Industrial Materials
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NMG vs LAC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Industrial Materials
NMG vs LAC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial Materials | Industrial Materials |
| Market Cap | $346M | $1.45B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-132M | $-241M |
| Total Debt | $19M | $23M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $106M | $594M |
NMG vs LAC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nouveau Monde Graph… (NMG) | 100 | 147.3 | +47.3% |
| Lithium Americas Co… (LAC) | 100 | 234.9 | +134.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NMG vs LAC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
NMG is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- EPS growth -4.5%
- -111.5% revenue growth vs LAC's -6.0%
LAC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 1.42
- 256.5% 10Y total return vs NMG's -29.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.42, Low D/E 2.4%, current ratio 10.33x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -111.5% revenue growth vs LAC's -6.0% | |
| Quality / Margins | 1.4% margin vs NMG's -0.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.42 vs NMG's 1.89, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +98.3% vs NMG's +16.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -16.6% ROA vs NMG's -81.9%, ROIC -7.1% vs -0.1% |
NMG vs LAC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NMG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NMG and LAC operate at a comparable scale, with $0 and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3M | -$32M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$132M | -$241M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$64M | -$648M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.0% | -21.4% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — NMG and LAC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $346M | $1.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $281M | $881M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -4868.73x | -28.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.15x | 1.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
LAC leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LAC delivers a -26.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-27 in annual profit, vs $-3 for NMG. LAC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.02x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NMG's 0.12x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.7% | -26.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -81.9% | -16.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.1% | -7.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.1% | -3.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.12x | 0.02x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$87M | -$571M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $106M | $594M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $19M | $23M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -98.52x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LAC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LAC five years ago would be worth $7,851 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,659 for NMG. Over the past 12 months, LAC leads with a +98.3% total return vs NMG's +16.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NMG at -15.7% vs LAC's -22.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -17.3% | +25.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.8% | +98.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -40.1% | -53.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -83.4% | -21.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.6% | +256.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -15.7% | -22.3% |
Risk & Volatility
LAC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LAC is the less volatile stock with a 1.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NMG's 1.89 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LAC currently trades 56.9% from its 52-week high vs NMG's 35.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.89x | 1.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $6.06 | $10.52 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.60 | $2.47 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +35.5% | +56.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.9 | 63.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 9.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NMG as "Buy" and LAC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 167.4% upside for NMG (target: $6) vs 16.9% for LAC (target: $7).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $5.75 | $7.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
LAC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). NMG leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 1 tied.
NMG vs LAC: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NMG or LAC a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.
(NMG) a "Buy" — based on 2 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 is the better long-term investment — NMG or LAC?
Over the past 5 years, Lithium Americas Corp.
(LAC) delivered a total return of -21. 5%, compared to -83. 4% for Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (NMG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LAC returned +256. 5% versus NMG's -29. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — NMG or LAC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Lithium Americas Corp.
(LAC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 42β versus Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. 's 1. 89β — meaning NMG is approximately 33% more volatile than LAC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 12% for Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — NMG or LAC?
Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.
(NMG) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus 0. 0% for Lithium Americas Corp. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NMG leads at 0. 0% versus 0. 0% for LAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NMG leads at 0. 0%, 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.
05Which pays a better dividend — NMG or LAC?
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.
06Is NMG or LAC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Lithium Americas Corp.
(LAC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+256. 5% 10Y return). Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (NMG) carries a higher beta of 1. 89 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LAC: +256. 5%, NMG: -29. 6%), 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.
07What are the main differences between NMG and LAC?
Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials 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.
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