WST vs ATR

For growth investors, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

(WST) is the stronger pick with 6. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) offers the better valuation at 20. 9x trailing P/E (22. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, AptarGroup, Inc.

(ATR) is the cheapest at 20. 9x versus West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. at 46. 0x. On forward P/E, AptarGroup, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: AptarGroup, Inc. wins at 1. 71x versus West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. 's 4. 38x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

(WST) delivered a total return of -3. 9%, compared to -16. 3% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WST returned +353. 8% versus ATR's +80. 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), AptarGroup, Inc.

(ATR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 66β versus West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. 's 0. 92β — meaning WST is approximately 38% more volatile than ATR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 56% for AptarGroup, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

(WST) is pulling ahead at 6. 3% versus 5. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AptarGroup, Inc. grew EPS 6. 3% year-over-year, compared to 1. 6% for West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATR leads at 4. 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.

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

(WST) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 1% net margin versus 10. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WST leads at 20. 1% versus 13. 6% for ATR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WST leads at 35. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 71x versus West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. 's 4. 38x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) trades at 22. 0x forward P/E versus 36. 3x for West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. — 14. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATR: 38. 4% to $169. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 0. 3% for West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST).

For long-horizon retirement investors, AptarGroup, Inc.

(ATR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 66), 1. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATR: +80. 7%, WST: +353. 8%), 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.

ATR pays a dividend while WST 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.