Mesa Laboratories (MLAB) vs Novanta (NOVT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Mesa Laboratories (MLAB) has outperformed Novanta (NOVT) over the past year, gaining 78.2% versus a gain of 32.7%. Over five years, NOVT leads with a -15.6% price change compared with -59.3% for MLAB. Novanta is the larger company by market cap ($5.16 billion vs $705.4 million), about 7.3 times the size.
On valuation, Mesa Laboratories trades at a lower forward P/E (12.3x vs 31.2x for Novanta). Mesa Laboratories pays a dividend yielding 0.51%, while Novanta does not currently pay one.
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 | MLAB | NOVT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $126.06 | $136.33 |
| Market cap | $705.42M | $5.16B |
| 1-day change | -3.00% | -5.09% |
| YTD return | +60.59% | +14.57% |
| 1-year return | +78.18% | +32.75% |
| 5-year return | -59.30% | -15.59% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 148.31 | 86.28 |
| Forward P/E | 12.27 | 31.22 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.85 | $1.58 |
| Dividend yield | 0.51% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.64 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $980.60M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +3.30% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $53.83M |
| Gross margin | — | 44.39% |
| Operating margin | — | 9.59% |
| Net margin | — | 5.49% |
| 52-week high | $144.35 | $176.38 |
| 52-week low | $66.56 | $98.27 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.67% | -22.71% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | -0.84% | +42.67% |
| Average volume | 143.25K | 390.69K |
| Shares outstanding | 5.60M | 37.82M |
| Employees | 717 | 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
- Novanta is about 7.3 times larger than Mesa Laboratories by market value ($5.16B vs $705.42M).
- MLAB has outperformed NOVT by 45.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Mesa Laboratories trades at a higher earnings multiple (148.3x vs 86.3x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Mesa Laboratories in Industrials and Novanta in Miscellaneous.
About Mesa Laboratories
MLAB stock →Mesa Laboratories, Inc. develops, designs, manufactures, sells, and services life sciences tools and quality control products and services in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 717 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
MLAB vs NOVT FAQ
Which is bigger, Mesa Laboratories or Novanta?
Novanta (NOVT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.16B compared with $705.42M for Mesa Laboratories (MLAB).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MLAB or NOVT?
MLAB returned +78.18% over the past 12 months, compared with +32.75% for NOVT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MLAB or NOVT?
NOVT has the lower trailing P/E at 86.3, versus 148.3 for MLAB. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Mesa Laboratories or Novanta?
Mesa Laboratories pays a dividend yielding 0.51%, while Novanta does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Mesa Laboratories and Novanta in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.