Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) vs Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AVGO | 23.9% revenue growth vs VECO's -7.4% |
| Value | VECO | Lower P/E (18.3x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AVGO | 36.2% net margin vs VECO's 5.3% |
| Stability / Safety | VECO | Beta 1.49 vs AVGO's 1.75, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AVGO | 0.7% yield; 15-year raise streak; VECO pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AVGO | +61.4% vs VECO's +37.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AVGO | 13.5% ROA vs VECO's 2.7%, ROIC 14.9% vs 2.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Veeco Instruments designs and manufactures specialized semiconductor manufacturing equipment used to produce microelectronic components like logic chips, memory, and photonics devices. It generates revenue primarily from selling its laser annealing, deposition, etching, and wafer processing systems to semiconductor manufacturers, foundries, and research institutions. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in precision thin-film process technologies—particularly in areas like molecular beam epitaxy and atomic layer deposition—where it has established strong customer relationships and technical barriers to entry.
Broadcom is a semiconductor and infrastructure software company that designs and supplies critical components for data centers, networking, and connectivity. It generates revenue primarily from semiconductor sales (~70%) and infrastructure software licensing (~30%), with key segments including wired infrastructure, wireless communications, and enterprise storage. The company's moat lies in its deep engineering expertise, extensive patent portfolio, and entrenched positions in mission-critical infrastructure where customers face high switching costs.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
AVGO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). VECO leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AVGO is the larger business by revenue, generating $63.9B annually — 96.2x VECO's $664M. AVGO is the more profitable business, keeping 36.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VECO's 5.3%. On growth, AVGO holds the edge at +22.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $664M | $63.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $39M | $34.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $35M | $23.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $46M | $26.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +40.0% | +67.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.4% | +39.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.3% | +36.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.9% | +42.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.4% | +22.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -92.3% | +3.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 51.8x trailing earnings, VECO trades at a 23% valuation discount to AVGO's 67.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AVGO's 44.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VECO's 49.9x.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.8B | $1.52T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.9B | $1.56T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 51.80x | 66.99x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.27x | 31.10x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.80x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 49.94x | 44.06x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.78x | 23.71x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.09x | 19.08x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 40.38x | 56.29x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AVGO delivers a 28.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $4 for VECO. VECO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.29x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AVGO's 0.80x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VECO scores 6/9 vs AVGO's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.0% | +28.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.7% | +13.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.8% | +14.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.2% | +16.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 0.80x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $94M | $49.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $163M | $16.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $258M | $65.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.91x | 8.09x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AVGO five years ago would be worth $67,244 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,546 for VECO. Over the past 12 months, AVGO leads with a +61.4% total return vs VECO's +37.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AVGO at 76.4% vs VECO's 12.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.1% | -8.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +37.4% | +61.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +43.7% | +448.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +35.5% | +572.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.7% | +2389.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.8% | +76.4% |
Risk & Volatility
VECO is the less volatile stock with a 1.49 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AVGO's 1.75 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VECO currently trades 85.4% from its 52-week high vs AVGO's 77.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.49x | 1.75x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.77 | $414.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.92 | $138.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.4% | +77.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.8 | 44.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 578K | 21.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates VECO as "Buy" and AVGO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 38.9% upside for AVGO (target: $444) vs -1.8% for VECO (target: $30). AVGO is the only dividend payer here at 0.72% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | VECOVeeco Instruments… | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $30.00 | $443.72 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 57 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.30 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | 100 | 235.4 | +135.4% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | 100 | 1,214.64 | +1114.6% |
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) returned +572% over 5 years vs Veeco Instruments I… (VECO)'s +35%. A $10,000 investment in AVGO 5 years ago would be worth $67,244 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | $332M | $664M | +99.8% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | $13.2B | $63.9B | +382.5% |
Veeco Instruments Inc.'s revenue grew from $332M (2016) to $664M (2025) — a 8.0% CAGR. Broadcom Inc.'s revenue grew from $13.2B (2016) to $63.9B (2025) — a 19.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | -36.8% | 5.3% | +114.5% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | -13.1% | 36.2% | +375.6% |
Veeco Instruments Inc.'s net margin went from -37% (2016) to 5% (2025). Broadcom Inc.'s net margin went from -13% (2016) to 36% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | 58.1 | 48.4 | -16.7% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | 61.2 | 72.6 | +18.6% |
Veeco Instruments Inc. has traded in a 7x–58x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~52x. Broadcom Inc. has traded in a 9x–189x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~67x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veeco Instruments I… (VECO) | -3.11 | 0.59 | +119.0% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | -0.44 | 4.77 | +1184.1% |
Veeco Instruments Inc.'s EPS grew from $-3.11 (2016) to $0.59 (2025). Broadcom Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.44 (2016) to $4.77 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Veeco Instruments Inc. generated $46M FCF in 2025 (+69% vs 2021). Broadcom Inc. generated $27B FCF in 2025 (+102% vs 2021).
VECO vs AVGO: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VECO or AVGO a better buy right now?
Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) offers the better valuation at 51.8x trailing P/E (18.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) a "Buy" — based on 36 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 — VECO or AVGO?
On trailing P/E, Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) is the cheapest at 51.8x versus Broadcom Inc. at 67.0x. On forward P/E, Veeco Instruments Inc. is actually cheaper at 18.3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — VECO or AVGO?
Over the past 5 years, Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) delivered a total return of +572.4%, compared to +35.5% for Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO). A $10,000 investment in AVGO five years ago would be worth approximately $67K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AVGO returned +23.9% versus VECO's +64.7%. 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 — VECO or AVGO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.49β versus Broadcom Inc.'s 1.75β — meaning AVGO is approximately 17% more volatile than VECO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 80% for Broadcom Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — VECO or AVGO?
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) is the more profitable company, earning 36.2% net margin versus 5.3% for Veeco Instruments Inc. — meaning it keeps 36.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AVGO leads at 39.9% versus 5.4% for VECO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AVGO leads at 67.8%, 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.
06Is VECO or AVGO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO) trades at 18.3x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Broadcom Inc. — 12.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVGO: 38.9% to $443.72.
07Which pays a better dividend — VECO or AVGO?
In this comparison, AVGO (0.7% yield) pays a dividend. VECO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is VECO or AVGO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVGO: +23.9%, VECO: +64.7%), 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.
09What are the main differences between VECO and AVGO?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. AVGO pays a dividend while VECO 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.
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