LITE vs MKSI Stock Comparison
MKSI currently leads LITE in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 37 vs 31. The clearest difference is value, while LITE has the stronger risk resilience profile.
What is the main difference between LITE and MKSI?
MKSI leads the current stock comparison as MKS Inc., with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Lumentum Holdings Inc. vs MKS Inc.
MKSI leads
MKSI leads by 6 AIQ points, primarily on Value.
Fragile: 4 of 6 evidence groups support MKSI, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Lumentum Holdings Inc.
MKS Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors MKSI over LITE, 37 versus 31 as of Oct 21, 2026. MKSI's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value, while LITE holds the stronger risk resilience profile. MKSI also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MKSI today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the leader is throwing conflicting signals. MKSI lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 6 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Lumentum Holdings Inc. and MKS Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare LITE and MKSI against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Value24 vs 62MKSI +38
- Risk Resilience39 vs 22LITE +17
- Momentum21 vs 8LITE +13
- Quality43 vs 45Even
4 of 6 evidence groups favor MKSI. MKSI’s edge is concentrated in value; LITE keeps a meaningful risk resilience edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum -1, not enough on its own to move the overall score.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
No factor moved materially.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 6 active signals are unchanged.
MKSI's lead was unchanged in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — LITE and MKSI both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
MKSI (MKS Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value.
LITE (Lumentum Holdings Inc.): the counter-case, on risk resilience, momentum, technicals — but at materially higher volatility, 73.4% against 44.2%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
MKSIMKSI on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
MKSIMKSI on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
MKSIMKSI on the peer-relative Value factor, by 38 points.
Momentum
LITELITE on the Momentum factor, by 13 points.
Lower downside
LITELITE on Risk Resilience, by 17 points.
Analyst upside
MKSIMKSI on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | LITE | MKSI | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +27.6% | +80.8% | MKSI has more room |
| Target dispersion | +41.5% | +85.7% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 13 | 7 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MKSI. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | MKSI | 31 vs 37 |
| Fundamentals | MKSIon balance | revenue growth 24.5% vs 15.8%; EPS growth -49.3% vs 107.2%; TTM ROE -3% vs 15.8%; gross margin 41.7% vs 44.1%; operating margin 17.4% vs 16.5% — MKSI takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | MKSI | Value 24 vs 62 |
| Technicals | LITE | Price vs 50-day -8.6% vs -17.8%; vs 200-day 5.3% vs -22.4% |
| Risk Resilience | LITE | Risk Resilience 39 vs 22 |
| Analyst expectations | MKSI | Target upside 27.6% vs 80.8% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of LITE and MKSI and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 6 points.
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Analyst targets on the leader are widely dispersed. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on MKSI.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20MKSI lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 6 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- MKSI +6
- 31 vs 37
- 7 sessions ago
- MKSI +6
- 33 vs 39
- 30 sessions ago
- MKSI +7
- 42 vs 49
- 90 sessions ago
- MKSI +1
- 50 vs 51
The lead changed hands 7 times in this window, most recently on Sep 11 when MKSI moved ahead of LITE.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
1 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only LITE
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (19.02%)
1 bullish / 4 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only MKSI
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (5.44%)
- RSI Oversold - Potential Bounce — bullish, momentum, short horizon
- Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
Both carry 3 more signals that do not separate them: ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode, Keltner Channel Breakdown, MACD Bearish Crossover.
MKSI leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +3.43%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +2.35%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1LITE closes the Value gap — currently 38 points behind, the largest single contributor to MKSI's edge.
- 2LITE's Keltner Channel Breakdown resolves — a bearish volatility rule currently active against it.
- 3MKSI's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 4 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
MKSI leads on balance| Metric | LITE | MKSI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 24.5% | 15.8% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -49.3% | 107.2% |
| Gross margin | 41.7% | 44.1% |
| Operating margin | 17.4% | 16.5% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | -3% | 15.8% |
| Debt to equity | 0.36 | 1.4 |
Performance
LITE leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | LITE | MKSI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -16.7% | -14.7% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -13% | -18.9% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -0.9% | -38.6% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -1.7% | -22.9% |
| Year to date | 123.2% | 32.1% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 405.4% | 55.9% |
Technicals
LITE has the stronger structure| Metric | LITE | MKSI |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 37.7 | 21.7 |
| ADX (14) | 20.8 | 26.7 |
| Price vs 50-day | -8.6% | -17.8% |
| Price vs 200-day | 5.3% | -22.4% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 73.4% | 44.2% |
Risk
LITE is the more resilient| Metric | LITE | MKSI |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 3.01 | 2.74 |
| Sharpe ratio | 2.08 | 0.96 |
| Sortino ratio | 3.87 | 1.41 |
| Max drawdown | -42.8% | -52.5% |
| Current drawdown | -27.4% | -52.5% |
| Annualized volatility | 99.1% | 60.9% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -8.8% | -6.2% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, LITE or MKSI?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, MKSI is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 37 against LITE's 31. The edge comes from value. LITE is not without a case — it holds the better risk resilience profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is LITE or MKSI the better buy right now?
MKSI carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 4 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the leader is throwing conflicting signals. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor MKSI over LITE?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. MKSI leads Value by 38 points; LITE leads Risk Resilience by 17 points; LITE leads Momentum by 13 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, LITE or MKSI?
Analyst price targets imply +27.6% upside for LITE and +80.8% for MKSI, so the Street currently favors MKSI. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, LITE or MKSI?
MKSI is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. MKSI on the peer-relative Value factor, by 38 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, LITE or MKSI?
MKSI on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, LITE or MKSI?
LITE on the Momentum factor, by 13 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, LITE or MKSI?
LITE is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. LITE on Risk Resilience, by 17 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is LITE more profitable than MKSI?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 41.7% vs 44.1%; operating margin 17.4% vs 16.5%; ttm roe -3% vs 15.8%. LITE leads on one measure and MKSI on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is MKSI's lead over LITE getting stronger or weaker?
MKSI lead: Stable — the AIQ differential has held near 6 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 7 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-11, when MKSI moved ahead of LITE.
What would change the LITE vs MKSI verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: LITE closes the Value gap — currently 38 points behind, the largest single contributor to MKSI's edge; LITE's Keltner Channel Breakdown resolves — a bearish volatility rule currently active against it; MKSI's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 4 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about LITE and MKSI?
LITE: 1 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. MKSI: 1 bullish / 4 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on LITE is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On MKSI it is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon).
Compare LITE and MKSI with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.