inTEST (NYSE:INTT) versus MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) Head-To-Head Survey

inTEST (NYSE:INTT) and MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) are both technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and dividends.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares inTEST and MKS”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
inTEST	$128.26 million	1.59	$9.34 million	$0.12	132.69
MKS	$4.35 billion	3.38	$295.00 million	$6.27	34.70

MKS has higher revenue and earnings than inTEST. MKS is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than inTEST, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares inTEST and MKS’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
inTEST	2.33%	5.31%	3.42%
MKS	10.15%	24.72%	7.80%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

63.2% of inTEST shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 99.8% of MKS shares are held by institutional investors. 5.2% of inTEST shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of MKS shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk and Volatility

inTEST has a beta of 1.5, suggesting that its stock price is 50% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, MKS has a beta of 2.03, suggesting that its stock price is 103% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for inTEST and MKS, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
inTEST	0	1	2	0	2.67
MKS	1	2	12	1	2.81

inTEST presently has a consensus target price of $18.00, suggesting a potential upside of 13.04%. MKS has a consensus target price of $374.86, suggesting a potential upside of 72.30%. Given MKS’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe MKS is more favorable than inTEST.

Summary

MKS beats inTEST on 13 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About inTEST

inTEST Corporation provides test and process technology solutions for use in manufacturing and testing in automotive, defense/aerospace, industrial, life sciences, security, and semiconductor markets worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Electronic Test, Environmental Technologies, and Process Technologies. The Electronic Test segment offers in2, Cobal, and LS series manipulators that hold various test heads and enable an operator to reposition a test head for alternate use with various probers or handlers on a test floor; and docking hardware products, which protect the interface contacts and ensure proper repeatable and precise alignment between the test head’s interface board and the prober’s probing assembly. This segment also provides tester interfaces that offer electrical connections between the tester and the wafer prober or IC handler; scorpion flying probe test systems that designs and manufactures robotics-based electronic test equipment; and BRiZ automated test and programming services. Its products are used in production testing of wafers and specialized packaged ICs in back-end testing by semiconductor manufacturers. The Environmental Technologies segment provides ThermoStream products that are used in the semi market as a stand-alone temperature management tool, or in various electronic test applications; thermal chambers; thermal platforms; Thermonics temperature conditioning products that offer tempered gas or fluid; and ultra-cold storage solutions, including biomedical freezers, refrigerators, and mobile storage solutions. The Process Technologies segment offers EKOHEAT and EASYHEAT induction heating systems; and digital streaming and image capturing solutions. The company markets and sells its products to semiconductor manufacturers, third-party foundries, test and assembly providers, and original equipment manufacturers. inTEST Corporation was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

About MKS

MKS Instruments, Inc. provides foundational technology solutions to semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications in the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, and internationally. It operates through Vacuum Solutions Division (VSD), Photonics Solutions Division (PSD), and Material Solutions Division (MSD) segments. The VSD segment provides foundational technology solutions, including pressure measurement and control, flow measurement and control, gas and vapor delivery, gas composition analysis, electronic control technology, reactive gas generation and delivery, power generation and delivery, and vacuum technology. The PSD segment offers range of solutions, which include lasers, beam measurement and profiling, precision motion control, vibration isolation systems, photonics instruments, temperature sensing, opto-mechanical components, optical elements, systems for flexible PCB laser processing, and laser-based systems, as well as high density interconnect PCB and package manufacturing. The MSD segment develops, process, and manufactures technologies comprising advanced surface modification, electroless and electrolytic plating, and surface finishing for chemistry, equipment, software, and services markets, as well as high-technology applications. In addition, the company sells its products and services through direct sales, network of independent distributors, and sales representatives, as well as websites, including product catalogs. The company was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts.