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4 / 10Stock Comparison
CLRO vs SYNA vs MTSI vs AMBA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
Semiconductors
Semiconductors
CLRO vs SYNA vs MTSI vs AMBA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Semiconductors | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $76M | $4.13B | $25.84B | $3.20B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $7M | $1.17B | $1.07B | $374M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-23M | $-48M | $177M | $-80M |
| Gross Margin | 10.4% | 43.6% | 55.3% | 59.8% |
| Operating Margin | -143.1% | -6.4% | 16.0% | -23.6% |
| Forward P/E | 21.1x | 23.9x | 76.9x | 95.4x |
| Total Debt | $771K | $880M | $538M | $5M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1M | $392M | $112M | $145M |
CLRO vs SYNA vs MTSI vs AMBA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO) | 100 | 12.2 | -87.8% |
| Synaptics Incorpora… (SYNA) | 100 | 166.0 | +66.0% |
| MACOM Technology So… (MTSI) | 100 | 1084.9 | +984.9% |
| Ambarella, Inc. (AMBA) | 100 | 130.9 | +30.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CLRO vs SYNA vs MTSI vs AMBA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CLRO is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability and sleep-well-at-night is your priority.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.93, yield 19.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.93, Low D/E 3.6%, current ratio 5.29x
- Beta 0.93, yield 19.1%, current ratio 5.29x
- Lower P/E (21.1x vs 95.4x)
SYNA plays a supporting role in this comparison — it may shine differently against other peers.
MTSI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 32.6%, EPS growth -170.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 12.7%
- 8.0% 10Y total return vs AMBA's 94.1%
- 32.6% revenue growth vs CLRO's -39.1%
- 16.5% margin vs CLRO's -324.9%
AMBA lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 32.6% revenue growth vs CLRO's -39.1% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (21.1x vs 95.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 16.5% margin vs CLRO's -324.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.93 vs AMBA's 2.53 | |
| Dividends | 19.1% yield; the other 3 pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +203.8% vs CLRO's -62.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 8.6% ROA vs CLRO's -246.4%, ROIC 6.0% vs -28.4% |
CLRO vs SYNA vs MTSI vs AMBA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
CLRO vs SYNA vs MTSI vs AMBA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
MTSI leads in 2 of 6 categories
AMBA leads 1 • SYNA leads 1 • CLRO leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AMBA leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SYNA is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.2B annually — 163.1x CLRO's $7M. MTSI is the more profitable business, keeping 16.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CLRO's -3.2%. On growth, AMBA holds the edge at +31.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $7M | $1.2B | $1.1B | $374M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$10M | $50M | $210M | -$72M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$23M | -$48M | $177M | -$80M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$5M | $97M | $168M | $76M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +10.4% | +43.6% | +55.3% | +59.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -143.1% | -6.4% | +16.0% | -23.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.2% | -4.1% | +16.5% | -21.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -68.4% | +8.3% | +15.6% | +20.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | +10.4% | +22.5% | +31.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -91.1% | +62.5% | +42.9% | +39.7% |
Valuation Metrics
SYNA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, SYNA's 94.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MTSI's 136.1x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $76M | $4.1B | $25.8B | $3.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $75M | $4.6B | $26.3B | $3.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -8.57x | -86.72x | -471.88x | -26.15x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.13x | 23.88x | 76.91x | 95.39x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 94.16x | 136.13x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.68x | 3.84x | 26.71x | 11.22x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.57x | 2.98x | 19.20x | 5.46x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 38.84x | 134.01x | 136.31x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MTSI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MTSI delivers a 13.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $-7 for CLRO. AMBA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SYNA's 0.63x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AMBA scores 6/9 vs CLRO's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -6.7% | -3.5% | +13.2% | -13.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.5% | -1.9% | +8.6% | -10.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -28.4% | -4.0% | +6.0% | -22.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -26.5% | -3.9% | +7.6% | -22.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.04x | 0.63x | 0.41x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$646,000 | $489M | $426M | -$139M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1M | $392M | $112M | $145M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $771,000 | $880M | $538M | $5M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -368.46x | -30.00x | 391.47x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MTSI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MTSI five years ago would be worth $61,359 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,283 for CLRO. Over the past 12 months, MTSI leads with a +203.8% total return vs CLRO's -62.