TMO vs. WST: Thermo Fisher Scientific vs. West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Comparison
How do Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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 | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | 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 | 257.42 billion USD | 27.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 24.62% | 51.68% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.34% | 7.13% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 3.11% | 0.05% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.96% | 31.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.83 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.95% | -59.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.10M | 603.86K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.68 | 1.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.02 | 2.35 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 13.38% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 21.23% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.38%
- Max
- 109.18%
- TMO
- 13.38%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
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)
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 18.81% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 14.94% also retains a top-quartile share.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
14.94%
- Max
- 18.05%
- TMO
- 14.94%
- 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 20.19% 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.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
20.19%
- Max
- 83.12%
- TMO
- 20.19%
- 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 | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 13.38% | 21.23% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.19% | 11.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.94% | 18.81% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.19% | 25.37% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 41.26% | 37.59% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 3.91% 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 7.32% 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 | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.91% | 6.25% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.27% | 2.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 7.32% | 1.49% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.21% | -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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 1.81 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for TMO.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.81
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- TMO
- 1.81
- 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 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 0.75 uses more debt funding than most peers.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.75
- Max
- 1.42
- TMO
- 0.75
- 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 | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.81 | 2.82 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.75 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.91 | -0.16 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 0.27% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.22% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.27%
- TMO
- 0.27%
- 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)
Both Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 9.70% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 9.88% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.70%
- TMO
- 9.70%
- 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 | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.27% | 0.22% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 9.70% | 9.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 36.64 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.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
36.64
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- TMO
- 36.64
- 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 5.44 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.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.44
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- TMO
- 5.44
- 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)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 4.70 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 9.40 carries an above-peer premium to book — WST is pricier on assets.
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.70
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- TMO
- 4.70
- 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 | TMO | WST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 36.64 | 44.87 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.44 | 8.20 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.70 | 9.40 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.50% | 1.24% |