Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock (ALAB) vs Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) 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 | ALAB | 115.1% revenue growth vs MRVL's 4.7% |
| Value | MRVL | Lower P/E (28.7x vs 48.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | MRVL | 31.7% net margin vs ALAB's 25.7% |
| Stability / Safety | MRVL | Beta 2.25 vs ALAB's 2.34 |
| Dividends | MRVL | 0.3% yield; ALAB pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ALAB | +59.8% vs MRVL's -10.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ALAB | 14.3% ROA vs MRVL's 11.5%, ROIC 12.5% vs -3.1% |
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
Astera Labs designs semiconductor connectivity solutions that enable high-performance cloud and AI infrastructure. It generates revenue primarily from selling its portfolio of data, network, and memory connectivity products — including both hardware chips and supporting software — to cloud service providers and data center operators. The company's competitive advantage lies in its software-defined architecture that allows customers to scale AI infrastructure efficiently, addressing critical bottlenecks in data movement.
Marvell Technology is a semiconductor company that designs and sells data infrastructure chips for data centers, enterprise networking, and automotive applications. It generates revenue primarily from data center products (~40%), enterprise networking (~30%), and carrier infrastructure (~20%), with the remainder from consumer and automotive segments. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in data processing, storage, and networking semiconductors—particularly in high-growth areas like cloud computing and AI infrastructure.
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
ALAB leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). MRVL leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MRVL is the larger business by revenue, generating $7.8B annually — 9.1x ALAB's $853M. MRVL is the more profitable business, keeping 31.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ALAB's 25.7%. On growth, ALAB holds the edge at +91.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ALABAstera Labs, Inc.… | MRVLMarvell Technolog… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $853M | $7.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $180M | $2.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $219M | $2.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $282M | $1.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +75.7% | +50.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.3% | +14.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +25.7% | +31.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +33.1% | +20.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +91.8% | +36.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +78.6% | +3.8% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ALAB's 111.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MRVL's 116.5x.
| Metric | ALABAstera Labs, Inc.… | MRVLMarvell Technolog… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20.2B | $70.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $20.1B | $74.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 97.40x | -80.09x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 48.23x | 28.71x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 111.28x | 116.46x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 23.73x | 12.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 15.65x | 5.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 71.79x | 50.91x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MRVL delivers a 17.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $16 for ALAB. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ALAB scores 5/9 vs MRVL's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ALABAstera Labs, Inc.… | MRVLMarvell Technolog… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +16.1% | +17.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +14.3% | +11.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.5% | -3.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +14.7% | -3.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.32x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$168M | $3.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $168M | $948M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $4.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 14.82x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ALAB five years ago would be worth $19,157 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,739 for MRVL. Over the past 12 months, ALAB leads with a +59.8% total return vs MRVL's -10.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ALAB at 24.2% vs MRVL's 22.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ALABAstera Labs, Inc.… | MRVLMarvell Technolog… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -33.8% | -8.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +59.8% | -10.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.6% | +82.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.6% | +67.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.6% | +780.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.2% | +22.2% |
Risk & Volatility
MRVL is the less volatile stock with a 2.25 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ALAB's 2.34 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MRVL currently trades 79.5% from its 52-week high vs ALAB's 45.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ALABAstera Labs, Inc.… | MRVLMarvell Technolog… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.34x | 2.25x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $262.90 | $102.77 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $47.13 | $47.09 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +45.2% | +79.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.2 | 48.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.4M | 11.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ALAB as "Buy" and MRVL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 70.1% upside for ALAB (target: $202) vs 44.1% for MRVL (target: $118). MRVL is the only dividend payer here at 0.29% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ALABAstera Labs, Inc.… | MRVLMarvell Technolog… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $202.14 | $117.68 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 71 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 24 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astera Labs, Inc. C… (ALAB) | 100 | 245.75 | +145.8% |
| Marvell Technology,… (MRVL) | 100 | 107.46 | +7.5% |
Astera Labs, Inc. C… (ALAB) returned +92% over 5 years vs Marvell Technology,… (MRVL)'s +67%. A $10,000 investment in ALAB 5 years ago would be worth $19,157 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astera Labs, Inc. C… (ALAB) | $80M | $853M | +967.4% |
| Marvell Technology,… (MRVL) | $2.6B | $5.8B | +117.7% |
Marvell Technology, Inc.'s revenue grew from $2.6B (2016) to $5.8B (2025) — a 9.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astera Labs, Inc. C… (ALAB) | -73.0% | 25.7% | +135.2% |
| Marvell Technology,… (MRVL) | -30.6% | -15.3% | +49.9% |
Marvell Technology, Inc.'s net margin went from -31% (2016) to -15% (2025).
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astera Labs, Inc. C… (ALAB) | -0.45 | 1.22 | +371.1% |
| Marvell Technology,… (MRVL) | -1.59 | -1.02 | +35.8% |
Marvell Technology, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.59 (2016) to $-1.02 (2025).
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock generated $282M FCF in 2025 (+808% vs 2022). Marvell Technology, Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+99% vs 2021).
ALAB vs MRVL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALAB or MRVL a better buy right now?
Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock (ALAB) offers the better valuation at 97.4x trailing P/E (48.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock (ALAB) a "Buy" — based on 15 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 — ALAB or MRVL?
On forward P/E, Marvell Technology, Inc. is actually cheaper at 28.7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ALAB or MRVL?
Over the past 5 years, Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock (ALAB) delivered a total return of +91.6%, compared to +67.4% for Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL). A $10,000 investment in ALAB five years ago would be worth approximately $19K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MRVL returned +780.5% versus ALAB's +91.6%. 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 — ALAB or MRVL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) is the lower-risk stock at 2.25β versus Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock's 2.34β — meaning ALAB is approximately 4% more volatile than MRVL relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — ALAB or MRVL?
Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock (ALAB) is the more profitable company, earning 25.7% net margin versus -15.3% for Marvell Technology, Inc. — meaning it keeps 25.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALAB leads at 20.3% versus -12.5% for MRVL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALAB leads at 75.7%, 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.
06Is ALAB or MRVL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) trades at 28.7x forward P/E versus 48.2x for Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock — 19.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALAB: 70.1% to $202.14.
07Which pays a better dividend — ALAB or MRVL?
In this comparison, MRVL (0.3% yield) pays a dividend. ALAB does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ALAB or MRVL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+780.5% 10Y return). Astera Labs, Inc. Common Stock (ALAB) carries a higher beta of 2.34 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MRVL: +780.5%, ALAB: +91.6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between ALAB and MRVL?
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.
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