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A vs ALC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Agilent Technologies (A) vs. Alcon (ALC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Different healthcare niches: A (Agilent Technologies) supplies life sciences and diagnostics instruments, while ALC (Alcon) focuses on eye-care devices and contact lenses.
- Momentum favors Agilent: Agilent has shown stronger recent momentum, with accelerating revenue growth, margin expansion, and a series of analyst price-target increases.
- Alcon faces margin and tariff headwinds: Alcon is growing revenue but has seen profitability compress amid import-tariff exposure and competitive pressure.
- Valuation gap: Alcon trades at a lower forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple, while Agilent commands a premium supported by its recurring-revenue mix.
- Diverging relative performance: Agilent's year-to-date and one-year returns have outpaced Alcon's, reflecting contrasting sentiment and catalyst profiles.
Introduction
Investors comparing healthcare-adjacent names often look for durable demand, recurring revenue, and a clear catalyst path. A (Agilent Technologies) and ALC (Alcon) both operate in specialized, regulated markets, yet their business models, growth drivers, and recent stock behavior differ meaningfully. Agilent serves pharmaceutical, diagnostics, and applied-chemical customers with instruments and consumables, while Alcon supplies eye-care professionals with surgical equipment, intraocular lenses (implantable lenses used in cataract surgery), and contact lenses. This stock comparison is most relevant to investors weighing momentum, sector exposure, and relative performance across two large-cap, globally diversified healthcare franchises.
A Overview and Recent Performance
Agilent Technologies provides application-focused solutions across life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets, organized into three segments: Life Sciences and Diagnostics Markets, Agilent CrossLab, and Applied Markets. A large share of its revenue is recurring, drawn from consumables, services, and informatics, which supports more stable demand. In recent weeks, A has demonstrated accelerating momentum, with revenue growth near the high single digits and expanding operating margins. Management raised full-year guidance after a quarter in which earnings per share (EPS) grew at a double-digit pace year over year, and book-to-bill has remained above one for ten consecutive quarters. Recent analyst activity has been constructive, with multiple firms raising price targets. The company has also expanded its digital pathology footprint through an acquisition, reinforcing an AI-enabled scientific intelligence theme. Year-to-date, Agilent's relative performance has outpaced the broader market.
ALC Overview and Recent Performance
Alcon is a global eye-care leader operating two complementary businesses: Surgical (equipment, intraocular lenses, and consumables for cataract and other procedures) and Vision Care (contact lenses and ocular health products). ALC has sustained mid-single-digit revenue growth, supported by a steady cadence of product launches across contact lenses, intraocular lenses, and diagnostic equipment. However, recent market activity has reflected margin compression, with profitability pressured by import tariffs and competitive dynamics in both segments. Cataract procedure volumes have grown only modestly, while the company has assumed elevated U.S. import-tariff rates would persist. Net income has declined year over year even as revenue has expanded. On the positive side, Alcon continues to generate robust free cash flow and has pursued share repurchases. Its stock has trailed the market and Agilent over the trailing year, with a lower beta (a measure of price volatility) reflecting comparatively defensive characteristics.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The clearest contrast between these two stocks is business model. Agilent derives roughly two-thirds of revenue from recurring streams such as consumables and services, which tempers cyclicality and supports margin consistency. Alcon also benefits from recurring contact-lens and ocular-health purchases, but its surgical segment is more procedure-linked and sensitive to volume trends and competition. On growth, Agilent's recent acceleration and raised guidance contrast with Alcon's solid but steadier top-line expansion accompanied by earnings pressure. Risk profiles differ as well: Agilent carries a higher beta and is exposed to research-funding cycles and China demand, while Alcon faces tariff exposure and a competitive eye-care landscape. Sentiment has diverged, with Agilent attracting upgrades and target raises, whereas Alcon's outlook is more mixed. In terms of valuation, Alcon's lower forward P/E and defensive beta may appeal to value-oriented investors, while Agilent's premium reflects stronger near-term momentum and margin trajectory.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors, Tickeron's AI would likely favor A (Agilent Technologies) over ALC (Alcon) in the current environment. Agilent's trend consistency is supported by accelerating revenue growth, expanding margins, repeated earnings beats, and a sustained book-to-bill above one, alongside a constructive analyst backdrop. These qualities point to stronger relative momentum and a clearer catalyst path. Alcon retains a durable franchise and recurring cash flow, but compressed profitability, tariff uncertainty, and softer procedure volumes weigh on its near-term positioning. Because market conditions can shift, this assessment is probabilistic rather than definitive; however, on the balance of trend strength, stability, and catalysts, the AI would lean toward Agilent.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is A is a Buy and ALC is a Buy.
Aroon Indicator for A shows an upward move is likely
A's Aroon Indicator triggered a bullish signal on October 28, 2026. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor detected that the AroonUp green line is above 70 while the AroonDown red line is below 30. When the up indicator moves above 70 and the down indicator remains below 30, it is a sign that the stock could be setting up for a bullish move. Traders may want to buy the stock or look to buy calls options. A.I.dvisor looked at 209 similar instances where the Aroon Indicator showed a similar pattern. In 143 of the 209 cases, the stock moved higher in the days that followed. This puts the odds of a move higher at 68%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 20, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on A as a result. In 57 of 86 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 66%.
