MXL vs SLAB

For growth investors, Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is the stronger pick with 34. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 29. 7% for MaxLinear, Inc. (MXL). Analysts rate MaxLinear, Inc. (MXL) a "Buy" — based on 17 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.

Over the past 5 years, MaxLinear, Inc.

(MXL) delivered a total return of +135. 2%, compared to +63. 0% for Silicon Laboratories Inc. (SLAB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MXL returned +396. 2% versus SLAB's +369. 4%. 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), Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 25β versus MaxLinear, Inc. 's 2. 77β — meaning MXL is approximately 122% more volatile than SLAB relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is pulling ahead at 34. 3% versus 29. 7% for MaxLinear, Inc. (MXL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Silicon Laboratories Inc. grew EPS 66. 6% year-over-year, compared to 46. 1% for MaxLinear, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SLAB leads at -8. 5% 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.

Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is the more profitable company, earning -8. 3% net margin versus -29. 2% for MaxLinear, Inc. — meaning it keeps -8. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SLAB leads at -9. 0% versus -27. 1% for MXL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SLAB leads at 58. 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.

On forward earnings alone, MaxLinear, Inc.

(MXL) trades at 62. 7x forward P/E versus 80. 0x for Silicon Laboratories Inc. — 17. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SLAB: -2. 3% to $211. 60.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 25), +369. 4% 10Y return). MaxLinear, Inc. (MXL) carries a higher beta of 2. 77 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SLAB: +369. 4%, MXL: +396. 2%), 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.

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.