A vs. STE: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at A and STE, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | A | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Agilent Technologies, Inc. | STERIS plc |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
| Market Capitalization | 39.92 billion USD | 23.87 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 18, 1999 | June 1, 1992 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of A and STE by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | A | STE |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.52% | -0.03% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 16.08% | 4.78% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 28.39% | 9.45% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -2.14% | 7.22% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 9.71% | -2.07% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 4.82% | 17.89% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 2.01M | 0.62M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.76M | 0.58M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 34.01% | 22.59% |
| Beta | 1.27 | 1.04 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
A
19.97%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.96%
- Q3
- 11.51%
- Median
- 6.47%
- Q1
- 3.86%
- Min
- -6.95%
A’s Return on Equity of 19.97% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
STE
9.47%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 29.93%
- Q3
- 16.99%
- Median
- 9.28%
- Q1
- 5.10%
- Min
- -12.52%
STE’s Return on Equity of 9.47% is on par with the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
A
17.97%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 32.18%
- Q3
- 18.30%
- Median
- 10.19%
- Q1
- 4.20%
- Min
- -2.05%
A’s Net Profit Margin of 17.97% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
STE
11.26%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.41%
- Q3
- 13.71%
- Median
- 10.08%
- Q1
- 5.96%
- Min
- -5.58%
STE’s Net Profit Margin of 11.26% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
A
21.26%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 38.39%
- Q3
- 21.40%
- Median
- 13.57%
- Q1
- 8.38%
- Min
- -3.51%
A’s Operating Profit Margin of 21.26% is around the midpoint for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
STE
30.13%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.09%
- Q3
- 18.11%
- Median
- 15.07%
- Q1
- 8.48%
- Min
- -0.28%
An Operating Profit Margin of 30.13% places STE in the upper quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | A | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 19.97% | 9.47% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 10.14% | 6.07% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.97% | 11.26% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.26% | 30.13% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 52.92% | 44.01% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
A
2.25
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.46
- Q3
- 2.78
- Median
- 1.91
- Q1
- 1.53
- Min
- 0.43
A’s Current Ratio of 2.25 aligns with the median group of the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
STE
2.22
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 5.19
- Q3
- 3.00
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- 0.86
STE’s Current Ratio of 2.22 aligns with the median group of the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
A
0.54
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.35
- Q3
- 0.74
- Median
- 0.41
- Q1
- 0.18
- Min
- 0.00
A’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.54 is typical for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
STE
0.27
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.61
- Q3
- 0.76
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.14
- Min
- 0.00
STE’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.27 is typical for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
A
254.50
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 45.00
- Q3
- 27.84
- Median
- 7.16
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- -14.08
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 254.50, A demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
STE
11.23
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 56.35
- Q3
- 25.56
- Median
- 9.60
- Q1
- 3.78
- Min
- -26.49
STE’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 11.23 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | A | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.25 | 2.22 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.71 | 1.32 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.54 | 0.27 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 254.50 | 11.23 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
A
0.70%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.41%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- Median
- 0.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 0.70%, A offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
STE
0.94%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.15%
- Q3
- 1.76%
- Median
- 0.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STE’s Dividend Yield of 0.94% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
A
22.95%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 113.14%
- Q3
- 61.34%
- Median
- 17.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
A’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 22.95% is within the typical range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
STE
35.77%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 160.00%
- Q3
- 66.60%
- Median
- 27.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STE’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 35.77% is within the typical range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | A | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.70% | 0.94% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.95% | 35.77% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
A
32.99
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 75.35
- Q3
- 51.00
- Median
- 32.93
- Q1
- 25.27
- Min
- 1.43
A’s P/E Ratio of 32.99 is within the middle range for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
STE
38.69
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 67.29
- Q3
- 47.01
- Median
- 30.94
- Q1
- 23.91
- Min
- 10.79
STE’s P/E Ratio of 38.69 is within the middle range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
A
5.93
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 10.49
- Q3
- 6.43
- Median
- 4.66
- Q1
- 2.88
- Min
- 1.08
A’s P/S Ratio of 5.93 aligns with the market consensus for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
STE
4.27
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 9.49
- Q3
- 5.41
- Median
- 2.86
- Q1
- 2.07
- Min
- 0.74
STE’s P/S Ratio of 4.27 aligns with the market consensus for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
A
5.12
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 6.69
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.46
- Q1
- 2.38
- Min
- 0.93
A’s P/B Ratio of 5.12 is in the upper tier for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
STE
3.37
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 10.85
- Q3
- 6.56
- Median
- 3.53
- Q1
- 2.36
- Min
- 0.71
STE’s P/B Ratio of 3.37 is within the conventional range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | A | STE |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 32.99 | 38.69 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 5.93 | 4.27 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 5.12 | 3.37 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 36.99 | 26.17 |