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COHR vs ESE
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Coherent Corp (COHR) vs. ESCO Technologies Inc. (ESE) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- COHR has delivered a remarkable YTD return of 81.90% and 373.19% over one year, far outpacing the S&P 500, driven by AI and datacenter demand.
- ESE shows solid YTD gains of 73.80% and 106.47% annually, supported by a record $1.40 billion backlog and aerospace/defense growth.
- Both operate in Scientific & Technical Instruments but differ in focus: COHR on photonics for datacom/AI, ESE on aerospace filtration and RF test systems.
- COHR trades at a trailing P/E of 323.42 with higher beta (2.05), indicating volatility; ESE at 68.12 with beta 1.18 for relative stability.
- Recent momentum favors COHR amid tech rallies, while ESE benefits from acquisitions like Megger and strong orders.
- Analyst targets suggest upside: COHR ~$327 (avg), ESE $365.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines COHR and ESE, both in the Scientific & Technical Instruments industry within the Technology sector. Investors tracking high-growth tech plays with exposure to AI, datacenters, aerospace, and defense may find value here. Amid recent market volatility, COHR's photonics innovations contrast with ESE's engineered systems reliability. Their relative performance highlights trade-offs in momentum versus stability, aiding decisions on portfolio positioning in the current environment.
COHR Overview and Recent Performance
Coherent Corp. (COHR) develops, manufactures, and markets engineered materials, optoelectronic components, lasers, and systems for industrial, communications, electronics, and instrumentation markets worldwide. Its Networking segment powers datacenters with transceivers and optics, while Materials and Lasers support semiconductor and manufacturing applications.
In recent market activity, COHR has shown explosive momentum, with shares up 81.90% YTD and 373.19% over one year, trading around $336 amid a $62.9 billion market cap. This surge stems from robust demand in AI-driven datacom, partnerships like NVIDIA, and consistent earnings beats, including Q2 FY2026 revenue of $1.69 billion (17.5% YoY growth). Sentiment remains positive ahead of Q3 FY2026 results on May 6, with analysts raising targets on visibility into high-performance optics. Volatility persists due to high beta (2.05), but trend consistency bolsters investor confidence.
ESE Overview and Recent Performance
ESCO Technologies Inc. (ESE) provides engineered components and systems for aviation, navy, defense, and industrial customers. Its Aerospace & Defense segment offers filtration, electro-explosive devices, and signature reduction; Utility Solutions Group delivers diagnostic tools for renewables; RF Test & Measurement handles RF control systems.
Recent weeks have seen ESE advance steadily, with 73.80% YTD and 106.47% one-year gains, near $339 and an $8.8 billion market cap. Key drivers include Q1 FY2026 sales up 35% to $290 million, EPS of $1.64 (beat), and orders doubling to $557 million, pushing backlog to a record $1.40 billion—58% convertible within 12 months. The Megger acquisition enhances utility testing, fueling optimism ahead of Q2 results on May 7. Lower beta (1.18) reflects defensive positioning in aerospace and renewables.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
COHR and ESE share sector exposure but diverge in business models: COHR leverages photonics for high-growth datacom/AI (72% of recent revenue), while ESE focuses on mission-critical defense components and utility diagnostics.
Growth drivers contrast sharply—COHR's AI catalysts yield triple-digit returns but elevate risk (P/E 323, beta 2.05); ESE's backlog and acquisitions promise steady execution (P/E 68, profit margin 26%). Recent momentum favors COHR in tech rallies, versus ESE's resilience. Risks include COHR's debt ($3.55B) and cyclicality, offset by ESE's lower leverage. Sentiment tilts toward COHR for upside potential, ESE for stability.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors COHR due to superior trend consistency, explosive relative performance, and stronger positioning in high-demand AI/datacenter growth areas. While ESE offers backlog stability and lower volatility, COHR's catalysts suggest higher probability of outperformance in the near term, contingent on earnings execution.
