MTD vs. WST: Mettler-Toledo vs. West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Comparison
How do Mettler-Toledo (MTD) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) 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
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) are both classified in the Life Sciences Tools & Services sub-industry within the broader Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Mettler-Toledo International Inc. | West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. |
| Country/Region | Switzerland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 34.25 billion USD | 27.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 14, 1997 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 21.58% | 51.68% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.54% | 7.13% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.36% | 0.05% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.70% | 31.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.15 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.47% | -59.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 197.80K | 603.86K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.55 | 1.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.75 | 2.35 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) earns 21.23% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Mettler-Toledo (MTD) has no ROE this period.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
- MTD
- --
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.23%
- Max
- 109.18%
- WST
- 21.23%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 22.25% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 18.81% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
22.25%
- MTD
- 22.25%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.81%
- WST
- 18.81%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 28.70% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 25.37% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
28.70%
- Max
- 83.12%
- MTD
- 28.70%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
25.37%
- Max
- 83.12%
- WST
- 25.37%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 21.23% |
| ROA (TTM) | 20.09% | 11.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 22.25% | 18.81% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.70% | 25.37% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 59.16% | 37.59% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 3.98% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 6.25% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 3.88% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 1.49% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.98% | 6.25% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.90% | 2.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 3.88% | 1.49% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.06% | -4.23% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 2.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 1.10 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MTD.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.10
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MTD
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.10
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.82
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- WST
- 2.82
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.11 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 26.06 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
26.06
- MTD
- 26.06
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.11
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- WST
- 0.11
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.10 | 2.82 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 26.06 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.58 | -0.16 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports a yield of 0.22%, ranking against industry peers normally.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MTD
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.22%
- WST
- 0.22%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports a payout of 9.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MTD
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.88%
- WST
- 9.88%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.22% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 9.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 37.38 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 44.87 sits in the richer quartile — WST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
37.38
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- MTD
- 37.38
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
44.87
- Max
- 85.34
- WST
- 44.87
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 8.16 and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 8.20 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.16
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- MTD
- 8.16
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.20
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- WST
- 8.20
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 9.40 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Mettler-Toledo (MTD) at 442.71 prices even higher, above its industry range.
MTD
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
442.71
- MTD
- 442.71
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.40
- Max
- 13.53
- WST
- 9.40
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MTD | WST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 37.38 | 44.87 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.16 | 8.20 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 442.71 | 9.40 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.97% | 1.24% |