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ASX vs. MKSI: ASE vs. MKS Stock Comparison

How do ASE (ASX) 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

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

MKS (MKSI) trades as ordinary local shares, while ASE (ASX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
Profile ItemASXMKSI
NameASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. ADRMKS Inc.
Country/RegionTaiwanUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductorsSemiconductor Materials & Equipment
Market Capitalization69.83 billion USD13.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateOctober 2, 2000March 30, 1999
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ASX
MKSI
GSPC
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ASE (ASX) 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 ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricASXMKSI
Total Return (1Y)127.56%35.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)67.56%46.46%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)41.55%6.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ASX
MKSI
GSPC
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ASE (ASX) 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 ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricASXMKSI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)62.95%62.92%
Beta (5Y)1.832.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.64%-66.57%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.76M1.36M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ASX 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 ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricASXMKSI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.960.49
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.770.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both ASE (ASX) at 19.90% and MKS (MKSI) at 20.46% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.90%

Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
ASX
19.90%
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both ASE (ASX) at 9.78% and MKS (MKSI) at 12.62% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

9.78%

Max
63.80%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
ASX
9.78%
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both ASE (ASX) at 13.57% and MKS (MKSI) at 23.21% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.57%

Max
58.66%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
ASX
13.57%
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricASXMKSI
ROE (TTM)19.90%20.46%
ROA (TTM)5.36%6.28%
Net Margin (TTM)9.78%12.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.57%23.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)20.80%47.26%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ASE (ASX) at 8.39% and MKS (MKSI) at 9.62% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

MKS (MKSI) at 55.52% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while ASE (ASX) at 22.96% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for MKSI.

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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricASXMKSI
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.39%9.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.28%3.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)22.96%55.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-13.66%-7.71%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ASE (ASX) at 1.16 and MKS (MKSI) at 1.19 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.16

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
ASX
1.16
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both ASE (ASX) at 0.87 and MKS (MKSI) at 1.22 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.87

Max
1.46
ASX
0.87
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
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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ASE (ASX) 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 ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricASXMKSI
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.161.19
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.871.22
Net Debt / EBITDA1.852.67

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ASE (ASX) 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.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
ASX
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

MKS (MKSI) at 11.48% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while ASE (ASX) at 39.77% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

39.77%

Max
49.64%
ASX
39.77%
Q3
21.71%
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricASXMKSI
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.77%11.48%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

MKS (MKSI) at 22.75 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while ASE (ASX) at 30.41 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MKSI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

30.41

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
ASX
30.41
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both ASE (ASX) at 0.09 and MKS (MKSI) at 2.72 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.09

Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
ASX
0.09
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both ASE (ASX) at 5.34 and MKS (MKSI) at 3.96 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

ASX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.34

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
ASX
5.34
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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ASE (ASX) vs. MKS (MKSI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ASE (ASX) and MKS (MKSI)
MetricASXMKSI
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.4122.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.092.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.343.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-275.26%4.02%