DAKT vs LYTS vs OLED

For growth investors, LSI Industries Inc.

(LYTS) is the stronger pick with 22. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 5% for Daktronics, Inc. (DAKT). Universal Display Corporation (OLED) offers the better valuation at 18. 3x trailing P/E (19. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Daktronics, Inc. (DAKT) a "Buy" — based on 4 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.

On trailing P/E, Universal Display Corporation (OLED) is the cheapest at 18.

3x versus LSI Industries Inc. at 30. 9x. On forward P/E, Universal Display Corporation is actually cheaper at 19. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: LSI Industries Inc. wins at 1. 31x versus Universal Display Corporation's 1. 54x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, LSI Industries Inc.

(LYTS) delivered a total return of +223. 4%, compared to -54. 9% for Universal Display Corporation (OLED). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DAKT returned +156. 0% versus OLED's +86. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Universal Display Corporation (OLED) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

39β versus Daktronics, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning DAKT is approximately 7% more volatile than OLED relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Universal Display Corporation (OLED) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 29% for LSI Industries Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LSI Industries Inc.

(LYTS) is pulling ahead at 22. 1% versus -7. 5% for Daktronics, Inc. (DAKT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Universal Display Corporation grew EPS 9. 2% year-over-year, compared to -128. 4% for Daktronics, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LYTS leads at 8. 0% 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.

Universal Display Corporation (OLED) is the more profitable company, earning 37.

2% net margin versus -1. 3% for Daktronics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 37. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OLED leads at 38. 5% versus 4. 4% for DAKT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OLED leads at 73. 4%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 31x versus Universal Display Corporation's 1. 54x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Universal Display Corporation (OLED) trades at 19. 4x forward P/E versus 22. 3x for LSI Industries Inc. — 2. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OLED: 52. 0% to $141. 00.

In this comparison, OLED (1.

9% yield), LYTS (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. DAKT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Universal Display Corporation (OLED) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OLED: +86. 6%, DAKT: +156. 0%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: DAKT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LYTS is a small-cap high-growth stock; OLED is a small-cap quality compounder stock. LYTS, OLED pay a dividend while DAKT 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.