Analyzing JBT Marel (NYSE:JBTM) & ATS (NYSE:ATS)

ATS (NYSE:ATS) and JBT Marel (NYSE:JBTM) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings and risk.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for ATS and JBT Marel, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
ATS	2	2	3	0	2.14
JBT Marel	0	2	5	0	2.71

ATS presently has a consensus target price of $42.50, suggesting a potential upside of 141.48%. JBT Marel has a consensus target price of $165.20, suggesting a potential upside of 54.42%. Given ATS’s higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe ATS is more favorable than JBT Marel.

Profitability

This table compares ATS and JBT Marel’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
ATS	1.60%	8.96%	3.63%
JBT Marel	4.89%	8.75%	4.80%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

75.8% of ATS shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.9% of JBT Marel shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of JBT Marel shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares ATS and JBT Marel”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
ATS	$2.15 billion	0.79	$51.85 million	$0.34	51.76
JBT Marel	$3.80 billion	1.46	-$50.50 million	$3.67	29.15

ATS has higher earnings, but lower revenue than JBT Marel. JBT Marel is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than ATS, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

ATS has a beta of 1.18, suggesting that its stock price is 18% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, JBT Marel has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its stock price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

JBT Marel beats ATS on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ATS

ATS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides automation solutions worldwide. The company is also involved in planning, designing, building, commissioning, and servicing automated manufacturing and assembly systems, including automation products and test solutions. In addition, it offers pre-automation services comprising discovery and analysis, concept development, simulation, and total cost of ownership modelling; post automation services, including training, process optimization, preventative maintenance, emergency and on-call support, spare parts, retooling, retrofits, and equipment relocation; and contract manufacturing services, as well as after sales and services. Further, the company provides engineering design, prototyping, process verification, specification writing, software and manufacturing process controls development, standard automation products/platforms, equipment design and build, third-party equipment qualification, procurement and integration, automation system installation, product line commissioning, validation, and documentation services. Additionally, it offers value engineering, supply chain management, and integration and manufacturing capabilities, as well as other automation products and solutions; and software and digital solutions comprising connected factory floor management systems to capture, analyze, and use real time machine performance data to troubleshoot, deliver process and product solutions, prevent equipment downtime, drive operational efficiency, and unlock performance for sustainable production improvements. ATS Corporation serves life sciences, transportation and mobility, consumer products, food and beverage, electronics, nuclear, packaging, warehousing and distribution, and energy markets. The company was formerly known as ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. and changed its name to ATS Corporation in November 2022. ATS Corporation was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Canada.

About JBT Marel

JBT Marel Corporation provides technology solutions to food and beverage industry in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It offers value-added processing that includes chilling, mixing/grinding, injecting, blending, marinating, tumbling, flattening, forming, portioning, coating, cooking, frying, freezing, extracting, pasteurizing, sterilizing, concentrating, high pressure processing, weighing, inspecting, filling, closing, sealing, end of line material handling, and packaging solutions to the food, beverage, and health market. In addition, it offers automated guided vehicle systems for material movement in the manufacturing, warehouse, and medical facilities. It serves baby food, bakery and confectionery, citrus processing, fruits and nuts, juices, non-food, pet food, pharmaceutical, plant- based beverages and protein, poultry, meat, and seafood, ready meals, oils, soups, sauces, seasoning and dressings, automotive, building material, tissue, paper, and packaging, hospitals, pharma and life sciences, fast moving consumer goods, manufacturing, warehousing, and other industries. The company markets and sells its products and solutions through direct sales force, independent distributors, sales representatives, and technical service teams. The company was formerly known as John Bean Technologies Corporation and changed its name to JBT Marel Corporation in January 2025. JBT Marel Corporation was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.