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AZTA
Azenta, Inc. · Technology - Life Sciences & Semiconductor Automation
$23.31
+32.07% this month
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COHU
Cohu, Inc. · Technology - Semiconductor Test Equipment
$69.40
+62.26% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
AZTA
2
COHU
2
Comparison scoreboard
MIXED SETUPAI Score
AZTA 33.0
COHU ✓43.4
1Y Return
AZTA -22.14%
COHU ✓+281.74%
Fwd P/E
AZTA ✓37.96
COHU 46.94
Target Up.
AZTA ✓+12.40%
COHU -13.13%
Op. Margin
AZTA N/A
COHU N/A
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
AZTA vs COHU Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
AZTA (Azenta) and COHU (Cohu) are both smaller-cap technology companies operating in semiconductor-adjacent and life sciences markets — Azenta has transformed from semiconductor automation to life sciences sample management and genomics services, while Cohu focuses on semiconductor test handlers, contactors, and inspection equipment for chip manufacturers and OSATs. These are quite different businesses despite both having semiconductor heritage.
AZTA vs COHU is life sciences automation transformation (Azenta's pivot from semiconductor automation to biorepository sample management and genomics services) versus semiconductor test ecosystem (Cohu's handler and contactor equipment serving the back-end testing of chips across automotive, mobile, and industrial markets) — different directions from adjacent semiconductor supply chain positions.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
AZTA and COHU are closely matched — they split the tracked metrics evenly. COHU has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+281.74% vs -22.14%), though AZTA trades at the lower forward P/E (37.96x vs 46.94x). Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for AZTA (+12.40%) than for COHU (-13.13%).
Normalized 1Y performance
AZTA
COHU
Recent returns
AZTA
COHU
Analyst price targets & sentiment
AZTA · 5 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (2.2/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$20.00
analyst high$33.00
analyst mean$26.20
current price$23.31
+12.4% upside to analyst mean
COHU · 7 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Strong Buy (1.1/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$50.00
analyst high$80.00
analyst mean$60.29
current price$69.40
-13.1% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
AZTA may suit investors who:
- →Want exposure to the life sciences sample management and genomics services market as pharmaceutical and biotech automation spending grows for biorepository and cell therapy manufacturing applications
- →Value Azenta's transformation into a purer life sciences play with a strengthened balance sheet from the semiconductor automation business sale and active capital return program
- →Believe biobanking, cell and gene therapy manufacturing, and genomics research automation represent growing addressable markets as pharmaceutical R&D becomes more data-driven and personalized
COHU may suit investors who:
- →Want semiconductor back-end test equipment exposure — handlers and contactors used in the testing of all chips before packaging, with automotive semiconductor content growth as a particular tailwind
- →Value the consumable contactor revenue as a recurring revenue stream tied to semiconductor production volumes rather than just new equipment orders
- →Accept semiconductor test equipment cyclicality for exposure to automotive chip testing demand growth as electric vehicles and ADAS require significantly more semiconductor content per vehicle
Performance & AI score
| Metric | AZTA | COHU |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 33.0 | 43.4 |
| AI rank | #1982 | #806 |
| Latest close | $23.31 | $69.40 |
| 1M return | +32.07% | +62.26% |
| 6M return | -32.57% | +201.87% |
| 1Y return | -22.14% | +281.74% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | AZTA | COHU |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $7.79K (-22.1%) started 2025-06-18 | $38.17K (+281.7%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $2.55K (-74.5%) started 2021-06-18 | $20.3K (+103.0%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $22.97K (+129.7%) started 2016-06-20 | $66.24K (+562.4%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | AZTA | COHU |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $1.07B | $3.27B |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Forward P/E | 37.96 | 46.94 |
| Price/Sales | 1.80 | 6.80 |
| EV/Revenue | 1.24 | 5.79 |
| Analyst target | $26.20 | $60.29 |
| Target upside | +12.40% | -13.13% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | AZTA | COHU |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 1.00% | 29.30% |
| Earnings growth | N/A | N/A |
| EPS growth | N/A | N/A |
| FCF margin | +16.99% | +14.37% |
| Operating margin | N/A | N/A |
| Profit margin | -29.06% | -11.54% |
| ROIC proxy | -6.81% | -6.96% |
| Return on equity | -6.81% | -6.96% |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 1.40 | 1.62 |
| Debt/equity | 3.58 | 42.92 |
| Current ratio | 2.83 | 6.43 |
| Quick ratio | 2.12 | 5.03 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
AZTA max drawdown60.94%
