NEON vs LIQT

For growth investors, LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the stronger pick with 13. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -33. 7% for Neonode Inc. (NEON). Neonode Inc. (NEON) offers the better valuation at 3. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. 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, Neonode Inc.

(NEON) delivered a total return of -78. 3%, compared to -96. 1% for LiqTech International, Inc. (LIQT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIQT returned -90. 9% versus NEON's -91. 1%. 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), LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 52β versus Neonode Inc. 's 0. 94β — meaning NEON is approximately 80% more volatile than LIQT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Neonode Inc. (NEON) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 117% for LiqTech International, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is pulling ahead at 13. 0% versus -33. 7% for Neonode Inc. (NEON). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Neonode Inc. grew EPS 224. 4% year-over-year, compared to 45. 7% for LiqTech International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LIQT leads at 1. 1% 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.

Neonode Inc.

(NEON) is the more profitable company, earning 411. 9% net margin versus -51. 7% for LiqTech International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 411. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LIQT leads at -50. 3% versus -391. 5% for NEON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NEON leads at 98. 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.

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, LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 52)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIQT: -90. 9%, NEON: -91. 1%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (NEON (Technology) and LIQT (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NEON is a small-cap deep-value stock; LIQT is a small-cap quality compounder 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.