AMD vs MKSI: How Advanced Micro Devices and MKS Inc. Compare (2026)
Last updated August 2026
Short answer
AMD and MKSI are similarly sized, but MKSI trades noticeably cheaper on forward earnings (19.25x vs 34.45x): the market is paying up for AMD's profile and pricing MKSI more conservatively, or for faster growth. Which you prefer comes down to the drivers you believe, and whether adding either over-concentrates what you already own.
AMD vs MKSI: the tie-breaker metrics
Same yardstick, side by side (as of August 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.
| Metric | AMD | MKSI | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward P/E | 34.45 | 19.25 | Valuation on next year's expected earnings, the same yardstick for both. Lower is cheaper for that growth; higher means the market is paying up. |
| Trailing P/E | 158.72 | 62.10 | Valuation on the last 12 months. A big drop from trailing to forward means the market expects earnings to jump, so more growth is already in the price. |
| Beta | 2.47 | 1.93 | Volatility vs the market. Above 1 swings harder than the index; below 1 is steadier. Higher beta means bigger drawdowns to hold through. |
| Price vs 52-week range | 75% of range | 58% of range | Where today's price sits between the 52-week low and high. Near the high is momentum with less margin of safety; near the low is out of favor or a discount, depending on why. |
| Price / book | 12.04 | 7.12 | How much you pay over book value. Very high can signal an asset-light, high-return business or a rich price. |
Reading it: MKSI is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.
Before you buy: how AMD and MKSI affect your concentration
The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. AMD and MKSI share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.
This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined AMD and MKSI exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.
What does Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) do?
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) designs CPUs, GPUs, and adaptive computing chips. The company has two main client-facing CPU lines: Ryzen for consumer PCs and EPYC for data center servers. EPYC has gained significant share against Intel Xeon in cloud and enterprise data centers over the past five years. The Instinct GPU line (MI300X, MI325X, MI350, MI400) is AMD's AI accelerator platform and the primary direct competitor to NVIDIA's data center GPUs.
What does MKS Inc. (MKSI) do?
MKS Inc. (formerly MKS Instruments) is a specialty supplier of vacuum systems, lasers, and precision motion components used in semiconductor manufacturing, advanced electronics, and other precision industrial applications. The company's semiconductor business spans pressure measurement and control, vacuum technology, ozone and plasma processing, and chemical vapor delivery. Many of these are critical sub-systems inside the equipment that companies like Applied Materials and Lam Research build.
AMD vs MKSI: how do they differ?
Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.
- AMD drivers: Instinct AI GPU ramp; EPYC server share gains.
- MKSI drivers: Semiconductor equipment capex cycle; Atotech integration and electronics chemistry.
Which fits which kind of investor
A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: NVIDIA's structural advantages in AI (CUDA ecosystem, manufacturing capacity allocations from TSMC, customer relationships) make AI GPU share gains harder than the hardware comparison alone suggests. For MKSI, semiconductor capex cyclicality affects MKS materially.
AMD or MKSI: which should you pick?
AMD vs MKSI: the full fundamentals
AMD. AMD trades at a premium P/E reflecting the AI accelerator growth story and EPYC share gains. The valuation depends on continued execution against NVIDIA in AI; multiple compresses quickly if Instinct share gains stall.
MKSI. MKS valuation balances the AI-driven semiconductor capex tailwind against the debt overhang and the cyclical end markets. The multiple expands meaningfully during semiconductor up-cycles.
Headline figures (approximate, early 2026): AMD shows revenue (ttm) ~$30 billion, operating margin ~25% (improving as data center mix grows), net income (ttm) ~$4 billion (GAAP; higher non-GAAP), eps (ttm) ~$2.50; MKSI shows revenue (ttm) ~$3.7 billion, operating margin ~13% (cyclical), net income (ttm) ~$200 million, eps (ttm) ~$3.00.
The bottom line: AMD vs MKSI
AMD and MKSI are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined AMD and MKSI exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.
Wondering how AMD or MKSI fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.
Investing in Advanced Micro Devices with AI
Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how AMD fits what you actually hold: whether you own it already through a fund, what it would do to your concentration, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.
FAQ
What is the difference between AMD and MKSI?
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Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) designs CPUs, GPUs, and adaptive computing chips. MKS Inc. They show up together because they share investment themes, but they are different businesses, so the better fit depends on which thesis you are expressing.
Is AMD or MKSI the better stock?
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Neither is universally better; they suit different views and risk levels. Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Compare what each does, the tie-breaker metrics above, and the risks, then decide which fits your thesis and what you already own.
Which is cheaper, AMD or MKSI?
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On forward P/E (as of August 2026), AMD trades at 34.45x and MKSI at 19.25x, so MKSI is the cheaper of the two on next year's expected earnings. A lower multiple is not automatically the better buy: a richer valuation can be justified by faster growth, and a lower one can reflect real risk. Weigh the multiple against how fast each business is compounding.
Should you own both AMD and MKSI?
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Because they share themes, owning both concentrates you in that theme. That can be intentional (a focused bet) or accidental (less diversification than it looks). Walnut can show your combined exposure across both, and whether adding either over-concentrates you, before you buy.
What are the risks of AMD vs MKSI?
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AMD: NVIDIA's structural advantages in AI (CUDA ecosystem, manufacturing capacity allocations from TSMC, customer relationships) make AI GPU share gains harder than the hardware comparison alone suggests. Intel's eventual recovery in server CPUs is a multi-year risk. MKSI: Semiconductor capex cyclicality affects MKS materially. Integration risks from Atotech and other acquisitions. Debt levels are higher than peers, creating financial risk during cyclical troughs.
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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. This page is descriptive and not a recommendation to buy or sell AMD or MKSI; figures are approximate and dated (as of August 2026). Verify current data before investing.