Imax (IMAX) vs Veeco Instruments (VECO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Veeco Instruments (VECO) has outperformed Imax (IMAX) over the past year, gaining 80.8% versus a gain of 57.0%. Over five years, IMAX leads with a +151.8% price change compared with +128.2% for VECO. Veeco Instruments is the larger company by market cap ($3.16 billion vs $2.77 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Imax is growing revenue faster (+16.5% vs -7.4%).
On valuation, Veeco Instruments trades at a lower forward P/E (17.8x vs 24.0x for Imax). Imax converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 8.5% versus 5.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | IMAX | VECO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $50.42 | $51.78 |
| Market cap | $2.77B | $3.16B |
| 1-day change | -2.00% | -3.27% |
| YTD return | +39.20% | +87.30% |
| 1-year return | +57.00% | +80.84% |
| 5-year return | +151.84% | +128.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 69.07 | 139.95 |
| Forward P/E | 23.95 | 17.82 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.73 | $0.37 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $410.21M | $664.29M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +16.47% | -7.39% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $34.88M | $35.39M |
| Gross margin | 60.02% | 39.95% |
| Operating margin | 20.53% | 5.38% |
| Net margin | 8.50% | 5.33% |
| 52-week high | $57.73 | $86.63 |
| 52-week low | $30.74 | $26.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.66% | -40.23% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.72% | +18.44% |
| Average volume | 1.25M | 751.67K |
| Shares outstanding | 54.84M | 61.03M |
| Employees | 679 | 1,265 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Technology |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- VECO has outperformed IMAX by 23.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Veeco Instruments trades at a higher earnings multiple (140.0x vs 69.1x trailing P/E).
- Imax grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+16.47% vs -7.39%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Imax in Consumer Discretionary and Veeco Instruments in Technology.
About Imax
IMAX stock →IMAX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a technology platform for entertainment and events in the United States, Canada, Greater China, rest of Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and internationally. It operates through Content Solutions; and Technology Products and Services segments.
Consumer Discretionary · Industrial Machinery/Components · 679 employees
About Veeco Instruments
VECO stock →Veeco Instruments Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, sells, and supports semiconductor and thin film process equipment primarily to make electronic devices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, China, Rest of the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. It offers laser annealing, ion beam deposition and etch, metal organic chemical vapor deposition, single wafer wet processing and surface preparation, molecular beam epitaxy, advanced packaging lithography, atomic layer deposition, and other deposition systems.
Technology · Industrial Machinery/Components · 1,265 employees
IMAX vs VECO FAQ
Which is bigger, Imax or Veeco Instruments?
Veeco Instruments (VECO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.16B compared with $2.77B for Imax (IMAX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, IMAX or VECO?
VECO returned +80.84% over the past 12 months, compared with +57.00% for IMAX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, IMAX or VECO?
IMAX has the lower trailing P/E at 69.1, versus 140.0 for VECO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Imax and Veeco Instruments in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.