BusinessAugust 18, 2026

yardstick

YARD-stik

Definition

A standard or criterion used to measure, evaluate, or compare the value or performance of something.

Etymology

Derived from the physical measuring tool 'yardstick' (a rod one yard long), which entered English usage in the 17th century; it figuratively evolved to represent any benchmark for comparison.

In the news

The article refers to the P/E ratio as a yardstick, meaning it is the standard metric used to evaluate whether Onto Innovation stock is expensive relative to its earnings.

Onto Innovation (ONTO) Stock May Still Look Stretched As AI Demand Builds

Read the full article ↗

Simply Wall Street

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