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MTSI at 84.4% vs CLRO's -14.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -40.0% | +39.7% | +96.9% | -1.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -62.9% | +81.7% | +203.8% | +45.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -37.3% | +37.7% | +526.9% | +10.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -67.2% | -19.1% | +513.6% | -19.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -92.5% | +60.9% | +795.9% | +94.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -14.4% | +11.2% | +84.4% | +3.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CLRO and MTSI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CLRO is the less volatile stock with a 0.93 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AMBA's 2.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MTSI currently trades 97.0% from its 52-week high vs CLRO's 20.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.93x | 2.28x | 1.75x | 2.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $15.42 | $110.43 | $355.00 | $96.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.71 | $56.80 | $110.09 | $48.30 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +20.6% | +95.8% | +97.0% | +76.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.3 | 76.5 | 71.3 | 78.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 6K | 739K | 1.1M | 875K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: CLRO as "Buy", SYNA as "Buy", MTSI as "Buy", AMBA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 32.4% upside for AMBA (target: $98) vs -26.3% for MTSI (target: $254). CLRO is the only dividend payer here at 19.06% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $96.86 | $254.00 | $98.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 32 | 23 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +19.1% | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.1% | +0.2% | 0.0% |
MTSI leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). AMBA leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 1 tied.
CLRO vs SYNA vs MTSI vs AMBA: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CLRO or SYNA or MTSI or AMBA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
(MTSI) is the stronger pick with 32. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -39. 1% for ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO). Analysts rate ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 is the better long-term investment — CLRO or SYNA or MTSI or AMBA?
Over the past 5 years, MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
(MTSI) delivered a total return of +513. 6%, compared to -67. 2% for ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MTSI returned +795. 9% versus CLRO's -92. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — CLRO or SYNA or MTSI or AMBA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ClearOne, Inc.
(CLRO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 93β versus Ambarella, Inc. 's 2. 53β — meaning AMBA is approximately 172% more volatile than CLRO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ambarella, Inc. (AMBA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 63% for Synaptics Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — CLRO or SYNA or MTSI or AMBA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
(MTSI) is pulling ahead at 32. 6% versus -39. 1% for ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ambarella, Inc. grew EPS 33. 2% year-over-year, compared to -1481. 2% for ClearOne, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTSI leads at 12. 7% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — CLRO or SYNA or MTSI or AMBA?
Synaptics Incorporated (SYNA) is the more profitable company, earning -4.
4% net margin versus -78. 9% for ClearOne, Inc. — meaning it keeps -4. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTSI leads at 13. 4% versus -80. 9% for CLRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMBA leads at 60. 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.
06Is CLRO or SYNA or MTSI or AMBA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ClearOne, Inc.
(CLRO) trades at 21. 1x forward P/E versus 95. 4x for Ambarella, Inc. — 74. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMBA: 32. 4% to $98. 33.
07Which pays a better dividend — CLRO or SYNA or MTSI or AMBA?
In this comparison, CLRO (19.
1% yield) pays a dividend. SYNA, MTSI, AMBA do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CLRO or SYNA or MTSI or AMBA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ClearOne, Inc.
(CLRO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), 19. 1% yield). Synaptics Incorporated (SYNA) carries a higher beta of 2. 28 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CLRO: -92. 5%, SYNA: +60. 9%), 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 CLRO and SYNA and MTSI and AMBA?
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: CLRO is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SYNA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MTSI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; AMBA is a small-cap high-growth stock. CLRO pays a dividend while SYNA, MTSI, AMBA 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.
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