VREX vs ATEC vs SYK vs HOLX

For growth investors, Alphatec Holdings, Inc.

(ATEC) is the stronger pick with 25. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) offers the better valuation at 30. 5x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Varex Imaging Corporation (VREX) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the cheapest at 30. 5x versus Stryker Corporation at 35. 0x. On forward P/E, Varex Imaging Corporation is actually cheaper at 13. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Stryker Corporation (SYK) delivered a total return of +21.

5%, compared to -51. 8% for Varex Imaging Corporation (VREX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATEC returned +225. 4% versus VREX's -58. 0%. 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), Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 41β versus Varex Imaging Corporation's 1. 87β — meaning VREX is approximately 356% more volatile than HOLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% versus 17% for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alphatec Holdings, Inc.

(ATEC) is pulling ahead at 25. 0% versus 1. 7% for Hologic, Inc. (HOLX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alphatec Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 15. 0% year-over-year, compared to -45. 3% for Varex Imaging Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATEC leads at 29. 6% 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.

Hologic, Inc.

(HOLX) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 8% net margin versus -18. 8% for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SYK leads at 19. 5% versus -10. 7% for ATEC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATEC leads at 69. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Varex Imaging Corporation (VREX) trades at 13.

9x forward P/E versus 27. 1x for Alphatec Holdings, Inc. — 13. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATEC: 222. 6% to $25. 00.

In this comparison, SYK (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. VREX, ATEC, HOLX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Stryker Corporation (SYK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

55), 1. 1% yield, +187. 1% 10Y return). Varex Imaging Corporation (VREX) carries a higher beta of 1. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SYK: +187. 1%, VREX: -58. 0%), 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 Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: VREX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ATEC is a small-cap high-growth stock; SYK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HOLX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SYK pays a dividend while VREX, ATEC, HOLX do 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.