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 COHR is a Buy and ESE is a Buy.
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).
COHR’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileESE’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- COHR’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- ESE’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 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.
COHR’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ESE’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- COHR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- ESE’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
COHR (@Electronic Equipment/Instruments) experienced а -0.42% price change this week, while ESE (@Electronic Equipment/Instruments) price change was +4.13% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Equipment/Instruments industry was -1.48%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +6.26%, and the average quarterly price growth was +17.09%.
Reported Earning Dates
COHR is expected to report earnings on Aug 13, 2026.
ESE is expected to report earnings on Aug 10, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Equipment/Instruments (-1.48% weekly)This industry manufactures electronic products used in various critical and sophisticated technologies, including laser-based systems, circuit and continuity testers, electro-optical measuring instruments and high-speed precision weighing and inspection equipment. Some major companies operating in this business are Canon Inc., Keysight Technologies Inc., and Fortive Corp.
| COHR | ESE | COHR / ESE | |
| Capitalization | 74.6B | 8.89B | 839% |
| EBITDA | 1.23B | 293M | 418% |
| Gain YTD | 130.525 | 80.793 | 162% |
| P/E Ratio | 202.61 | 69.49 | 292% |
| Revenue | 6.6B | 1.25B | 529% |
| Total Cash | 2.42B | 92.3M | 2,620% |
| Total Debt | 3.43B | 191M | 1,793% |
COHR | ESE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 83 | 42 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 82 Overvalued | 86 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 4 | 3 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 86 | 43 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 38 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 45 | 14 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 90 |
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.
COHR's Valuation (82) in the Electronic Equipment Or Instruments industry is in the same range as ESE (86) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that COHR’s stock grew similarly to ESE’s over the last 12 months.
ESE's Profit vs Risk Rating (3) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as COHR (4) in the Electronic Equipment Or Instruments industry. This means that ESE’s stock grew similarly to COHR’s over the last 12 months.
ESE's SMR Rating (43) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is somewhat better than the same rating for COHR (86) in the Electronic Equipment Or Instruments industry. This means that ESE’s stock grew somewhat faster than COHR’s over the last 12 months.
COHR's Price Growth Rating (35) in the Electronic Equipment Or Instruments industry is in the same range as ESE (38) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that COHR’s stock grew similarly to ESE’s over the last 12 months.
ESE's P/E Growth Rating (14) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as COHR (45) in the Electronic Equipment Or Instruments industry. This means that ESE’s stock grew similarly to COHR’s over the last 12 months.
| COHR | ESE | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 62% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 63% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 72% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 74% | 2 days ago 80% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 82% | 2 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 87% | 2 days ago 66% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 83% | 2 days ago 61% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 79% | 23 days ago 52% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 84% | 2 days ago 64% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 90% | 2 days ago 40% |
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COHR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, COHR has been loosely correlated with MKSI. These tickers have moved in lockstep 61% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if COHR jumps, then MKSI could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To COHR | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COHR | 100% | +9.22% | ||
| MKSI - COHR | 61% Loosely correlated | +3.49% | ||
| KEYS - COHR | 50% Loosely correlated | +2.66% | ||
| ST - COHR | 43% Loosely correlated | +2.11% | ||
| BKSY - COHR | 38% Loosely correlated | -1.55% | ||
| VPG - COHR | 35% Loosely correlated | -0.30% | ||
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ESE and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ESE has been loosely correlated with TDY. These tickers have moved in lockstep 45% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ESE jumps, then TDY could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ESE | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESE | 100% | +2.77% | ||
| TDY - ESE | 45% Loosely correlated | -0.47% | ||
| MKSI - ESE | 44% Loosely correlated | +3.49% | ||
| KEYS - ESE | 43% Loosely correlated | +2.66% | ||
| VNT - ESE | 39% Loosely correlated | +1.84% | ||
| ST - ESE | 39% Loosely correlated | +2.11% | ||
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