AME vs FTV: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

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.

Reading it: FTV 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.

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. AME and FTV 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 AME and FTV 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.

AMETEK is a Berwyn, Pennsylvania manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices, founded in 1930 and employing roughly 22,500 people. It runs two segments. The Electronic Instruments Group (EIG) builds analytical, test and measurement, process and aerospace instrumentation, including power quality monitors, materials analysis systems and cockpit sensors. The Electromechanical Group (EMG) makes engineered electrical connectors and interconnects, precision motion components, thermal management products and, since the Paragon Medical acquisition, contract-manufactured medical instruments and implantable components. The common thread is niche leadership: AMETEK deliberately targets small, differentiated product categories where it can hold a top position and price for engineering content rather than compete on volume.

Full AME guide

Fortive Corporation is a technology solutions company that was itself spun out of Danaher in 2016 and has since used the Danaher-style operating playbook to build recurring-revenue businesses. In June 2025 it completed the spin-off of its Precision Technologies segment as Ralliant (RAL), which took brands like Tektronix and specialty sensors with it, leaving Fortive with two segments. Intelligent Operating Solutions (IOS) is anchored by the Fluke test-and-measurement brand plus facilities and asset-management software (Accruent, Gordian, ServiceChannel). Advanced Healthcare Solutions (AHS) covers hospital sterilization and infection prevention (ASP) and clinical workflow software (Provation, Censis).

Full FTV guide

Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.

• AME drivers: Record orders tied to AI infrastructure, aerospace and defense; The $5 billion Indicor instrumentation acquisition.
• FTV drivers: Recurring revenue and software mix; Margin expansion via the Fortive Business System.

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: Valuation is the most immediate risk: at roughly 37 times trailing and about 29 times forward earnings, with an EV/EBITDA near 24, the shares price in continued execution and leave limited room for a demand air pocket. For FTV, fortive trades at a premium valuation (a trailing P/E in the low-to-mid 30s), so any growth disappointment or multiple compression could pressure the stock.

Growth-minded investors who believe the theme has years to run tend to accept the richer multiple for more upside; value-minded investors lean toward the cheaper forward earnings and steadier profile. Pick AME if you believe its drivers more; FTV if you believe its. Many investors hold both, but since they share themes, that is a concentrated bet, not diversification. Decide deliberately and check overlap. For the full detail, see the AME and FTV guides.

AME. AMETEK trades at a clear premium to the broader industrial group, with a trailing P/E near 37, a forward P/E near 29 and EV/EBITDA around 24. The premium reflects roughly 26 percent operating margins, about $1.8 billion of free cash flow and a long record of accretive acquisitions rather than unusual top-line growth. The shares were near $254 in early August 2026 against a 52-week range of roughly $179 to $258, so recent record results and the raised guidance are largely reflected in the price.

FTV. After the Ralliant spin-off, Fortive's continuing-operations revenue base is roughly $4 billion, smaller than the pre-spin company but higher-margin. The premium P/E in the low-to-mid 30s reflects the market pricing in recurring revenue and steady compounding rather than a bargain. Forward multiples look lower on expected earnings growth.

Headline figures (approximate, August 2026): AME shows revenue (ttm) ~$7.86B, up ~12.7%, net income (ttm) ~$1.58B (~20% margin), q2 2026 sales / adj. eps ~$2.04B (+15%) / ~$2.09, 2026 adj. eps guidance ~$8.20 to $8.30; FTV shows revenue (ttm, post-spin) ~$4.1B, q1 2026 revenue ~$1.07B (up ~7.7% YoY), adjusted ebitda margin ~29%, adjusted eps (q1 2026) ~$0.70 (up ~25% YoY).

AME and FTV 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 AME and FTV exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.