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GFS vs IMOS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
GFS vs IMOS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $40.23B | $1.93B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.79B | $22.81B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $885M | $247M |
| Gross Margin | 25.2% | 9.5% |
| Operating Margin | 11.7% | 2.7% |
| Forward P/E | 39.2x | 0.7x |
| Total Debt | $1.64B | $15.16B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.81B | $15.22B |
GFS vs IMOS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Oct 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) | 100 | 148.3 | +48.3% |
| ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIE… (IMOS) | 100 | 166.8 | +66.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GFS vs IMOS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
GFS is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 0.6%, EPS growth 431.3%, 3Y rev CAGR -5.7%
- 13.0% margin vs IMOS's 1.1%
- 5.3% ROA vs IMOS's 0.6%, ROIC 5.3% vs 3.6%
IMOS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.36, yield 2.0%
- 276.2% 10Y total return vs GFS's 55.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.36, Low D/E 60.6%, current ratio 2.71x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 6.3% revenue growth vs GFS's 0.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (0.7x vs 39.2x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 13.0% margin vs IMOS's 1.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.36 vs GFS's 1.85 | |
| Dividends | 2.0% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +224.3% vs GFS's +107.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 5.3% ROA vs IMOS's 0.6%, ROIC 5.3% vs 3.6% |
GFS vs IMOS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
GFS vs IMOS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GFS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IMOS is the larger business by revenue, generating $22.8B annually — 3.4x GFS's $6.8B. GFS is the more profitable business, keeping 13.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IMOS's 1.1%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.8B | $22.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.1B | $5.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $885M | $247M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.0B | -$85M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.2% | +9.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | +2.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.0% | +1.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.9% | -0.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | +1.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +127.3% | +22.0% |
Valuation Metrics
IMOS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 45.3x trailing earnings, IMOS trades at a 0% valuation discount to GFS's 45.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, IMOS's 9.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GFS's 19.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $40.2B | $1.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $40.1B | $1.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 45.47x | 45.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 39.24x | 0.75x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.72x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.98x | 9.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.92x | 2.68x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.37x | 2.57x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 39.87x | 70.73x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GFS leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GFS delivers a 7.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $1 for IMOS. GFS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.14x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IMOS's 0.61x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GFS scores 7/9 vs IMOS's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.6% | +1.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.3% | +3.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.6% | +3.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.14x | 0.61x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$171M | -$63M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.8B | $15.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.6B | $15.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 6.24x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IMOS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IMOS five years ago would be worth $19,363 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,582 for GFS. Over the past 12 months, IMOS leads with a +224.3% total return vs GFS's +107.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IMOS at 32.2% vs GFS's 6.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +96.1% | +81.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +107.1% | +224.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +20.9% | +131.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +55.8% | +93.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +55.8% | +276.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.5% | +32.2% |
Risk & Volatility
IMOS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IMOS is the less volatile stock with a 1.36 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GFS's 1.85 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 | 1.85x | 1.36x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $75.53 | $57.37 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $31.51 | $15.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.7% | +96.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 86.0 | 69.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.0M | 63K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GFS as "Buy" and IMOS as "Hold". IMOS is the only dividend payer here at 2.04% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $51.14 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 1 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $35.67 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
IMOS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). GFS leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency).
GFS vs IMOS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GFS or IMOS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is the stronger pick with 6. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 6% for GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS). ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. (IMOS) offers the better valuation at 45. 3x trailing P/E (0. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) 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 — GFS or IMOS?
On trailing P/E, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is the cheapest at 45. 3x versus GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. at 45. 5x. On forward P/E, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. is actually cheaper at 0. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GFS or IMOS?
Over the past 5 years, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) delivered a total return of +93. 6%, compared to +55. 8% for GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IMOS returned +276. 2% versus GFS's +55. 8%. 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 — GFS or IMOS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 36β versus GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. 's 1. 85β — meaning GFS is approximately 36% more volatile than IMOS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 61% for ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GFS or IMOS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is pulling ahead at 6. 3% versus 0. 6% for GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. grew EPS 431. 3% year-over-year, compared to -25. 2% for ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GFS 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 — GFS or IMOS?
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
(GFS) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 0% net margin versus 6. 3% for ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GFS leads at 11. 7% versus 5. 6% for IMOS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GFS leads at 25. 2%, 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 GFS or IMOS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) trades at 0. 7x forward P/E versus 39. 2x for GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. — 38. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — GFS or IMOS?
In this comparison, IMOS (2.
0% yield) pays a dividend. GFS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is GFS or IMOS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2. 0% yield, +276. 2% 10Y return). GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) carries a higher beta of 1. 85 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IMOS: +276. 2%, GFS: +55. 8%), 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 GFS and IMOS?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
IMOS pays a dividend while GFS 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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