Following a +3.14% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where A advanced for three days, in 187 of 302 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 62%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for A moved out of overbought territory on October 16, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 28 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 21 of the 28 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 75%.
The Stochastic Oscillator has been in the overbought zone for 2 days. Expect a price pull-back in the near future.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for A turned negative on October 30, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 44 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 29 of the 44 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 66%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where A declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 64%.
A broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 28, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 12 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating outstanding price growth. A’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 24 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly undervalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (6.696) is normal, around the industry mean (65.853). P/E Ratio (34.356) is within average values for comparable stocks, (2.707). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.447) is also within normal values, averaging (3.473). Dividend Yield (0.006) settles around the average of (0.002) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (5.910) is also within normal values, averaging (9.775).
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 44 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to consistent earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 45 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 69 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. A’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 85, placing this stock better than average.
ALC in upward trend: 10-day moving average crossed above 50-day moving average on October 27, 2026
The 10-day moving average for ALC crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on October 27, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 10 of 15 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 67%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 15, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on ALC as a result. In 56 of 91 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 62%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for ALC just turned positive on October 09, 2026. Looking at past instances where ALC's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 35 of 53 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 66%.
ALC moved above its 50-day moving average on October 22, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.
Following a +2.32% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where ALC advanced for three days, in 175 of 312 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 56%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The RSI Indicator has been in the overbought zone for 1 day. Expect a price pull-back in the near future.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 10 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where ALC declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 56%.
ALC broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 22, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Aroon Indicator for ALC entered a downward trend on October 20, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 8 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 47 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. ALC’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 65 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 72 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (1.599) is normal, around the industry mean (4.882). P/E Ratio (54.129) is within average values for comparable stocks, (38.076). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.165) is also within normal values, averaging (4.143). Dividend Yield (0.014) settles around the average of (0.005) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (2.996) is also within normal values, averaging (56.876).
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 88 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating weak sales and an unprofitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 100 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. ALC’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 95, placing this stock worse than average.
A | ALC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 24 Undervalued | 72 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 69 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 45 | 88 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 12 | 47 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 44 | 8 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 65 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
A's Valuation (24) in the Biotechnology industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ALC (72) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that A’s stock grew somewhat faster than ALC’s over the last 12 months.
A's Profit vs Risk Rating (69) in the Biotechnology industry is in the same range as ALC (100) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that A’s stock grew similarly to ALC’s over the last 12 months.
A's SMR Rating (45) in the Biotechnology industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ALC (88) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that A’s stock grew somewhat faster than ALC’s over the last 12 months.
A's Price Growth Rating (12) in the Biotechnology industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ALC (47) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that A’s stock grew somewhat faster than ALC’s over the last 12 months.
ALC's P/E Growth Rating (8) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is somewhat better than the same rating for A (44) in the Biotechnology industry. This means that ALC’s stock grew somewhat faster than A’s over the last 12 months.
| A | ALC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 75% | 3 days ago 67% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 52% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 62% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 66% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 58% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 63% | 3 days ago 57% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 62% | 3 days ago 56% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 6 days ago 56% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 72% | 3 days ago 55% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 56% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
A’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green while ALC’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- A’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- ALC’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
A’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ALC’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- A’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- ALC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
A (@Medical Specialties) experienced а +1.04% price change this week, while ALC (@Pharmaceuticals: Other) price change was +1.82% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Specialties industry was +2.12%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.89%, and the average quarterly price growth was +48.45%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Other industry was -1.77%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.29%, and the average quarterly price growth was +8.60%.
Reported Earning Dates
A is expected to report earnings on Nov 23, 2026.
ALC is expected to report earnings on Nov 10, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical Specialties (+2.12% weekly)Medical specialties are companies that make equipment used by the health care industry. Equipment manufactured and distributed by these companies include dialysis machines, blood analysis equipment, surgical equipment, dental instruments, and diagnostic tools, among other items. Large companies typically aim to produce and distribute high-quality products across a broad market spectrum. Smaller firms are more likely to specialize in a particular market segment. Due to the industry’s close association with medical treatments, they typically have low sensitivity to macroeconomic fluctuations. Within this industry, Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Plc and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. are some of the companies with multi-billion market capitalizations in the U.S. stock markets.
@Pharmaceuticals: Other (-1.77% weekly)Pharmaceuticals (Other) comprise companies that are involved in the discovery, development or manufacturing of therapeutic and preventative medicines. They often collaborate with or acquire other pharmaceutical/healthcare firms. Examples of companies in this segment include Bausch Health Companies Inc., Icon Plc and Perrigo Company Plc.
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ALC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ALC has been loosely correlated with SYK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 54% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ALC jumps, then SYK could also see price increases.