TER vs. MKSI: Which Semiconductor Stock Is a Better Buy Now?

Core Insights - Teradyne (TER) and MKS (MKSI) are significant players in the semiconductor market, with Teradyne focusing on semiconductor test equipment and automation solutions, while MKS provides critical subsystems and process technologies for chip manufacturing [1][2] Semiconductor Industry Overview - The global semiconductor industry is experiencing strong sales growth, with a reported 3.7% month-over-month increase and 46.1% year-over-year growth in January 2026, marking the highest monthly sales in the industry's history [2] - Both Teradyne and MKS are expected to benefit from this rapid growth in the semiconductor market [2] Teradyne's Performance - Teradyne's semiconductor test revenues reached $883 million in Q4 2025, representing a 45% year-over-year growth and a 46% sequential increase [4] - The compute segment has become the largest revenue component for Teradyne, increasing 90% year over year in 2025, driven by AI infrastructure demand [6] - Teradyne anticipates that AI applications will contribute up to 70% of its revenue in Q1 2026, indicating strong growth prospects [7][11] MKS's Performance - MKS reported a revenue increase of 8.7% year over year in the semiconductor market, reaching $435 million in Q4 2025 [8] - The growth in MKS's semiconductor business is driven by demand in DRAM, logic, and foundry applications, as well as strong order activity in plasma and reactive gases products [9][10] Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past six months, Teradyne's shares have appreciated by 122%, while MKS's shares have increased by 82.5% [13] - Teradyne's stock is currently trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 11.03X, compared to MKS's 3.43X, indicating that both stocks are considered overvalued [17] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Teradyne's 2026 earnings is $5.91 per share, reflecting a 49.24% year-over-year increase [19] - For MKS, the 2026 earnings estimate is $9.85 per share, indicating a 25% year-over-year increase [21] Conclusion - Teradyne is positioned for greater upside potential due to its diversified portfolio and strong demand for AI-driven technologies, while MKS faces challenges in its industrial segment and slower earnings momentum [23] - Teradyne holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), making it a stronger investment choice compared to MKS, which has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [24]