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MTD vs STE
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (MTD) vs. STERIS plc (STE) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- MTD reported Q1 2026 results exceeding expectations with 7% revenue growth to $947 million and adjusted EPS of $8.91, yet shares dropped nearly 15% amid analyst target adjustments.
- STE anticipates Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings on May 12, with analysts projecting revenue of $1.6 billion and EPS of $2.89, supported by steady organic growth guidance of 7-8%.
- Both stocks show strong YTD gains—MTD at 19.35% and STE at 17.96%—outpacing the S&P 500's 8.08%, though recent volatility hit MTD harder.
- Analyst targets suggest upside: $1,448 average for MTD (29% from $1,124) and $279 for STE (35% from $207).
- MTD trades at a trailing P/E of 26.4 versus STE's 28.9, reflecting precision instruments versus infection prevention focus in healthcare.
- Tickeron AI signals lean bearish short-term for both due to momentum dips, but fundamentals highlight growth potential amid sector tailwinds.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines MTD and STE, two healthcare leaders in precision instruments and medical devices. Both benefit from demand in laboratory, industrial, and sterilization solutions amid rising global health and manufacturing needs. Traders seeking momentum plays and investors eyeing stable growth in diagnostics and infection prevention will find value here. Recent earnings beats and guidance updates provide timely insights into relative performance, valuation, and market positioning in a volatile environment.
MTD Overview and Recent Performance
Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (MTD) manufactures precision instruments for laboratory, industrial, and retail applications, operating in segments like U.S., Swiss, Western European, Chinese, and other operations. The company serves pharmaceuticals, biotech, food, chemicals, and logistics through balances, pipettes, analyzers, and software.
In recent market activity, MTD delivered Q1 2026 results with sales up 7% to $947.1 million (3% local currency) and adjusted EPS rising 9% to $8.91, beating consensus. Growth stemmed from industrial (5%) and food retailing segments, with Asia/ROW up 5%. Despite this, shares fell sharply post-earnings due to margin pressure from tariffs, currency, and mix, alongside lowered analyst targets. YTD return stands at 19.35%, with market cap around $22.8 billion and trailing P/E of 26.4. Sentiment reflects caution on macro uncertainty, offset by raised full-year EPS guidance to $46.30-$46.95.
STE Overview and Recent Performance
STERIS plc (STE) provides infection prevention, decontamination, and surgical products via Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies (AST), and Life Sciences segments. It offers sterilizers, endoscope reprocessors, and services to hospitals, pharma, and research facilities worldwide.
Recent weeks show STE maintaining steady momentum ahead of Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings on May 12, with expected revenue of $1.6 billion and EPS of $2.89. Prior quarters featured 9% revenue growth and EPS beats averaging 2.6%, driven by Healthcare (9%) and AST volume. YTD return is 17.96%, market cap $20.4 billion, trailing P/E 28.9. Dividend raised to $0.63/share signals confidence, though tariffs pose headwinds. Overall sentiment remains positive on organic growth outlook of 7-8% and analyst upgrades.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
MTD focuses on precision measurement across lab/industrial, contrasting STE's infection control and sterilization emphasis. Growth drivers differ: MTD leverages Asia industrial demand, while STE benefits from healthcare procedure volumes and AST services.
Recent momentum favors STE's stability (YTD 18% vs. MTD's post-earnings dip), but MTD shows higher EPS growth potential. Risks include tariffs/currency for both; MTD faces lab slowdowns, STE supply chain pressures. Sector exposure aligns in healthcare equipment, with MTD (diagnostics/research) more diversified industrially. Sentiment tilts to STE pre-earnings, per analyst upside (35% vs. 29%).
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors STE for its trend consistency, lower beta (0.95 vs. 1.31), and upcoming catalysts like Q4 earnings amid resilient guidance. MTD's earnings beat is notable, but heightened volatility and bearish technicals (e.g., MACD crossover) suggest caution. Probabilistic edge to STE (60-65% relative outperformance likelihood) on stability and valuation in the near term.
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 MTD is a Buy and STE 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).
MTD’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileSTE’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- MTD’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- STE’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.
MTD’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while STE’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- MTD’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- STE’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
MTD (@Medical Specialties) experienced а +0.44% price change this week, while STE (@Medical/Nursing Services) price change was -1.60% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Specialties industry was +0.78%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +3.12%, and the average quarterly price growth was -3.78%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical/Nursing Services industry was -0.52%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.27%, and the average quarterly price growth was -16.56%.
Reported Earning Dates
MTD is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
STE is expected to report earnings on Aug 10, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical Specialties (+0.78% 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.
@Medical/Nursing Services (-0.52% weekly)The medical/nursing services includes companies that provide medical-related services such as ambulance services, dialysis centers, respiratory therapy, blood testing and rehabilitation services. DaVita Inc., Chemed Corporation and Guardant Health, Inc. are examples of companies in this industry.
| MTD | STE | MTD / STE | |
| Capitalization | 23.4B | 19.8B | 118% |
| EBITDA | 1.25B | 1.59B | 79% |
| Gain YTD | -17.039 | -19.402 | 88% |
| P/E Ratio | 27.34 | 25.27 | 108% |
| Revenue | 4.09B | 5.94B | 69% |
| Total Cash | 60.6M | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 2.23B | 2.09B | 107% |
MTD | STE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 28 | 68 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 99 Overvalued | 8 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 84 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 2 | 67 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 57 | 62 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 83 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 |
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.
STE's Valuation (8) in the Medical Specialties industry is significantly better than the same rating for MTD (99). This means that STE’s stock grew significantly faster than MTD’s over the last 12 months.
STE's Profit vs Risk Rating (84) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as MTD (100). This means that STE’s stock grew similarly to MTD’s over the last 12 months.
MTD's SMR Rating (2) in the Medical Specialties industry is somewhat better than the same rating for STE (67). This means that MTD’s stock grew somewhat faster than STE’s over the last 12 months.
MTD's Price Growth Rating (57) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as STE (62). This means that MTD’s stock grew similarly to STE’s over the last 12 months.
MTD's P/E Growth Rating (58) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as STE (83). This means that MTD’s stock grew similarly to STE’s over the last 12 months.
| MTD | STE | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 70% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 69% | 2 days ago 59% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 51% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 46% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 55% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 53% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 19 days ago 49% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 65% | 13 days ago 55% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 55% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | N/A |
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