VLTO vs AME

For growth investors, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the stronger pick with 6. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 0% for Veralto Corporation (VLTO). Veralto Corporation (VLTO) offers the better valuation at 23. 6x trailing P/E (20. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AMETEK, Inc. (AME) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, Veralto Corporation (VLTO) is the cheapest at 23.

6x versus AMETEK, Inc. at 36. 6x. On forward P/E, Veralto Corporation is actually cheaper at 20. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) delivered a total return of +74. 5%, compared to +11. 4% for Veralto Corporation (VLTO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AME returned +423. 4% versus VLTO's +11. 4%. 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), Veralto Corporation (VLTO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

66β versus AMETEK, Inc. 's 0. 93β — meaning AME is approximately 42% more volatile than VLTO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AMETEK, Inc. (AME) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 86% for Veralto Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(AME) is pulling ahead at 6. 6% versus 6. 0% for Veralto Corporation (VLTO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Veralto Corporation grew EPS 12. 6% year-over-year, compared to 7. 9% for AMETEK, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AME leads at 6. 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.

AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 0% net margin versus 17. 1% for Veralto Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AME leads at 26. 2% versus 23. 2% for VLTO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VLTO leads at 59. 9%, 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, Veralto Corporation (VLTO) trades at 20.

9x forward P/E versus 29. 1x for AMETEK, Inc. — 8. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VLTO: 19. 6% to $106. 14.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

AMETEK, Inc. (AME) offers the highest yield at 0. 5%, versus 0. 5% for Veralto Corporation (VLTO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), 0. 5% yield, +423. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AME: +423. 4%, VLTO: +11. 4%), 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.

AME pays a dividend while VLTO 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.