AME vs FTV Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
AME (AMETEK) and FTV (Fortive) are both high-quality industrial technology compounders with consistent margins and active acquisition strategies — AMETEK through electronic instruments and electromechanical devices across 80+ business units with a 30-year compounding track record, and Fortive through Fluke, Tektronix, and facility management software with increasing recurring revenue content seeking a valuation re-rating toward SaaS multiples.
AME vs FTV is the proven 30-year electronic instrument compounder with world-class margins and Danaher-comparable acquisition execution (AMETEK's 80-unit empire, 25-30% EBITDA margins, and consistent niche instrument acquisition playbook — reliable but fully-valued compounding machine) versus the Danaher spin-off transforming from hardware instruments toward intelligent operations software (Fortive's Fluke brand dominance, Tektronix heritage, and software segment build-up through Accruent and eMaint — seeking a higher multiple re-rating as SaaS content grows) — proven compounder versus transformation-toward-software opportunity.
AME holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. FTV leads on both 1-year return (+33.35%) and forward P/E quality (18.54x vs 25.23x for AME), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. AME leads on both revenue growth (15.00%) and operating margin (26.18%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for AME (+15.08%) than for FTV (+4.21%).
Human Wall Street analysts' price targets, typically implying a ~12-month view — a separate signal from this site's own AI Prediction Signal further down the page, which is a 5-/30-day machine-learning forecast based on price history alone.
- Want a proven industrial compounder with 30+ years of consistent EBITDA margin expansion and EPS growth through acquisition and operational excellence
- Value AMETEK's defense and aerospace segment as providing durable less-cyclical revenue through commercial industrial cycles
- Are willing to pay a premium valuation (25-30x earnings) for a business with a track record of consistent execution through economic cycles
- Believe Fortive's increasing software recurring revenue from Accruent, eMaint, and facility management tools will drive a valuation re-rating toward higher software multiples
- Value the Fluke brand as one of industrial technology's most durable competitive moats — field technicians who learn on Fluke meters don't switch; brand loyalty creates compounding pricing power
- See Fortive's portfolio evolution (divesting lower-growth businesses, acquiring higher-multiple software businesses) as a disciplined capital allocation strategy improving overall portfolio quality
| Metric | AME | FTV |
|---|---|---|
| AI scorei | 54.9 | 37.7 |
| AI ranki | #270 | #1446 |
| Latest closei | $248.58 | $66.81 |
| 1M returni | -1.33% | +16.25% |
| 3M returni | -2.15% | +10.41% |
| 6M returni | +5.99% | +10.08% |
| 1Y returni | +25.10% | +33.35% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | AME | FTV |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.55K (+25.5%) started 2025-11-04 | $13.27K (+32.7%) started 2025-11-04 |
| 5Y ago | $18.55K (+85.5%) started 2021-11-04 | $8.81K (-11.9%) started 2021-11-04 |
| 10Y ago | $62.85K (+528.5%) started 2016-11-04 | $16.75K (+67.5%) started 2016-11-04 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | AME | FTV |
|---|---|---|
| Market capi | $55.45B | $18.2B |
| Trailing P/Ei | 35.36 | 31.71 |
| Forward P/Ei | 25.23 | 18.54 |
| Price/Salesi | N/A | 4.02 |
| EV/Revenuei | 7.28 | 4.96 |
| Analyst targeti | $278.33 | $62.79 |
| Target upsidei | +15.08% | +4.21% |
| Metric | AME | FTV |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growthi | 15.00% | 7.90% |
| Earnings growthi | 14.20% | 4.00% |
| EPS growthi | +14.20% | +4.00% |
| FCF margini | +18.98% | +21.76% |
| Operating margini | 26.18% | 19.14% |
| Profit margini | 20.04% | 12.38% |
| ROIC proxyi | 14.56% | 7.32% |
| Return on equityi | 14.56% | 7.32% |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.56% | 0.46% |
| Payout ratioi | 19.01% | 11.85% |
| Dividend growth streaki | No increase yet | No increase yet |
| Betai | 0.99 | 0.99 |
| Debt/equityi | 20.52 | 59.28 |
| Current ratioi | 1.21 | 1.24 |
| Quick ratioi | 0.65 | 0.80 |
Over the past year, AME and FTV have moved weakly in the same direction (correlation of 0.37), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | AME | FTV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +25.51% | +32.72% |
| CAGRi | +25.56% | +32.79% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.66% | 27.20% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.93 | 1.03 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.37 | 1.55 | |
| Max drawdowni | 13.70% | 14.95% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.84% | 0.00% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 3.68% | 5.02% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 5.00% | 6.53% | |
| Max daily dropi | 4.58% | 7.10% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 7.21% | 6.98% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +81.17% | -13.14% |
| CAGRi | +12.62% | -2.78% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.12% | 28.36% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.45 | -0.11 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.64 | -0.14 | |
| Max drawdowni | 27.06% | 45.83% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.84% | 22.25% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.80% | 19.53% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 8.96% | 22.85% | |
