CINT vs LIQT vs EPAM vs POWI

For growth investors, CI&T Inc (CINT) is the stronger pick with 510.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 9% for Power Integrations, Inc. (POWI). CI&T Inc (CINT) offers the better valuation at 12. 0x trailing P/E (1. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CI&T Inc (CINT) a "Buy" — based on 8 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 trailing P/E, CI&T Inc (CINT) is the cheapest at 12.

0x versus Power Integrations, Inc. at 184. 2x. On forward P/E, CI&T Inc is actually cheaper at 1. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CI&T Inc wins at 0. 16x versus EPAM Systems, Inc. 's 2. 07x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Power Integrations, Inc.

(POWI) delivered a total return of -8. 3%, compared to -96. 1% for LiqTech International, Inc. (LIQT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: POWI returned +239. 0% versus LIQT's -91. 0%. 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), LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 54β versus Power Integrations, Inc. 's 2. 11β — meaning POWI is approximately 292% more volatile than LIQT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, EPAM Systems, Inc. (EPAM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 117% for LiqTech International, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CI&T Inc (CINT) is pulling ahead at 510.

9% versus 5. 9% for Power Integrations, Inc. (POWI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LiqTech International, Inc. grew EPS 45. 7% year-over-year, compared to -30. 4% for Power Integrations, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CINT leads at 84. 9% 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.

CI&T Inc (CINT) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

3% net margin versus -51. 7% for LiqTech International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CINT leads at 12. 9% versus -50. 3% for LIQT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — POWI leads at 54. 5%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, CI&T Inc (CINT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 16x versus EPAM Systems, Inc. 's 2. 07x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CI&T Inc (CINT) trades at 1. 8x forward P/E versus 58. 7x for Power Integrations, Inc. — 57. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CINT: 75. 4% to $7. 00.

In this comparison, POWI (1.

2% yield) pays a dividend. CINT, LIQT, EPAM do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 54)). Power Integrations, Inc. (POWI) carries a higher beta of 2. 11 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIQT: -91. 0%, POWI: +239. 0%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CINT (Technology) and LIQT (Industrials) and EPAM (Technology) and POWI (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CINT is a small-cap high-growth stock; LIQT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EPAM is a small-cap high-growth stock; POWI is a small-cap quality compounder stock. POWI pays a dividend while CINT, LIQT, EPAM do 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.