Communication Equipment
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COMM vs VIAV
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Communication Equipment
COMM vs VIAV — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Communication Equipment |
| Market Cap | $3.95B | $12.26B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.30B | $1.37B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $62M | $-55M |
| Gross Margin | 37.1% | 55.7% |
| Operating Margin | 16.1% | 8.2% |
| Forward P/E | 11.7x | 57.3x |
| Total Debt | $9.39B | $692M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $565M | $424M |
COMM vs VIAV — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | Mar 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CommScope Holding C… (COMM) | 100 | 172.8 | +72.8% |
| Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) | 100 | 256.3 | +156.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: COMM vs VIAV
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
COMM has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in value and quality.
- Lower P/E (11.7x vs 57.3x)
- 1.2% margin vs VIAV's -4.0%
- 0.8% ROA vs VIAV's -2.3%, ROIC 3.7% vs 5.5%
VIAV is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.54
- Rev growth 8.4%, EPS growth 225.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -5.7%
- 7.3% 10Y total return vs COMM's -39.7%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.4% revenue growth vs COMM's -7.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.7x vs 57.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 1.2% margin vs VIAV's -4.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.54 vs COMM's 3.42 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +489.5% vs COMM's +268.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 0.8% ROA vs VIAV's -2.3%, ROIC 3.7% vs 5.5% |
COMM vs VIAV — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
COMM vs VIAV — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
COMM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
COMM is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.3B annually — 3.9x VIAV's $1.4B. COMM is the more profitable business, keeping 1.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VIAV's -4.0%. On growth, COMM holds the edge at +50.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.3B | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $207M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $62M | -$55M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $268M | $46M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.1% | +55.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.1% | +8.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.2% | -4.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.1% | +3.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +50.6% | +42.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.4% | -70.2% |
Valuation Metrics
COMM leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, COMM's 18.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VIAV's 93.8x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.9B | $12.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $12.8B | $12.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -10.01x | 353.33x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.72x | 57.28x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 77.42x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.20x | 93.80x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.94x | 11.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 15.33x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.93x | 197.80x |
Profitability & Efficiency
VIAV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | -6.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.8% | -2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.7% | +5.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.3% | +4.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.89x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.8B | $269M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $565M | $424M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.4B | $692M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.18x | 2.70x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VIAV leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VIAV five years ago would be worth $32,736 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,354 for COMM. Over the past 12 months, VIAV leads with a +489.5% total return vs COMM's +268.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VIAV at 79.9% vs COMM's 56.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -2.4% | +192.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +268.9% | +489.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +284.9% | +482.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +3.5% | +227.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -39.7% | +734.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +56.7% | +79.9% |
Risk & Volatility
VIAV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VIAV is the less volatile stock with a 1.54 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COMM's 3.42 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 3.42x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.55 | $60.43 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.54 | $8.75 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.7% | +87.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.3 | 69.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.2M | 6.4M |
Analyst Outlook
VIAV leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COMM as "Hold" and VIAV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -7.0% upside for COMM (target: $17) vs -39.2% for VIAV (target: $32).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $16.57 | $32.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +0.1% |
VIAV leads in 4 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). COMM leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics).
COMM vs VIAV: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COMM or VIAV a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Viavi Solutions Inc.
(VIAV) is the stronger pick with 8. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 9% for CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (COMM). Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) offers the better valuation at 353. 3x trailing P/E (57. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) a "Buy" — based on 19 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — COMM or VIAV?
On forward P/E, CommScope Holding Company, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 11. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COMM or VIAV?
Over the past 5 years, Viavi Solutions Inc.
(VIAV) delivered a total return of +227. 4%, compared to +3. 5% for CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (COMM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VIAV returned +734. 6% versus COMM's -39. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — COMM or VIAV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Viavi Solutions Inc.
(VIAV) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 54β versus CommScope Holding Company, Inc. 's 3. 42β — meaning COMM is approximately 122% more volatile than VIAV relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — COMM or VIAV?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Viavi Solutions Inc.
(VIAV) is pulling ahead at 8. 4% versus -7. 9% for CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (COMM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Viavi Solutions Inc. grew EPS 225. 0% year-over-year, compared to 76. 1% for CommScope Holding Company, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, VIAV leads at -5. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — COMM or VIAV?
Viavi Solutions Inc.
(VIAV) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 2% net margin versus -6. 8% for CommScope Holding Company, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: COMM leads at 7. 9% versus 6. 5% for VIAV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VIAV leads at 56. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is COMM or VIAV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CommScope Holding Company, Inc.
(COMM) trades at 11. 7x forward P/E versus 57. 3x for Viavi Solutions Inc. — 45. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COMM: -7. 0% to $16. 57.
08Which pays a better dividend — COMM or VIAV?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is COMM or VIAV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Viavi Solutions Inc.
(VIAV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+734. 6% 10Y return). CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (COMM) carries a higher beta of 3. 42 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VIAV: +734. 6%, COMM: -39. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between COMM and VIAV?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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