Communication Equipment
Compare Stocks
3 / 10Stock Comparison
MSI vs AXON vs DGII
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Aerospace & Defense
Communication Equipment
MSI vs AXON vs DGII — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Aerospace & Defense | Communication Equipment |
| Market Cap | $72.09B | $34.40B | $2.33B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11.87B | $2.98B | $475M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.09B | $206M | $43M |
| Gross Margin | 49.9% | 59.3% | 63.4% |
| Operating Margin | 24.3% | 1.3% | 13.2% |
| Forward P/E | 25.8x | 55.0x | 26.9x |
| Total Debt | $9.77B | $1.91B | $180M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.17B | $1.20B | $22M |
MSI vs AXON vs DGII — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorola Solutions,… (MSI) | 100 | 320.5 | +220.5% |
| Axon Enterprise, In… (AXON) | 100 | 562.0 | +462.0% |
| Digi International … (DGII) | 100 | 557.3 | +457.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MSI vs AXON vs DGII
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MSI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability.
- Dividend streak 14 yrs, beta 0.21, yield 1.0%
- 17.6% margin vs AXON's 6.9%
- Beta 0.21 vs DGII's 1.40
AXON is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 33.5%, EPS growth -68.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 32.7%
- 22.0% 10Y total return vs DGII's 463.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.19, Low D/E 58.9%, current ratio 2.53x
DGII is the clearest fit if your priority is valuation efficiency.
- PEG 0.87 vs MSI's 1.39
- Lower P/E (26.9x vs 55.0x)
- +121.0% vs AXON's -29.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 33.5% revenue growth vs DGII's 1.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (26.9x vs 55.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 17.6% margin vs AXON's 6.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.21 vs DGII's 1.40 | |
| Dividends | 1.0% yield; 14-year raise streak; the other 2 pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +121.0% vs AXON's -29.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 11.4% ROA vs AXON's 3.1%, ROIC 25.6% vs -1.3% |
MSI vs AXON vs DGII — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MSI vs AXON vs DGII — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 3 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — MSI and AXON and DGII each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MSI is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.9B annually — 25.0x DGII's $475M. MSI is the more profitable business, keeping 17.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AXON's 6.9%. On growth, AXON holds the edge at +33.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11.9B | $3.0B | $475M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.2B | $97M | $90M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.1B | $206M | $43M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.5B | $20M | $130M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +49.9% | +59.3% | +63.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +24.3% | +1.3% | +13.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.6% | +6.9% | +9.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.0% | +0.7% | +27.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.4% | +33.7% | +25.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.8% | +89.8% | +3.6% |
Valuation Metrics
MSI leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 34.0x trailing earnings, MSI trades at a 88% valuation discount to AXON's 282.7x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), MSI offers better value at 1.83x vs DGII's 1.85x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $72.1B | $34.4B | $2.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $80.7B | $35.1B | $2.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 33.99x | 282.71x | 57.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.85x | 54.97x | 26.85x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.83x | — | 1.85x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.83x | 1664.88x | 27.60x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.17x | 12.37x | 5.42x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 30.04x | 13.16x | 3.68x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 28.03x | 458.11x | 22.15x |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — MSI and DGII each lead in 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MSI delivers a 89.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $90 in annual profit, vs $7 for AXON. DGII carries lower financial leverage with a 0.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MSI's 4.02x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AXON scores 6/9 vs DGII's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +89.8% | +6.6% | +6.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.4% | +3.1% | +4.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +25.6% | -1.3% | +5.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +25.7% | -1.5% | +7.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.02x | 0.59x | 0.28x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.6B | $709M | $158M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.2B | $1.2B | $22M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.8B | $1.9B | $180M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 12.80x | 1.18x | 21.93x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
DGII leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in DGII five years ago would be worth $34,712 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $22,733 for MSI. Over the past 12 months, DGII leads with a +121.0% total return vs AXON's -29.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DGII at 25.7% vs MSI's 16.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.2% | -24.2% | +43.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +5.6% | -29.1% | +121.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.6% | +92.4% | +98.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +127.3% | +216.8% | +247.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +554.6% | +2200.0% | +463.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.1% | +24.4% | +25.7% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MSI and DGII each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MSI is the less volatile stock with a 0.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DGII's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DGII currently trades 88.9% from its 52-week high vs AXON's 48.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.21x | 1.19x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $492.22 | $885.92 | $69.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $361.32 | $339.01 | $27.71 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.1% | +48.2% | +88.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.7 | 40.5 | 69.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 880K | 1.0M | 268K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: MSI as "Buy", AXON as "Buy", DGII as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 70.2% upside for AXON (target: $727) vs -18.9% for DGII (target: $50). MSI is the only dividend payer here at 1.00% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $481.25 | $726.71 | $50.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 33 | 21 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.0% | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 14 | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.33 | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
MSI leads in 1 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics). DGII leads in 1 (Total Returns). 3 tied.
MSI vs AXON vs DGII: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MSI or AXON or DGII a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Axon Enterprise, Inc.
(AXON) is the stronger pick with 33. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 5% for Digi International Inc. (DGII). Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) offers the better valuation at 34. 0x trailing P/E (25. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 — MSI or AXON or DGII?
On trailing P/E, Motorola Solutions, Inc.
(MSI) is the cheapest at 34. 0x versus Axon Enterprise, Inc. at 282. 7x. On forward P/E, Motorola Solutions, Inc. is actually cheaper at 25. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Digi International Inc. wins at 0. 87x versus Motorola Solutions, Inc. 's 1. 39x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MSI or AXON or DGII?
Over the past 5 years, Digi International Inc.
(DGII) delivered a total return of +247. 1%, compared to +127. 3% for Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AXON returned +22. 0% versus DGII's +463. 4%. 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 — MSI or AXON or DGII?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Motorola Solutions, Inc.
(MSI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 21β versus Digi International Inc. 's 1. 40β — meaning DGII is approximately 580% more volatile than MSI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Digi International Inc. (DGII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 4% for Motorola Solutions, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MSI or AXON or DGII?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Axon Enterprise, Inc.
(AXON) is pulling ahead at 33. 5% versus 1. 5% for Digi International Inc. (DGII). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Digi International Inc. grew EPS 77. 0% year-over-year, compared to -68. 5% for Axon Enterprise, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AXON leads at 32. 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 — MSI or AXON or DGII?
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
(MSI) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 4% net margin versus 4. 5% for Axon Enterprise, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MSI leads at 25. 1% versus -2. 2% for AXON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DGII leads at 62. 9%, 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 MSI or AXON or DGII more undervalued right now?
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, Digi International Inc. (DGII) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 87x versus Motorola Solutions, Inc. 's 1. 39x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) trades at 25. 8x forward P/E versus 55. 0x for Axon Enterprise, Inc. — 29. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AXON: 70. 2% to $726. 71.
08Which pays a better dividend — MSI or AXON or DGII?
In this comparison, MSI (1.
0% yield) pays a dividend. AXON, DGII do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is MSI or AXON or DGII better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Motorola Solutions, Inc.
(MSI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 21), 1. 0% yield, +554. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MSI: +554. 6%, AXON: +22. 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.
10What are the main differences between MSI and AXON and DGII?
These companies operate in different sectors (MSI (Technology) and AXON (Industrials) and DGII (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: MSI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AXON is a mid-cap high-growth stock; DGII is a small-cap quality compounder stock. MSI pays a dividend while AXON, DGII do 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform all of them.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.