DSWL
Deswell Industries, Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$52M
5Y Perf.+35.6%
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Stock Comparison
DSWL vs LYTS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LYTS
LSI Industries Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$760M
5Y Perf.+300.0%
DSWL vs LYTS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | DSWL | LYTS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $52M | $760M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $137M | $592M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $19M | $26M |
| Gross Margin | 20.1% | 25.3% |
| Operating Margin | 3.6% | 6.5% |
| Forward P/E | 4.7x | 22.5x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $67M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $28M | $3M |
DSWL vs LYTS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
DSWL
LYTS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deswell Industries,… (DSWL) | 100 | 135.6 | +35.6% |
| LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) | 100 | 400.0 | +300.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DSWL vs LYTS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: DSWL leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. LSI Industries Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
DSWL
Deswell Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
DSWL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 7 yrs, beta 0.20, yield 6.1%
- 210.5% 10Y total return vs LYTS's 108.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.20, current ratio 5.45x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
LYTS
LSI Industries Inc.
The Growth Play
LYTS is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 22.1%, EPS growth -4.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.0%
- 22.1% revenue growth vs DSWL's -2.5%
- +58.0% vs DSWL's +55.6%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LYTS | 22.1% revenue growth vs DSWL's -2.5% |
| Value | DSWL | Lower P/E (4.7x vs 22.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | DSWL | 13.8% margin vs LYTS's 4.3% |
| Stability / Safety | DSWL | Beta 0.20 vs LYTS's 1.43 |
| Dividends | DSWL | 6.1% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs LYTS's 0.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LYTS | +58.0% vs DSWL's +55.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DSWL | 15.7% ROA vs LYTS's 6.5%, ROIC 3.3% vs 9.5% |
DSWL vs LYTS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2023
FY 2025
DSWL vs LYTS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLDSWLLAGGINGLYTS
LYTSLSI Industries Inc.
1leads
DSWLDeswell Industries, I…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LYTSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
DSWL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
DSWL5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
DSWL5/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LYTS5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
DSWL2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DSWL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LYTS is the larger business by revenue, generating $592M annually — 4.3x DSWL's $137M. DSWL is the more profitable business, keeping 13.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LYTS's 4.3%. On growth, DSWL holds the edge at +2.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | LYTSLSI Industries In… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $137M | $592M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $8M | $51M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $19M | $26M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $26M | $38M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.1% | +25.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +6.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +4.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.0% | +6.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.5% | -0.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.2% | +11.1% |
DSWL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
DSWL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 4.7x trailing earnings, DSWL trades at a 85% valuation discount to LYTS's 30.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DSWL's 5.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYTS's 17.0x.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | LYTSLSI Industries In… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $52M | $760M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $24M | $823M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 4.67x | 30.91x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 22.46x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.82x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.96x | 17.03x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.77x | 1.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.51x | 3.26x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 3.95x | 21.94x |
DSWL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DSWL leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DSWL delivers a 18.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $11 for LYTS. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DSWL scores 7/9 vs LYTS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | LYTSLSI Industries In… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.5% | +10.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +15.7% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.3% | +9.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.4% | +12.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.29x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$28M | $63M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $28M | $3M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $67M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 13.52x |
DSWL leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LYTS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LYTS five years ago would be worth $32,341 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,756 for DSWL. Over the past 12 months, LYTS leads with a +58.0% total return vs DSWL's +55.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYTS at 26.0% vs DSWL's 11.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | LYTSLSI Industries In… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.8% | +32.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +55.6% | +58.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.2% | +100.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.6% | +223.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +210.5% | +108.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.9% | +26.0% |
LYTS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — DSWL and LYTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DSWL is the less volatile stock with a 0.20 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LYTS's 1.43 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYTS currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs DSWL's 73.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | LYTSLSI Industries In… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.24x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $4.48 | $24.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.93 | $15.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +73.0% | +98.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.6 | 70.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 10K | 378K |
Evenly matched — DSWL and LYTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
DSWL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, DSWL offers the higher dividend yield at 6.11% vs LYTS's 0.79%.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | LYTSLSI Industries In… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $27.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.1% | +0.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 7 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.20 | $0.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
DSWL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
DSWL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LYTS leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallDeswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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DSWL vs LYTS: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DSWL or LYTS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the stronger pick with 22. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 5% for Deswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL). Deswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL) offers the better valuation at 4. 7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) a "Buy" — based on 5 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 — DSWL or LYTS?
On trailing P/E, Deswell Industries, Inc.
(DSWL) is the cheapest at 4. 7x versus LSI Industries Inc. at 30. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DSWL or LYTS?
Over the past 5 years, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) delivered a total return of +223. 4%, compared to +7. 6% for Deswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DSWL returned +218. 9% versus LYTS's +109. 6%. 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 — DSWL or LYTS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Deswell Industries, Inc.
(DSWL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 24β versus LSI Industries Inc. 's 1. 40β — meaning LYTS is approximately 474% more volatile than DSWL relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — DSWL or LYTS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is pulling ahead at 22. 1% versus -2. 5% for Deswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Deswell Industries, Inc. grew EPS 45. 8% year-over-year, compared to -4. 8% for LSI Industries 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.
06Which has better profit margins — DSWL or LYTS?
Deswell Industries, Inc.
(DSWL) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 5% net margin versus 4. 3% for LSI Industries Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LYTS leads at 6. 2% versus 4. 9% for DSWL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LYTS leads at 24. 7%, 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.
07Which pays a better dividend — DSWL or LYTS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Deswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL) offers the highest yield at 6. 1%, versus 0. 8% for LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS).
08Is DSWL or LYTS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Deswell Industries, Inc.
(DSWL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 24), 6. 1% yield, +218. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DSWL: +218. 9%, LYTS: +109. 6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between DSWL and LYTS?
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: DSWL is a small-cap deep-value stock; LYTS is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(DSWL: 2.5% · LYTS: -0.5%)Net Margin>
%
(DSWL: 13.8% · LYTS: 4.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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