AEHR vs COHU

Analysts rate Cohu, Inc.

(COHU) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, Aehr Test Systems (AEHR) delivered a total return of +42.

0%, compared to +31. 4% for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AEHR returned +69. 6% versus COHU's +345. 2%. 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), Cohu, Inc.

(COHU) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 13β versus Aehr Test Systems's 4. 77β — meaning AEHR is approximately 124% more volatile than COHU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Aehr Test Systems (AEHR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 46% for Cohu, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Aehr Test Systems grew EPS 0.

0% year-over-year, compared to -6. 7% for Cohu, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AEHR leads at 5. 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.

Aehr Test Systems (AEHR) is the more profitable company, earning -6.

6% net margin versus -16. 4% for Cohu, Inc. — meaning it keeps -6. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AEHR leads at -7. 3% versus -13. 3% for COHU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AEHR leads at 40. 6%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COHU: 0.

3% to $49. 75.

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, Cohu, Inc.

(COHU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+345. 2% 10Y return). Aehr Test Systems (AEHR) carries a higher beta of 4. 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 (COHU: +345. 2%, AEHR: +69. 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.

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.