| Max daily dropi | 8.27% | 27.19% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 11.91% | 25.98% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +492.66% | +61.72% |
| CAGRi | +19.48% | +4.93% | |
| Volatilityi | 24.57% | 27.89% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.67 | 0.15 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.95 | 0.21 | |
| Max drawdowni | 42.72% | 52.65% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.84% | 22.25% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 5.65% | 14.31% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 8.25% | 18.62% | |
| Max daily dropi | 16.17% | 27.19% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 24.02% | 25.98% |
| Category | AME | FTV |
|---|---|---|
| Company | AMETEK, Inc. | Fortive Corporation |
| Sector | Industrials | Technology |
| Industry | Specialty Industrial Machinery | Scientific & Technical Instruments |
| Core business | AMETEK is a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with two segments: Electronic Instruments Group (EIG) makes precision instruments for aerospace/defense (flight deck instruments, sensors), process industries (analytical instruments, gas analyzers, flow measurement), power management (power quality instruments, thermal management systems for data centers), and medical devices; Electromechanical Group (EMG) makes blowers, technical motors, specialty metals and alloys, and precision motion components for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. AMETEK operates approximately 80 business units globally with a decentralized management model and has made 60+ acquisitions over the past decade. | Fortive is an industrial technology company providing hardware, software, and services that make field operations safer and more efficient. Fortive spun out of Danaher Corporation in 2016. Segments: Intelligent Operating Solutions (IOS) — Fluke Corporation (electronic test and measurement tools for field technicians), Industrial Scientific (gas detection for worker safety), Accruent (facility and asset management software), and eMaint (computerized maintenance management software); Precision Technologies — Tektronix (oscilloscopes and electronics test equipment), Pacific Scientific EMC (electromagnetic compatibility testing). Fortive has been expanding software and recurring revenue content through targeted acquisitions. |
| Investor focus | Investors track AMETEK's organic revenue growth, EBITDA margins (consistently 25-30%), acquisition integration and returns, and the EIG/EMG segment mix (EIG commands higher multiples as test and measurement; EMG is lower-multiple electromechanical). | Investors track Fortive's software recurring revenue growth (Accruent, eMaint), organic growth in Fluke and Tektronix, EBITDA margins, and the strategic portfolio evolution (Fortive spun off Vontier in 2020 for vehicle-related businesses). |
- World-class operating model with consistently high margins — AMETEK sustains 25-30% EBITDA margins through pricing discipline, lean manufacturing, and business unit accountability; among the highest sustained industrial manufacturing margins in the sector
- Acquisition model builds a proprietary compound growth engine — 60+ acquisitions over 20+ years; the playbook: buy a niche instrument maker at 9-12x EBITDA, implement AMETEK operating standards, grow margins and revenue; model has consistently generated attractive compounding EPS growth
- Defense and aerospace exposure provides durable, less-cyclical demand — approximately 20-25% of AMETEK revenue comes from defense/aerospace; this segment provides visibility and stability through commercial industrial cycles
- Fluke Corporation is one of the world's best-known industrial tool brands — Fluke handheld meters are the de facto standard for field technicians globally; the brand commands premium pricing and near-monopoly loyalty in its product categories among electricians, HVAC technicians, and plant maintenance workers
- Danaher Business System (DBS) heritage provides a world-class operating framework — Fortive inherited and adapted DBS's kaizen-based continuous improvement methodology, creating a common language for operational excellence and acquisition integration
- Software expansion into facility and asset management creates higher-multiple recurring revenue — SaaS facility management software generates predictable recurring revenue at higher margins and multiples than hardware; Fortive's software revenue has grown to approximately 15%+ of total revenue
- Premium valuation requires consistent execution — AMETEK trades at 25-30x forward earnings; any organic growth or margin disappointment receives a disproportionate stock correction
- Acquisition integration at scale becomes harder as the company grows — executing 4-6 acquisitions per year across 80+ existing units demands consistent management depth; execution failures become more likely as the machine scales
- Process industry end markets can be cyclical — oil and gas, chemical, and pulp/paper end markets for AMETEK process instruments experience capital spending cycles
- Tektronix faces competition from Keysight Technologies and lower-cost Asian competitors — market share pressure is ongoing in oscilloscopes where Keysight competes aggressively in higher-end models
- Software acquisition integration at Fortive is complex — software businesses have different management culture and talent retention needs than hardware instrument businesses; retaining talent at acquired software companies within a hardware-dominated corporate culture is challenging
- Portfolio still includes some slower-growth industrial businesses — despite divestitures, Fortive retains mature industrial businesses growing more slowly than the software segments
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