Mesa Laboratories (MLAB) vs Varex Imaging (VREX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Mesa Laboratories (MLAB) has outperformed Varex Imaging (VREX) over the past year, gaining 90.6% versus a gain of 59.5%. Over five years, VREX leads with a -30.7% price change compared with -58.0% for MLAB. Varex Imaging is the larger company by market cap ($784.1 million vs $711.8 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Mesa Laboratories trades at a lower forward P/E (12.4x vs 17.3x for Varex Imaging). Mesa Laboratories pays a dividend yielding 0.50%, while Varex Imaging 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 | VREX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $127.20 | $18.47 |
| Market cap | $711.77M | $784.09M |
| 1-day change | -2.13% | +0.14% |
| YTD return | +65.55% | +58.28% |
| 1-year return | +90.56% | +59.52% |
| 5-year return | -58.04% | -30.70% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 149.64 | 34.84 |
| Forward P/E | 12.39 | 17.26 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.85 | $0.53 |
| Dividend yield | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.64 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $144.35 | $18.63 |
| 52-week low | $66.56 | $9.09 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.88% | -0.89% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | -1.73% | +2.36% |
| Average volume | 146.02K | 831.04K |
| Shares outstanding | 5.60M | 42.46M |
| Employees | 717 | 2,500 |
| Sector | Industrials | 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
- MLAB has outperformed VREX by 31.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Mesa Laboratories trades at a higher earnings multiple (149.6x vs 34.8x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Mesa Laboratories in Industrials and Varex Imaging in Technology.
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 Varex Imaging
VREX stock →Varex Imaging Corporation designs, manufactures, and sells X-ray imaging components. It operates through two segments, Medical and Industrial.
Technology · Industrial Machinery/Components · 2,500 employees
MLAB vs VREX FAQ
Which is bigger, Mesa Laboratories or Varex Imaging?
Varex Imaging (VREX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $784.09M compared with $711.77M for Mesa Laboratories (MLAB).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MLAB or VREX?
MLAB returned +90.56% over the past 12 months, compared with +59.52% for VREX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MLAB or VREX?
VREX has the lower trailing P/E at 34.8, versus 149.6 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 Varex Imaging?
Mesa Laboratories pays a dividend yielding 0.50%, while Varex Imaging does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Mesa Laboratories and Varex Imaging in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.