NVEC vs SLAB

For growth investors, Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is the stronger pick with 34. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 8% for NVE Corporation (NVEC). NVE Corporation (NVEC) offers the better valuation at 27. 5x trailing P/E (18. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Silicon Laboratories Inc. (SLAB) a "Buy" — based on 37 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.

On forward P/E, NVE Corporation is actually cheaper at 18.

4x.

Over the past 5 years, Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) delivered a total return of +63. 0%, compared to +39. 1% for NVE Corporation (NVEC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLAB returned +369. 4% versus NVEC's +117. 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), Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 25β versus NVE Corporation's 1. 58β — meaning NVEC is approximately 26% 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 1. 8% for NVE Corporation (NVEC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Silicon Laboratories Inc. grew EPS 66. 6% year-over-year, compared to 1. 0% for NVE Corporation. 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.

NVE Corporation (NVEC) is the more profitable company, earning 57.

7% net margin versus -8. 3% for Silicon Laboratories Inc. — meaning it keeps 57. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVEC leads at 60. 5% versus -9. 0% for SLAB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVEC leads at 78. 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.

On forward earnings alone, NVE Corporation (NVEC) trades at 18.

4x forward P/E versus 80. 0x for Silicon Laboratories Inc. — 61. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, NVEC (4.

6% yield) pays a dividend. SLAB does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, NVE Corporation (NVEC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (4.

6% yield, +117. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NVEC: +117. 1%, SLAB: +369. 4%), 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.

In terms of investment character: NVEC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SLAB is a small-cap high-growth stock. NVEC pays a dividend while SLAB 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.