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ACLS vs MPWR
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Axcelis Technologies (ACLS) vs. Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both ACLS and MPWR have delivered strong year-to-date gains exceeding 70%, reflecting robust semiconductor sector momentum.
- MPWR reported Q1 2026 revenue of $804 million, up 26% year-over-year, driven by AI data center demand, while ACLS anticipates Q1 revenue around $195 million ahead of its Q1 earnings.
- ACLS benefits from a pending merger with Veeco Instruments, enhancing its semiconductor equipment portfolio, with shareholder approvals secured.
- MPWR shows higher market cap (~$78B vs. $4.3B for ACLS) and consistent gross margins near 55%.
- Recent volatility in semiconductor stocks highlights relative performance, with both trading near 52-week highs amid sector rotation.
- Tickeron's AI robots in semiconductors demonstrate annualized returns up to 95%, underscoring AI-driven insights for stock comparisons.
Introduction
In the competitive semiconductor equipment and power management sectors, ACLS (Axcelis Technologies) and MPWR (Monolithic Power Systems) stand out for their roles in ion implantation and high-efficiency power solutions, respectively. Both stocks have surged over 70% year-to-date as of recent market activity, fueled by AI infrastructure demand and memory chip expansions. This comparison analyzes their business models, recent performance, and market positioning to aid traders seeking relative performance edges and investors eyeing sector growth in volatile conditions. Understanding these dynamics helps navigate semiconductor cycles effectively.
ACLS Overview and Recent Performance
Axcelis Technologies (ACLS) specializes in ion implantation equipment essential for semiconductor fabrication, particularly in advanced nodes for logic and memory chips. In recent market activity, ACLS shares have traded around $140, near 52-week highs of $148, with year-to-date gains over 74% and one-year returns exceeding 168%. Sentiment has been bolstered by optimism in memory demand and a pending all-stock merger with Veeco Instruments, valued at $4.4 billion, which received shareholder approvals and awaits final regulatory clearance, expected in H2 2026. Q4 2025 results showed revenue of $238 million and non-GAAP EPS of $1.49, beating estimates, with Q1 2026 guidance at ~$195 million. Recent weeks saw volatility, with shares up over 40% in the past month amid sector rallies, though upcoming Q1 earnings on May 7 could influence near-term momentum.
MPWR Overview and Recent Performance
Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) is a fabless designer of high-performance power management semiconductors for enterprise data, automotive, and communications markets. Shares recently closed near $1,588, with year-to-date returns around 75% and one-year gains over 155%, reflecting strength in AI-driven applications. Q1 2026 earnings highlighted record revenue of $804 million, up 26.1% year-over-year, with non-GAAP EPS of $5.10 beating expectations; gross margins held steady at 55.5%. Enterprise data revenue surged nearly 98%, propelled by AI server and optical module demand. In recent weeks, MPWR has shown resilience, up about 21% over the past month, though trading below its 52-week high of $1,662 amid broader sector fluctuations. Analyst price targets have risen, signaling confidence in sustained growth.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
ACLS focuses on capital equipment for ion implantation, tying it closely to wafer fab expansions in memory and logic, while MPWR excels in analog power ICs (integrated circuits) for end-market applications like AI servers and EVs. Growth drivers differ: ACLS's pending Veeco merger expands its portfolio for cross-selling to Tier 1 customers, but introduces integration risks; MPWR leverages recurring AI demand with higher margins (55% vs. ACLS's 47%). Recent momentum favors MPWR with superior Q1 growth, though ACLS shows sharper short-term gains (~44% monthly). Risk factors include cyclical fab spending for ACLS and competition in power semis for MPWR; both exposed to semiconductors but MPWR more diversified. Market sentiment leans toward MPWR's stability amid AI hype, trading at a premium valuation.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors MPWR due to its trend consistency in enterprise data growth, higher revenue scale, and stable margins amid AI catalysts. MPWR's recent earnings beat and diversified exposure position it relatively stronger than ACLS, whose merger adds upside potential but near-term uncertainty. Observable factors suggest a higher probability of outperformance for MPWR in prevailing conditions.
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 Disclaimers and Limitations.
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 ACLS is a StrongBuy and MPWR is a StrongBuy.
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 undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ACLS’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileMPWR’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- ACLS’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- MPWR’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 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.
ACLS’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MPWR’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ACLS’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 4 bearish.
