NOVANTA INC vs SPECTRUM BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC., two Electrical Equipment stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Novanta builds precision photonics and motion components, but its earnings are temporarily depressed, which is why it trades at 113.01 times earnings while earning only 4.1% on equity. Spectrum Brands sells home and pet products, earns a higher 6.63% on equity, and converts 14.22% of its price into free cash against Novanta's 1.06%. The market pays 4.93 times book for Novanta and just 1.07 for Spectrum, near its asset value, an enormous gap in what buyers will pay per dollar of net worth. Spectrum pays a 2.15% dividend Novanta does not. Novanta at $6.5B is three times Spectrum at $2.0B, and priced for a recovery Spectrum's cash flow does not need.
Comparison updated 2026-07-11.
| Metric | NOVT | SPB |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $156.52 | $83.18 |
| Market cap | $6.4B | $1.9B |
| Sector | Electrical Equipment | Electrical Equipment |
| Stage | Mature | Mature |
| P/E | 112.6 | 16.2 |
| P/B | 4.91 | 1.02 |
| P/S | 6.41 | 0.69 |
| EV/EBITDA | 41.5 | 10.4 |
| Revenue growth | +5.6% | -3.5% |
| Gross margin | 44.1% | 38.1% |
| Operating margin | 10.7% | 6.1% |
| Net margin | 5.3% | 4.5% |
| Return on equity | 4.1% | 6.6% |
| Return on assets | 3.0% | 3.6% |
| Return on invested capital | 4.6% | 3.2% |
| FCF yield | 1.1% | 15.0% |
| Dividend yield | — | 2.3% |
| Debt / equity | 0.18 | 0.31 |
| Current ratio | 3.56 | 2.29 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 7.25 | 2.75 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 7 / 9 | 6 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.