transistor hFE testing higher than expected

[liammc00]

I have a transistor 435-1 and the use case in the circuit is the video buffer leaving the IF/detector chip. The one in the TV tested at hFE 568. I have 2 others out of another chassis and looks to be different manufacturer but the number is the same. One tesed at hFE 286 and other tested at hFE287. The replacement for transistor is NTE123AP it's max hFE 300 at 150ma link https://www.alldatasheet.com/datashe.../NTE123AP.html . I think the original is bad as why would the recommend replacement be lower than OG part. I have not changed many transistors and ones I have tested shorted. I looked online but couldn't get a good answer to my question.