CTS
CTS Corporation
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$1.77B
5Y Perf.+189.4%
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Stock Comparison
CTS vs KLIC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KLIC
Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Semiconductors
Market Cap$5.37B
5Y Perf.+359.1%
CTS vs KLIC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CTS | KLIC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $1.77B | $5.37B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $556M | $768M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $69M | $3M |
| Gross Margin | 38.7% | 48.0% |
| Operating Margin | 15.9% | 6.9% |
| Forward P/E | 25.4x | 27.3x |
| Total Debt | $122M | $39M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $82M | $216M |
CTS vs KLIC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CTS
KLIC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTS Corporation (CTS) | 100 | 289.4 | +189.4% |
| Kulicke and Soffa I… (KLIC) | 100 | 459.1 | +359.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CTS vs KLIC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CTS leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CTS
CTS Corporation
The Growth Play
CTS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 5.2%, EPS growth 15.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.46, Low D/E 22.1%, current ratio 2.30x
- 5.2% revenue growth vs KLIC's -7.4%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
KLIC
Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
KLIC is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 1.86, yield 1.0%
- 8.5% 10Y total return vs CTS's 264.1%
- Beta 1.86, yield 1.0%, current ratio 4.79x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CTS | 5.2% revenue growth vs KLIC's -7.4% |
| Value | CTS | Lower P/E (25.4x vs 27.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CTS | 12.4% margin vs KLIC's 0.4% |
| Stability / Safety | CTS | Beta 1.46 vs KLIC's 1.86 |
| Dividends | KLIC | 1.0% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs CTS's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KLIC | +226.2% vs CTS's +54.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CTS | 8.9% ROA vs KLIC's 0.3%, ROIC 11.1% vs -0.3% |
CTS vs KLIC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2012
FY 2024
CTS vs KLIC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCTSLAGGINGKLIC
KLICKulicke and Soffa Ind…
2leads
CTSCTS Corporation
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KLICMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CTS6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KLIC6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CTS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
KLIC2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CTS and KLIC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KLIC and CTS operate at a comparable scale, with $768M and $556M in trailing revenue. CTS is the more profitable business, keeping 12.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KLIC's 0.4%. On growth, KLIC holds the edge at +49.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CTSCTS Corporation | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $556M | $768M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $123M | $61M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $69M | $3M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $88M | $4M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.7% | +48.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.9% | +6.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +0.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | +0.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.9% | +49.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +34.1% | +141.5% |
Evenly matched — CTS and KLIC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CTS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 28.2x trailing earnings, CTS trades at a 100% valuation discount to KLIC's 9999.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CTS's 15.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KLIC's 352.2x.
| Metric | CTSCTS Corporation | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.8B | $5.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $5.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 28.20x | 9999.00x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.41x | 27.28x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.81x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.13x | 352.22x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.26x | 8.21x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.34x | 6.65x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.44x | 55.75x |
CTS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — CTS and KLIC each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CTS delivers a 12.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $0 for KLIC. KLIC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CTS's 0.22x.
| Metric | CTSCTS Corporation | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.5% | +0.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.9% | +0.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.1% | -0.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.8% | -0.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.22x | 0.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $40M | -$177M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $82M | $216M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $122M | $39M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 18.18x | 4872.17x |
Evenly matched — CTS and KLIC each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KLIC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KLIC five years ago would be worth $22,998 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,377 for CTS. Over the past 12 months, KLIC leads with a +226.2% total return vs CTS's +54.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KLIC at 31.0% vs CTS's 14.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CTSCTS Corporation | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +40.9% | +112.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +54.7% | +226.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.1% | +124.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.8% | +130.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +264.1% | +853.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.2% | +31.0% |
KLIC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CTS is the less volatile stock with a 1.46 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KLIC's 1.86 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CTS currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs KLIC's 95.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CTSCTS Corporation | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.46x | 1.86x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $62.06 | $107.01 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $36.03 | $30.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.5% | +95.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.2 | 80.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 211K | 633K |
CTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
KLIC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CTS as "Hold" and KLIC as "Buy". For income investors, KLIC offers the higher dividend yield at 0.99% vs CTS's 0.26%.
| Metric | CTSCTS Corporation | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $62.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.16 | $1.02 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.2% | +1.8% |
KLIC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CTS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). KLIC leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Best OverallCTS Corporation (CTS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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CTS vs KLIC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CTS or KLIC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, CTS Corporation (CTS) is the stronger pick with 5.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 4% for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC). CTS Corporation (CTS) offers the better valuation at 28. 2x trailing P/E (25. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 — CTS or KLIC?
On trailing P/E, CTS Corporation (CTS) is the cheapest at 28.
2x versus Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. at 9999. 0x. On forward P/E, CTS Corporation is actually cheaper at 25. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CTS or KLIC?
Over the past 5 years, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
(KLIC) delivered a total return of +130. 0%, compared to +93. 8% for CTS Corporation (CTS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KLIC returned +853. 9% versus CTS's +264. 1%. 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 — CTS or KLIC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CTS Corporation (CTS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
46β versus Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. 's 1. 86β — meaning KLIC is approximately 28% more volatile than CTS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 22% for CTS Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CTS or KLIC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), CTS Corporation (CTS) is pulling ahead at 5.
2% versus -7. 4% for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. grew EPS 100. 3% year-over-year, compared to 15. 9% for CTS Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTS leads at -2. 6% 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 — CTS or KLIC?
CTS Corporation (CTS) is the more profitable company, earning 12.
0% net margin versus 0. 0% for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTS leads at 15. 6% versus -0. 5% for KLIC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KLIC leads at 42. 5%, 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 CTS or KLIC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CTS Corporation (CTS) trades at 25.
4x forward P/E versus 27. 3x for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — CTS or KLIC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 3% for CTS Corporation (CTS).
09Is CTS or KLIC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
(KLIC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 0% yield, +853. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KLIC: +853. 9%, CTS: +264. 1%), 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 CTS and KLIC?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
KLIC pays a dividend while CTS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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(CTS: 10.9% · KLIC: 49.8%)P/E Ratio<
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