Middleby (MIDD) vs Novanta (NOVT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Novanta (NOVT) has outperformed Middleby (MIDD) over the past year, gaining 42.3% versus a loss of 4.8%. Over five years, NOVT leads with a -11.1% price change compared with -24.0% for MIDD. Novanta is the larger company by market cap ($5.16 billion vs $4.77 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Middleby trades at a lower forward P/E (13.5x vs 31.2x for Novanta). Novanta converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.5% versus -8.7%.
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 | MIDD | NOVT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $105.40 | $136.33 |
| Market cap | $4.77B | $5.16B |
| 1-day change | +0.15% | -5.09% |
| YTD return | -12.01% | +20.72% |
| 1-year return | -4.75% | +42.26% |
| 5-year return | -24.03% | -11.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 86.28 |
| Forward P/E | 13.52 | 31.22 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-5.42 | $1.58 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.20B | $980.60M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.62% | +3.30% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-277.73M | $53.83M |
| Gross margin | 39.11% | 44.39% |
| Operating margin | 17.96% | 9.59% |
| Net margin | -8.68% | 5.49% |
| 52-week high | $148.55 | $176.38 |
| 52-week low | $89.16 | $98.27 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -29.05% | -22.71% |
| Analyst consensus | none | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +47.90% | +42.67% |
| Average volume | 591.81K | 389.49K |
| Shares outstanding | 45.22M | 37.82M |
| Employees | 8,826 | 3,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Miscellaneous |
| 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
- NOVT has outperformed MIDD by 47.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Novanta is more profitable, keeping 5.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -8.7 cents for Middleby.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Middleby in Industrials and Novanta in Miscellaneous.
About Middleby
MIDD stock →The Middleby Corporation operates in the foodservice industry worldwide. The company develops and manufactures a line of solutions used in commercial foodservice and food processing.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 8,826 employees
About Novanta
NOVT stock →Novanta Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides precision medicine, precision manufacturing, medical solutions, robotics and automation solutions, and advanced surgery solutions in the United States and internationally. The company operates Automation Enabling Technologies and Medical Solutions segments.
Miscellaneous · Industrial Machinery/Components · 3,000 employees
MIDD vs NOVT FAQ
Which is bigger, Middleby or Novanta?
Novanta (NOVT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.16B compared with $4.77B for Middleby (MIDD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MIDD or NOVT?
NOVT returned +42.26% over the past 12 months, compared with -4.75% for MIDD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Middleby and Novanta in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.