DSWL
Deswell Industries, Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$52M
5Y Perf.+35.6%
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Stock Comparison
DSWL vs PLPC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PLPC
Preformed Line Products Company
Electrical Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$1.69B
5Y Perf.+597.7%
DSWL vs PLPC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | DSWL | PLPC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Electrical Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $52M | $1.69B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $137M | $697M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $19M | $34M |
| Gross Margin | 20.1% | 30.9% |
| Operating Margin | 3.6% | 8.0% |
| Forward P/E | 4.7x | 35.5x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $48M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $28M | $83M |
DSWL vs PLPC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
DSWL
PLPC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deswell Industries,… (DSWL) | 100 | 135.6 | +35.6% |
| Preformed Line Prod… (PLPC) | 100 | 697.7 | +597.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DSWL vs PLPC
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. Preformed Line Products Company is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
DSWL
Deswell Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
DSWL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 7 yrs, beta 0.20, yield 6.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.20, current ratio 5.45x
- Beta 0.20, yield 6.1%, current ratio 5.45x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
PLPC
Preformed Line Products Company
The Growth Play
PLPC is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 12.7%, EPS growth -4.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.7%
- 7.9% 10Y total return vs DSWL's 210.5%
- 12.7% revenue growth vs DSWL's -2.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PLPC | 12.7% revenue growth vs DSWL's -2.5% |
| Value | DSWL | Lower P/E (4.7x vs 35.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | DSWL | 13.8% margin vs PLPC's 4.9% |
| Stability / Safety | DSWL | Beta 0.20 vs PLPC's 1.58 |
| Dividends | DSWL | 6.1% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs PLPC's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PLPC | +159.0% vs DSWL's +55.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DSWL | 15.7% ROA vs PLPC's 5.3%, ROIC 3.3% vs 9.8% |
DSWL vs PLPC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2023
FY 2025
DSWL vs PLPC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLDSWLLAGGINGPLPC
PLPCPreformed Line Produc…
1leads
DSWLDeswell Industries, I…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PLPCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
DSWL5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
DSWL4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PLPC6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
DSWL2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — DSWL and PLPC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLPC is the larger business by revenue, generating $697M annually — 5.1x DSWL's $137M. DSWL is the more profitable business, keeping 13.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PLPC's 4.9%. On growth, PLPC holds the edge at +18.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | PLPCPreformed Line Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $137M | $697M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $8M | $73M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $19M | $34M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $26M | $35M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.1% | +30.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +8.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +4.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.0% | +5.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.5% | +18.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.2% | -8.2% |
Evenly matched — DSWL and PLPC each lead in 3 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 90% valuation discount to PLPC's 48.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DSWL's 5.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PLPC's 21.2x.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | PLPCPreformed Line Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $52M | $1.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $24M | $1.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 4.67x | 48.39x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 35.51x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 13.40x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.96x | 21.22x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.77x | 2.53x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.51x | 3.59x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 3.95x | 50.75x |
DSWL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DSWL leads this category, winning 4 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 $7 for PLPC. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DSWL scores 7/9 vs PLPC's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | PLPCPreformed Line Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.5% | +7.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +15.7% | +5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.3% | +9.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.4% | +11.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.10x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$28M | -$35M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $28M | $83M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $48M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 39.48x |
DSWL leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PLPC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PLPC five years ago would be worth $50,171 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,756 for DSWL. Over the past 12 months, PLPC leads with a +159.0% total return vs DSWL's +55.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PLPC at 34.7% vs DSWL's 11.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | PLPCPreformed Line Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.8% | +63.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +55.6% | +159.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.2% | +144.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.6% | +401.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +210.5% | +794.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.9% | +34.7% |
PLPC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — DSWL and PLPC 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 PLPC's 1.58 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PLPC currently trades 92.9% 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… | PLPCPreformed Line Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.24x | 1.70x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $4.48 | $371.80 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.93 | $132.15 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +73.0% | +92.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.6 | 64.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 10K | 165K |
Evenly matched — DSWL and PLPC 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 PLPC's 0.24%.
| Metric | DSWLDeswell Industrie… | PLPCPreformed Line Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $275.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 1 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.1% | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 7 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.20 | $0.83 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.6% |
DSWL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
DSWL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). PLPC leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallDeswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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DSWL vs PLPC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DSWL or PLPC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Preformed Line Products Company (PLPC) is the stronger pick with 12.
7% 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 Preformed Line Products Company (PLPC) a "Buy" — based on 1 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 PLPC?
On trailing P/E, Deswell Industries, Inc.
(DSWL) is the cheapest at 4. 7x versus Preformed Line Products Company at 48. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DSWL or PLPC?
Over the past 5 years, Preformed Line Products Company (PLPC) delivered a total return of +401.
7%, compared to +7. 6% for Deswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLPC returned +796. 9% versus DSWL's +218. 9%. 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 PLPC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Deswell Industries, Inc.
(DSWL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 24β versus Preformed Line Products Company's 1. 70β — meaning PLPC is approximately 597% more volatile than DSWL relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — DSWL or PLPC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Preformed Line Products Company (PLPC) is pulling ahead at 12.
7% 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 Preformed Line Products Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLPC leads at 1. 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 — DSWL or PLPC?
Deswell Industries, Inc.
(DSWL) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 5% net margin versus 5. 3% for Preformed Line Products Company — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLPC leads at 8. 2% versus 4. 9% for DSWL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLPC leads at 31. 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.
07Which pays a better dividend — DSWL or PLPC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Deswell Industries, Inc. (DSWL) offers the highest yield at 6. 1%, versus 0. 2% for Preformed Line Products Company (PLPC).
08Is DSWL or PLPC 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). Preformed Line Products Company (PLPC) carries a higher beta of 1. 70 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DSWL: +218. 9%, PLPC: +796. 9%), 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 PLPC?
These companies operate in different sectors (DSWL (Technology) and PLPC (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: DSWL is a small-cap deep-value stock; PLPC is a small-cap quality compounder stock. DSWL pays a dividend while PLPC 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(DSWL: 2.5% · PLPC: 18.7%)Net Margin>
%
(DSWL: 13.8% · PLPC: 4.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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