- MPWR’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
ACLS (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а -11.39% price change this week, while MPWR (@Semiconductors) price change was -8.22% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was -5.25%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +9.34%, and the average quarterly price growth was +129.85%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was -0.56%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +29.03%, and the average quarterly price growth was +88.34%.
Reported Earning Dates
ACLS is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
MPWR is expected to report earnings on Aug 03, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (-5.25% weekly)The electronic production equipment industry makes equipment used to produce semiconductors. Such equipment includes wafer fabrication, plasma etching and photo-resist processing equipment. The industry also makes chemical vapor deposition processing systems and photomasks, which are high-purity quartz plates that contain patterns to define integrated circuits layouts. Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, and KLA-Tencor Corporation are examples of electronic production equipment manufacturing companies.
@Semiconductors (-0.56% weekly)The semiconductor industry manufacturers all chip-related products, including research and development. These chips are used in innumerable electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, smartphones, and GPSs. Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corp., and Broadcomm are some of the prominent players in this industry. Semiconductor companies usually tend to do well during periods of healthy economic growth, thereby inducing further research and development in the industry – which in turn augurs well for productivity and growth in the economy. In the near future, demand for semiconductor products (and possibly innovation within the segment) should only expand further, with the proliferation of 5G, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and various AI-driven electronics set to herald a new, advanced chapter in the technology-driven world as we know it. With burgeoning prospects comes great competition. In 2015, SIA estimated that U.S. semiconductor industry ranks as the second most competitive U.S. industry out of 2882 U.S. industries designated manufacturers by the U.S. Census Bureau.
| ACLS | MPWR | ACLS / MPWR | |
| Capitalization | 4.4B | 72.1B | 6% |
| EBITDA | 139M | 857M | 16% |
| Gain YTD | 78.280 | 62.302 | 126% |
| P/E Ratio | 44.48 | 105.09 | 42% |
| Revenue | 845M | 2.96B | 29% |
| Total Cash | 367M | 1.37B | 27% |
| Total Debt | 42M | 20M | 210% |
ACLS | MPWR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 78 | 77 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 57 Fair valued | 84 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 62 | 19 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 71 | 46 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 36 | 13 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 3 | 2 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 31 | 50 |
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.
ACLS's Valuation (57) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as MPWR (84) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that ACLS’s stock grew similarly to MPWR’s over the last 12 months.
MPWR's Profit vs Risk Rating (19) in the Semiconductors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ACLS (62) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that MPWR’s stock grew somewhat faster than ACLS’s over the last 12 months.
MPWR's SMR Rating (46) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as ACLS (71) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that MPWR’s stock grew similarly to ACLS’s over the last 12 months.
MPWR's Price Growth Rating (13) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as ACLS (36) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that MPWR’s stock grew similarly to ACLS’s over the last 12 months.
MPWR's P/E Growth Rating (2) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as ACLS (3) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that MPWR’s stock grew similarly to ACLS’s over the last 12 months.
| ACLS | MPWR | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 75% | 1 day ago 69% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 82% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | N/A | 1 day ago 77% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 78% | 1 day ago 70% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 76% | 1 day ago 71% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 84% | 1 day ago 72% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 82% | 10 days ago 78% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 78% | 1 day ago 65% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 84% | 1 day ago 81% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 88% | 1 day ago 77% |
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| NMCO | 10.62 | 0.02 | +0.19% |
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ACLS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ACLS has been closely correlated with VECO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 86% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ACLS jumps, then VECO could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ACLS | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACLS | 100% | -2.06% | ||
| VECO - ACLS | 86% Closely correlated | -1.78% | ||
| NXPI - ACLS | 71% Closely correlated | +0.89% | ||
| ADI - ACLS | 70% Closely correlated | -1.02% | ||
| QCOM - ACLS | 70% Closely correlated | -3.94% | ||
| POWI - ACLS | 70% Closely correlated | +0.98% | ||
More | ||||
MPWR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MPWR has been closely correlated with KLAC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if MPWR jumps, then KLAC could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To MPWR | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPWR | 100% | -1.23% | ||
| KLAC - MPWR | 74% Closely correlated | -0.90% | ||
| LRCX - MPWR | 73% Closely correlated | -1.65% | ||
| NXPI - MPWR | 73% Closely correlated | +0.89% | ||
| AMAT - MPWR | 70% Closely correlated | -1.61% | ||
| KLIC - MPWR | 70% Closely correlated | -1.48% | ||
More | ||||