MKSI vs. UMC: MKS vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC) 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though MKSI is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while UMC falls under Semiconductors.

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

Company profile comparison for MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Profile Item	MKSI	UMC
Name	MKS Inc.	United Microelectronics Corp. ADR
Country/Region	United States	Taiwan
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	34.73 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	March 30, 1999	September 19, 2000
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MKSI

UMC

GSPC

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), 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 MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	MKSI	UMC
Total Return (1Y)	35.07%	102.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	46.46%	31.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.02%	11.51%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MKSI

UMC

GSPC

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), 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 MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	MKSI	UMC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	62.92%	67.94%
Beta (5Y)	2.12	1.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-66.57%	-54.30%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.36M	11.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MKSI and UMC 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 MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	MKSI	UMC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.49	1.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.70	2.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both MKS (MKSI) at 20.46% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 20.37% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

20.37%

Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
UMC: 20.37%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 31.95% 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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.95%

Max: 63.80%
UMC: 31.95%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both MKS (MKSI) at 23.21% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09% 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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

25.09%

Max: 58.66%
Q3: 30.23%
UMC: 25.09%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	MKSI	UMC
ROE (TTM)	20.46%	20.37%
ROA (TTM)	6.28%	5.79%
Net Margin (TTM)	12.62%	31.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)	23.21%	25.09%
Gross Margin (TTM)	47.26%	31.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both MKS (MKSI) at 9.62% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.26% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) at -12.57% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for MKSI.

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	MKSI	UMC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	9.62%	2.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.49%	-5.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)	55.52%	-12.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-7.71%	-21.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while MKS (MKSI) at 1.19 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MKSI.

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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.27

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
UMC: 3.27
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.17 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
UMC: 0.17
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	MKSI	UMC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.19	3.27
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.22	0.17
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.67	-0.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

MKS (MKSI) at 0.55% pays an industry-typical yield; United Microelectronics (UMC) at 19.43% 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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.43%

UMC: 19.43%
Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) at 37.46% 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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.46%

Max: 49.64%
UMC: 37.46%
Q3: 21.71%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	MKSI	UMC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.55%	19.43%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	11.48%	37.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both MKS (MKSI) at 22.75 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.07

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
UMC: 13.07
Min: 8.12

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both MKS (MKSI) at 2.72 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.13 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.13

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
UMC: 0.13
Min: 0.00

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both MKS (MKSI) at 3.96 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.39

Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
UMC: 2.39
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

MKS (MKSI) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for MKS (MKSI) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	MKSI	UMC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	22.75	13.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.72	0.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.96	2.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.02%	129.43%