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ALAB vs. MKSI: Astera Labs vs. MKS Stock Comparison

How do Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though ALAB is classified under Semiconductors while MKSI falls under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment.

MKS (MKSI) carries decades of public-market history since March 30, 1999, while Astera Labs (ALAB) listed on March 20, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the MKSI side.

Company profile comparison for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
Profile ItemALABMKSI
NameAstera Labs, Inc.MKS Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductorsSemiconductor Materials & Equipment
Market Capitalization33.33 billion USD13.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 20, 2024March 30, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALAB
MKSI
GSPC
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricALABMKSI
Total Return (1Y)31.42%35.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)--46.46%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--6.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALAB
MKSI
GSPC
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricALABMKSI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)101.55%62.92%
Beta (5Y)3.952.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.69%-66.57%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.15M1.36M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALAB and MKSI are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricALABMKSI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.270.49
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.390.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 28.21% sits in the top ROE quartile, while MKS (MKSI) at 20.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ALAB.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

28.21%

Max
52.82%
ALAB
28.21%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

20.46%

Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
MKSI
20.46%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 29.64% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of MKS (MKSI) at 12.62%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

29.64%

Max
63.80%
ALAB
29.64%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

12.62%

Max
63.80%
Q3
28.36%
MKSI
12.62%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 30.61% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of MKS (MKSI) at 23.21%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

30.61%

Max
58.66%
ALAB
30.61%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

23.21%

Max
58.66%
Q3
30.23%
MKSI
23.21%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricALABMKSI
ROE (TTM)28.21%20.46%
ROA (TTM)13.41%6.28%
Net Margin (TTM)29.64%12.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.61%23.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)73.89%47.26%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 115.13% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than MKS (MKSI) at 9.62%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: MKS (MKSI) reports EPS growth of 55.52%, ranked against its industry; Astera Labs (ALAB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricALABMKSI
Revenue Growth (YoY)115.13%9.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)120.18%3.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)--55.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---7.71%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 8.03 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while MKS (MKSI) at 1.19 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

8.03

Max
10.33
ALAB
8.03
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.19

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
MKSI
1.19
Min
1.03
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while MKS (MKSI) at 1.22 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.02

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
ALAB
0.02
Min
0.00

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.22

Max
1.46
MKSI
1.22
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricALABMKSI
Current Ratio (MRQ)8.031.19
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.021.22
Net Debt / EBITDA-3.232.67

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Astera Labs (ALAB) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile MKS (MKSI) reports a yield of 0.55%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
ALAB
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.55%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
MKSI
0.55%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Astera Labs (ALAB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile MKS (MKSI) reports a payout of 11.48%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
49.64%
Q3
21.71%
ALAB
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

11.48%

Max
49.64%
Q3
21.71%
MKSI
11.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricALABMKSI
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%11.48%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

MKS (MKSI) at 22.75 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 75.38 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

75.38

Max
110.34
ALAB
75.38
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

22.75

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
MKSI
22.75
Min
8.12
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

MKS (MKSI) at 2.72 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 21.42 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

21.42

ALAB
21.42
Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.72

Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
MKSI
2.72
Min
0.00
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

MKS (MKSI) at 3.96 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 16.67 prices above its benchmark range — ALAB looks rich relative to book.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

16.67

ALAB
16.67
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20

MKSI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.96

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
MKSI
3.96
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricALABMKSI
P/E Ratio (TTM)75.3822.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)21.422.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)16.673.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.39%4.02%