COHU max drawdown20.23%
AZTA max wkly drop28.77%
COHU max wkly drop13.81%
5Y risk snapshot
AZTA max drawdown87.08%
COHU max drawdown69.46%
AZTA max wkly drop28.77%
COHU max wkly drop24.63%
10Y risk snapshot
AZTA max drawdown87.08%
COHU max drawdown73.63%
AZTA max wkly drop28.77%
COHU max wkly drop38.77%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | AZTA | COHU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | -22.14% | +281.74% |
| CAGR | -22.16% | +282.09% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.14 | 2.75 | |
| Max drawdown | 60.94% | 20.23% | |
| Max daily drop | 25.31% | 10.86% | |
| Max wkly drop | 28.77% | 13.81% | |
| 5Y | Growth | -74.52% | +103.04% |
| CAGR | -23.93% | +15.22% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.35 | 0.44 | |
| Max drawdown | 87.08% | 69.46% | |
| Max daily drop | 25.31% | 12.44% | |
| Max wkly drop | 28.77% | 24.63% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +114.33% | +528.09% |
| CAGR | +7.93% | +20.19% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.32 | 0.53 | |
| Max drawdown | 87.08% | 73.63% | |
| Max daily drop | 25.31% | 25.53% | |
| Max wkly drop | 28.77% | 38.77% |
Business comparison
| Category | AZTA | COHU |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Azenta, Inc. | Cohu, Inc. |
| Sector | Technology - Life Sciences & Semiconductor Automation | Technology - Semiconductor Test Equipment |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | Azenta (formerly Brooks Automation) pivoted from semiconductor automation to life sciences — providing automated biological sample management systems (biorepository equipment), genomics sequencing services, cell and gene therapy manufacturing solutions, and laboratory automation. Azenta sold its semiconductor automation business to focus on life sciences sample handling and genomics. | Cohu is a semiconductor test and inspection equipment company providing test handlers (equipment that places chips into test sockets), contactors (the electrical interfaces connecting chips to test equipment), thermal subsystems, and inspection equipment used after wafer fabrication to test individual chips before packaging. Cohu's equipment is used by outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) companies and chip manufacturers. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Azenta's life sciences revenue growth, sample management system orders from pharmaceutical and biotech customers, genomics services revenue, operating margin expansion as the company scales its transformed business model, and capital return through buybacks funded by the semiconductor business sale proceeds. | Investors track Cohu's semiconductor test equipment orders, handlers and contactors consumable revenue, automotive and industrial chip testing exposure (a growing segment), OSAT customer investment cycle, and margin improvement from the Xcerra acquisition integration. |
AZTA strengths
- →Life sciences sample management is an expanding market — the growth of biobanking, cell therapy manufacturing, and genomics research creates demand for automated cryogenic sample storage and retrieval systems
- →Genomics services business (gene sequencing and synthesis) provides recurring revenue from pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research customers
- →Azenta sold its semiconductor automation business to Entegris in 2021, simplifying the company into a pure-play life sciences automation provider with a strong balance sheet
COHU strengths
- →Handler and contactor consumable revenue — contactors are wear items replaced frequently during high-volume chip testing, providing recurring revenue tied to semiconductor production volumes
- →Automotive semiconductor growth — Cohu has significant automotive chip testing exposure; the electrification and ADAS content growth in vehicles is driving more automotive semiconductor testing demand
- →Broad test handler portfolio across multiple device types (memory, mobile, automotive, RF) provides diversification across semiconductor end markets
Risks to watch — AZTA
- →Strategic transformation risk — pivoting from a profitable semiconductor automation business to life sciences means Azenta is effectively a new company with different competitive dynamics and customer relationships
- →Life sciences capital equipment spending is discretionary for pharmaceutical and biotech customers — budget cuts during biotech funding droughts reduce sample management system orders
- →Integration of acquired genomics services businesses (Genoptix, B Medical Systems) requires execution during a period of business transformation
Risks to watch — COHU
- →Semiconductor test equipment cycle — test equipment spending is lumpy and correlates with fab utilization cycles; Cohu revenue can decline significantly during inventory correction periods
- →Teradyne and Advantest dominate semiconductor test systems (ATE); Cohu competes in handlers and contactors but depends on the ATE market's health for downstream test equipment demand
- →Customer concentration in OSATs (ASE, Amkor, JCET) means Cohu revenue is subject to the investment decisions of a relatively small number of large outsourced assembly and test companies
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