Sectors & IndustriesTechnologyScientific & Technical Instruments
Best Scientific & Technical Instrument Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top scientific & technical instrument stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best scientific & technical instrument stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Industry: Scientific & Technical In...
A
Scientific & Technical Instruments is Zen Rated A and is the 13th ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries
Learn how the Zen Ratings work
Ticker
Company
Zen Rating
Sentiment
Market Cap
Shares
Institutional %
Insider %
Net Insider (L12M)
Net Insider (L3M)
MLAB
MESA LABORATORIES INC
$503.20M5,524,81384.12%15.88%Net BuyingNet Buying
ST
SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING PLC
$5.05B145,799,54444.88%55.12%Net SellingNet Selling
MKSI
MKS INC
$15.78B67,248,35770.89%29.11%Net SellingNet Selling
ESE
ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC
$7.57B25,895,76295.97%4.03%Net SellingNet Buying
KEYS
KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES INC
$49.95B171,502,49591.31%1.09%Net SellingNet Selling
NOVT
NOVANTA INC
$4.18B35,683,76977.63%22.37%Net SellingNet Selling
VNT
VONTIER CORP
$5.01B141,600,00098.94%1.06%Net SellingNet Selling
CGNX
COGNEX CORP
$8.15B165,707,92096.11%3.89%Net SellingNet Selling
TRMB
TRIMBLE INC
$15.23B233,929,40896.85%1.22%Net SellingNet Selling
COHR
COHERENT CORP
$48.40B187,481,85287.94%8.39%Net SellingNet Selling
GRMN
GARMIN LTD
$45.74B192,480,83048.43%51.57%Net SellingNet Selling
ITRI
ITRON INC
$3.99B44,941,20682.90%17.10%Net SellingNet Selling
FTV
FORTIVE CORP
$17.26B307,859,19086.62%13.38%Net SellingNet Selling
TDY
TELEDYNE TECHNOLOGIES INC
$28.85B46,305,31194.81%5.07%Net SellingNet Selling
VPG
VISHAY PRECISION GROUP INC
$595.33M13,297,40972.52%27.48%Net Selling
ACFN
ACORN ENERGY INC
$43.11M2,506,5010.48%99.52%Net BuyingNet Buying
BKSY
BLACKSKY TECHNOLOGY INC
$1.14B36,994,81434.94%65.06%Net SellingNet Selling
GNSS
GENASYS INC
$81.83M45,212,31139.94%60.06%Net BuyingNet Buying
WATT
ENERGOUS CORP
$86.59M5,501,0990.75%99.25%Net Buying
BCHT
BIRCHTECH CORP
$48.93M26,305,9660.38%11.23%Net BuyingNet Buying
MIND
MIND TECHNOLOGY INC
$79.54M9,038,08214.46%23.76%
BMI
BADGER METER INC
$4.57B29,181,59895.79%4.21%Net BuyingNet Selling
WRAP
WRAP TECHNOLOGIES INC
$84.92M55,500,0549.76%40.95%Net SellingNet Buying
MVIS
MICROVISION INC
$196.21M306,579,85527.66%10.01%Net SellingNet Buying
FCUV
FOCUS UNIVERSAL INC
$3.42M1,025,1351.34%98.66%Net Buying
SOTK
SONO TEK CORP
$63.00M15,710,3898.16%24.07%Net SellingNet Buying
SOBR
SOBR SAFE INC
$829.39k1,516,2550.38%99.62%
USBC
USBC INC
$131.97M388,144,4290.48%99.52%Net Buying
ODYS
ODYSIGHTAI INC
$107.48M16,359,41028.57%45.23%Net SellingNet Buying
SVRE
SAVERONE 2014 LTD
$0.0029,961,257,0220.00%23.79%Net BuyingNet Buying
ELSE
ELECTRO SENSORS INC
$15.72M3,532,4235.86%94.14%Net BuyingNet Buying

Scientific & Technical Instrument Stocks FAQ

What are the best scientific & technical instrument stocks to buy right now in Apr 2026?

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best scientific & technical instrument stocks to buy right now are:

1. Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ:MLAB)


Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ:MLAB) is the #1 top scientific & technical instrument stock out of 31 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ:MLAB) is: Value: B, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: A, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: B.

Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ:MLAB) has a Due Diligence Score of 28, which is -7 points lower than the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 35. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates MLAB as a "A".

MLAB passed 11 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Mesa Laboratories has seen its stock lose -24.53% over the past year, underperforming other scientific & technical instrument stocks by -49 percentage points.

Mesa Laboratories has an average 1 year price target of $94.00, an upside of 3.21% from Mesa Laboratories's current stock price of $91.08.

