MKSI vs. QCOM: MKS vs. QUALCOMM Stock Comparison
How do MKS (MKSI) and QUALCOMM (QCOM) 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
MKS (MKSI) and QUALCOMM (QCOM) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though MKSI is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while QCOM falls under Semiconductors.
| Profile Item | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | MKS Inc. | QUALCOMM Incorporated |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Semiconductor Materials & Equipment | Semiconductors |
| Market Capitalization | 13.00 billion USD | 176.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 30, 1999 | December 13, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 35.07% | 4.41% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 46.46% | 15.75% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.02% | 3.17% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 62.92% | 55.42% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.12 | 1.73 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -66.57% | -44.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.36M | 12.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.49 | 0.00 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.70 | 0.00 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 52.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while MKS (MKSI) at 20.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for QCOM.
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%
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
52.82%
- QCOM
- 52.82%
- Max
- 52.82%
- Q3
- 22.26%
- Median
- 10.58%
- Q1
- 1.29%
- Min
- -16.89%
Net Margin (TTM)
QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 31.61% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of MKS (MKSI) at 12.62%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
31.61%
- Max
- 63.80%
- QCOM
- 31.61%
- Q3
- 28.36%
- Median
- 11.44%
- Q1
- 0.90%
- Min
- -37.77%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both MKS (MKSI) at 23.21% and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 15.41% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
15.41%
- Max
- 58.66%
- Q3
- 30.23%
- Median
- 15.91%
- QCOM
- 15.41%
- Q1
- 7.54%
- Min
- -25.74%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 20.46% | 52.82% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.28% | 10.13% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.62% | 31.61% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.21% | 15.41% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 47.26% | 53.10% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
MKS (MKSI) at 9.62% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at -2.63% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 153.49% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; MKS (MKSI) at 55.52% also sits in the top quartile.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.62% | -2.63% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.49% | 6.38% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 55.52% | 153.49% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.71% | 25.53% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both MKS (MKSI) at 1.19 and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 1.86 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
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
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
1.86
- Max
- 10.33
- Q3
- 5.62
- Median
- 3.33
- Q1
- 2.35
- QCOM
- 1.86
- Min
- 1.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 0.53 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while MKS (MKSI) at 1.22 uses more debt funding than most peers.
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
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.53
- Max
- 1.46
- Q3
- 0.65
- QCOM
- 0.53
- Median
- 0.27
- Q1
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.19 | 1.86 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.22 | 0.53 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.67 | 0.78 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
MKS (MKSI) at 0.55% pays an industry-typical yield; QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 2.31% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
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%
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
2.31%
- QCOM
- 2.31%
- Max
- 1.37%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
MKS (MKSI) at 11.48% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 28.50% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
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%
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
28.50%
- Max
- 49.64%
- QCOM
- 28.50%
- Q3
- 21.71%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.55% | 2.31% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 11.48% | 28.50% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both MKS (MKSI) at 22.75 and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 13.02 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
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
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
13.02
- Max
- 110.34
- Q3
- 66.81
- Median
- 37.02
- Q1
- 23.96
- QCOM
- 13.02
- Min
- 8.12
P/S Ratio (TTM)
MKS (MKSI) at 2.72 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 4.10 prices around its industry’s middle — MKSI costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
4.10
- Max
- 21.42
- Q3
- 12.27
- Median
- 5.76
- QCOM
- 4.10
- Q1
- 2.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both MKS (MKSI) at 3.96 and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 5.83 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
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
QCOM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
5.83
- Max
- 14.06
- Q3
- 7.44
- QCOM
- 5.83
- Median
- 4.29
- Q1
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.20
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MKSI | QCOM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.75 | 13.02 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.72 | 4.10 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.96 | 5.83 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.02% | 5.15% |