UCTT vs ENTG

For growth investors, Entegris, Inc.

(ENTG) is the stronger pick with -1. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 1% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (UCTT). Entegris, Inc. (ENTG) offers the better valuation at 100. 6x trailing P/E (43. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (UCTT) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 36. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.

(UCTT) delivered a total return of +73. 6%, compared to +41. 8% for Entegris, Inc. (ENTG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UCTT returned +1451% versus ENTG's +1107%. 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), Entegris, Inc.

(ENTG) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 66β versus Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. 's 3. 19β — meaning UCTT is approximately 20% more volatile than ENTG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Entegris, Inc. (ENTG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 98% versus 103% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(ENTG) is pulling ahead at -1. 4% versus -2. 1% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (UCTT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Entegris, Inc. grew EPS -19. 7% year-over-year, compared to -869. 2% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ENTG leads at -0. 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.

Entegris, Inc.

(ENTG) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 4% net margin versus -8. 8% for Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ENTG leads at 28. 9% versus 2. 1% for UCTT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ENTG leads at 44. 4%, 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, Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.

(UCTT) trades at 36. 0x forward P/E versus 43. 7x for Entegris, Inc. — 7. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UCTT: 1. 8% to $85. 00.

In this comparison, ENTG (0.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.

(UCTT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1451% 10Y return). Entegris, Inc. (ENTG) carries a higher beta of 2. 66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UCTT: +1451%, ENTG: +1107%), 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.