77x
- Beta 2.00, current ratio 4.77x
- Lower P/E (46.9x vs 53.1x)
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 13.1% revenue growth vs ACLS's -17.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (46.9x vs 53.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 22.6% margin vs ACLS's 14.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 2.00 vs TER's 2.60, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.1% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +417.6% vs ACLS's +212.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 20.9% ROA vs ACLS's 8.8%, ROIC 19.8% vs 9.6% |
TER vs ACLS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
TER vs ACLS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TER leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TER is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.8B annually — 4.5x ACLS's $839M. TER is the more profitable business, keeping 22.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACLS's 14.3%. On growth, TER holds the edge at +87.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.8B | $839M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.1B | $137M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $854M | $120M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $553M | $107M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.8% | +44.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +26.9% | +14.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +22.6% | +14.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.6% | +12.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +87.0% | -5.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.1% | -28.6% |
Valuation Metrics
ACLS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 45.0x trailing earnings, ACLS trades at a 59% valuation discount to TER's 110.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ACLS's 39.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than TER's 73.2x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $59.9B | $5.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $60.0B | $5.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 110.03x | 45.00x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 53.11x | 46.87x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.13x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 73.16x | 39.71x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 18.79x | 6.60x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 21.59x | 5.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 133.10x | 51.77x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TER leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TER delivers a 29.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $30 in annual profit, vs $12 for ACLS. ACLS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TER's 0.12x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TER scores 6/9 vs ACLS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +29.7% | +11.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +20.9% | +8.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.8% | +9.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +22.5% | +10.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.12x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $53M | -$103M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $294M | $145M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $347M | $42M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 69.13x | 33.79x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TER leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACLS five years ago would be worth $42,463 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $30,584 for TER. Over the past 12 months, TER leads with a +417.6% total return vs ACLS's +212.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TER at 61.4% vs ACLS's 12.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +84.5% | +98.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +417.6% | +212.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +320.4% | +42.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +205.8% | +324.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1966.5% | +1610.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +61.4% | +12.5% |
Risk & Volatility
ACLS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ACLS is the less volatile stock with a 2.00 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TER's 2.60 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ACLS currently trades 99.7% from its 52-week high vs TER's 90.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.60x | 2.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $422.11 | $171.60 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $73.11 | $52.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.7% | +99.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.5 | 71.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.4M | 717K |
Analyst Outlook
TER leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates TER as "Buy" and ACLS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -8.3% upside for TER (target: $351) vs -25.1% for ACLS (target: $128). TER is the only dividend payer here at 0.13% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $351.09 | $128.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.1% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.48 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.2% | +2.2% |
TER leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ACLS leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
TER vs ACLS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TER or ACLS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Teradyne, Inc.
(TER) is the stronger pick with 13. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -17. 6% for Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS). Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) offers the better valuation at 45. 0x trailing P/E (46. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Teradyne, Inc. (TER) a "Buy" — based on 31 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 — TER or ACLS?
On trailing P/E, Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) is the cheapest at 45. 0x versus Teradyne, Inc. at 110. 0x. On forward P/E, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 46. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — TER or ACLS?
Over the past 5 years, Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) delivered a total return of +324. 6%, compared to +205. 8% for Teradyne, Inc. (TER). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TER returned +1967% versus ACLS's +1610%. 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 — TER or ACLS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 00β versus Teradyne, Inc. 's 2. 60β — meaning TER is approximately 30% more volatile than ACLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 12% for Teradyne, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — TER or ACLS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Teradyne, Inc.
(TER) is pulling ahead at 13. 1% versus -17. 6% for Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Teradyne, Inc. grew EPS 4. 8% year-over-year, compared to -38. 2% for Axcelis Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TER leads at 0. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — TER or ACLS?
Teradyne, Inc.
(TER) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 4% net margin versus 14. 3% for Axcelis Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TER leads at 21. 7% versus 14. 2% for ACLS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TER leads at 58. 6%, 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 TER or ACLS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) trades at 46. 9x forward P/E versus 53. 1x for Teradyne, Inc. — 6. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TER: -8. 3% to $351. 09.
08Which pays a better dividend — TER or ACLS?
In this comparison, TER (0.
1% yield) pays a dividend. ACLS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is TER or ACLS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Teradyne, Inc.
(TER) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1967% 10Y return). Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) carries a higher beta of 2. 00 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TER: +1967%, ACLS: +1610%), 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 TER and ACLS?
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.
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