Mesa Laboratories stock has a consensus Hold recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 1 analyst covering Mesa Laboratories, 0% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 100% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

2. Sensata Technologies Holding (NYSE:ST)


Sensata Technologies Holding (NYSE:ST) is the #2 top scientific & technical instrument stock out of 31 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Sensata Technologies Holding (NYSE:ST) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Sensata Technologies Holding (NYSE:ST) has a Due Diligence Score of 25, which is -10 points lower than the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 35. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates ST as a "A".

ST passed 10 out of 38 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Sensata Technologies Holding has seen its stock return 40.63% over the past year, overperforming other scientific & technical instrument stocks by 16 percentage points.

Sensata Technologies Holding has an average 1 year price target of $40.43, an upside of 16.81% from Sensata Technologies Holding's current stock price of $34.61.

Sensata Technologies Holding stock has a consensus Hold recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 7 analysts covering Sensata Technologies Holding, 14.29% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 14.29% have issued a Buy, 57.14% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 14.29% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. Mks (NASDAQ:MKSI)


Mks (NASDAQ:MKSI) is the #3 top scientific & technical instrument stock out of 31 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Mks (NASDAQ:MKSI) is: Value: C, Growth: C, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Mks (NASDAQ:MKSI) has a Due Diligence Score of 41, which is 6 points higher than the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 35.

MKSI passed 15 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Mks has seen its stock return 188.71% over the past year, overperforming other scientific & technical instrument stocks by 164 percentage points.

Mks has an average 1 year price target of $255.62, an upside of 8.93% from Mks's current stock price of $234.66.

Mks stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 13 analysts covering Mks, 69.23% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 15.38% have issued a Buy, 7.69% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 7.69% have issued a Strong Sell.

What are the scientific & technical instrument stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 9 scientific & technical instrument stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 scientific & technical instrument stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Garmin (NYSE:GRMN)


Garmin (NYSE:GRMN) has an annual dividend yield of 1.14%, which is the same as the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 0.64%. Garmin's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Garmin's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Garmin's dividend payout ratio of 39.9% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

2. Sensata Technologies Holding (NYSE:ST)


Sensata Technologies Holding (NYSE:ST) has an annual dividend yield of 1.04%, which is the same as the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 0.64%.

Sensata Technologies Holding's dividend payout ratio of 228.6% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI)


Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) has an annual dividend yield of 0.98%, which is the same as the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 0.64%. Badger Meter's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Badger Meter's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio of 30.7% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Why are scientific & technical instrument stocks up?

Scientific & technical instrument stocks were up 0.8% in the last day, and up 2.91% over the last week. Blacksky Technology was the among the top gainers in the scientific & technical instruments industry, gaining 11.55% yesterday.

Shares of space-related companies are trading higher amid sympathy with Globalstar after reports suggest it is in talks to be acquired by Amazon. The industry has seen recent strength related to the anticipated SpaceX IPO and the Artemis II mission.

What are the most undervalued scientific & technical instrument stocks?

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued scientific & technical instrument stocks right now are:

1. Vontier (NYSE:VNT)


Vontier (NYSE:VNT) is the most undervalued scientific & technical instrument stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Vontier has a valuation score of 57, which is 33 points higher than the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 24. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Vontier's stock has gained 5.11% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the scientific & technical instrument industry by -20 percentage points.

2. Itron (NASDAQ:ITRI)


Itron (NASDAQ:ITRI) is the second most undervalued scientific & technical instrument stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Itron has a valuation score of 43, which is 19 points higher than the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 24. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Itron's stock has dropped -17.39% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the scientific & technical instrument industry by -42 percentage points.

3. Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ:MLAB)


Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ:MLAB) is the third most undervalued scientific & technical instrument stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Mesa Laboratories has a valuation score of 14, which is -10 points higher than the scientific & technical instrument industry average of 24. It passed 1 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates MLAB a Valuation Rating of "B".

Mesa Laboratories's stock has dropped -24.53% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the scientific & technical instrument industry by -49 percentage points.

Are scientific & technical instrument stocks a good buy now?

45% of scientific & technical instrument stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect scientific & technical instrument stocks to rise by 11.92% over the next year.

8.33% of scientific & technical instrument stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 25% of scientific & technical instrument stocks are rated B (Buy), 62.5% are rated C (Hold), 0% are rated D (Sell), and 4.17% are rated F (Strong Sell).

What is the average p/e ratio of the scientific & technical instruments industry?

The average P/E ratio of the scientific & technical instruments industry is 75.88x.
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