Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Cohu, Inc. (COHU) vs Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AVGO | 23.9% revenue growth vs COHU's 12.7% |
| Value | AVGO | Lower P/E (31.1x vs 57.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | AVGO | 36.2% net margin vs COHU's -16.4% |
| Stability / Safety | COHU | Beta 1.66 vs AVGO's 1.75, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AVGO | 0.7% yield; 15-year raise streak; COHU pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AVGO | +61.4% vs COHU's +53.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AVGO | 13.5% ROA vs COHU's -6.0%, ROIC 14.9% vs -6.6% |
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
Cohu is a semiconductor test equipment manufacturer that provides handlers, contactors, thermal subsystems, and automated test equipment for chipmakers and testing subcontractors. It generates revenue primarily from equipment sales — handlers (~60%), test systems (~25%), and aftermarket services (~15%) — with a significant portion coming from the automotive and industrial sectors. The company's moat lies in its deep expertise in thermal management and mechanical handling for advanced semiconductor testing, particularly for automotive-grade chips requiring extreme temperature testing.
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 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). COHU leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AVGO is the larger business by revenue, generating $63.9B annually — 141.0x COHU's $453M. AVGO is the more profitable business, keeping 36.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COHU's -16.4%. On growth, COHU holds the edge at +29.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | COHUCohu, Inc. | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $453M | $63.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$17M | $34.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$74M | $23.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$26M | $26.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.1% | +67.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -15.0% | +39.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -16.4% | +36.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -5.7% | +42.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +29.9% | +22.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.3% | +3.1% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | COHUCohu, Inc. | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $1.52T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.3B | $1.56T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -18.99x | 66.99x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 57.41x | 31.10x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.80x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 44.06x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.11x | 23.71x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.80x | 19.08x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 56.29x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AVGO delivers a 28.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $-9 for COHU. COHU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.46x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AVGO's 0.80x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AVGO scores 4/9 vs COHU's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | COHUCohu, Inc. | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -9.5% | +28.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -6.0% | +13.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -6.6% | +14.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -5.7% | +16.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.46x | 0.80x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$156M | $49.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $484M | $16.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $359M | $65.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -21.88x | 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 $6,567 for COHU. Over the past 12 months, AVGO leads with a +61.4% total return vs COHU's +53.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AVGO at 76.4% vs COHU's -6.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | COHUCohu, Inc. | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +22.7% | -8.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +53.6% | +61.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -18.8% | +448.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -34.3% | +572.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +173.1% | +2389.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -6.7% | +76.4% |
Risk & Volatility
COHU is the less volatile stock with a 1.66 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. COHU currently trades 86.4% from its 52-week high vs AVGO's 77.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | COHUCohu, Inc. | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.66x | 1.75x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $34.96 | $414.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.57 | $138.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.4% | +77.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.9 | 44.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 701K | 21.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COHU as "Buy" and AVGO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 38.9% upside for AVGO (target: $444) vs 7.6% for COHU (target: $33). AVGO is the only dividend payer here at 0.72% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | COHUCohu, Inc. | AVGOBroadcom Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.50 | $443.72 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 57 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 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 | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohu, Inc. (COHU) | 100 | 148.53 | +48.5% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | 100 | 1,207.11 | +1107.1% |
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) returned +572% over 5 years vs Cohu, Inc. (COHU)'s -34%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohu, Inc. (COHU) | $282M | $453M | +60.6% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | $13.2B | $63.9B | +382.5% |
Cohu, Inc.'s revenue grew from $282M (2016) to $453M (2025) — a 5.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohu, Inc. (COHU) | 1.1% | -16.4% | -1622.1% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | -13.1% | 36.2% | +375.6% |
Cohu, Inc.'s net margin went from 1% (2016) to -16% (2025). Broadcom Inc.'s net margin went from -13% (2016) to 36% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohu, Inc. (COHU) | 19.3 | 60 | +210.9% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | 61.2 | 72.6 | +18.6% |
Cohu, Inc. has traded in a 11x–60x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~-19x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohu, Inc. (COHU) | 0.11 | -1.59 | -1545.5% |
| Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) | -0.44 | 4.77 | +1184.1% |
Cohu, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.11 (2016) to $-1.59 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR. Broadcom Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.44 (2016) to $4.77 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Cohu, Inc. generated $0M FCF in 2025 (-100% vs 2021). Broadcom Inc. generated $27B FCF in 2025 (+102% vs 2021).
COHU vs AVGO: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COHU or AVGO a better buy right now?
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) offers the better valuation at 67.0x trailing P/E (31.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cohu, Inc. (COHU) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 — COHU or AVGO?
On forward P/E, Broadcom Inc. is actually cheaper at 31.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COHU or AVGO?
Over the past 5 years, Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) delivered a total return of +572.4%, compared to -34.3% for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). 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 COHU's +173.1%. 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 — COHU or AVGO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cohu, Inc. (COHU) is the lower-risk stock at 1.66β versus Broadcom Inc.'s 1.75β — meaning AVGO is approximately 6% more volatile than COHU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cohu, Inc. (COHU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 80% for Broadcom Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — COHU or AVGO?
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) is the more profitable company, earning 36.2% net margin versus -16.4% for Cohu, 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 -12.9% for COHU. 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 COHU or AVGO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) trades at 31.1x forward P/E versus 57.4x for Cohu, Inc. — 26.3x 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 — COHU or AVGO?
In this comparison, AVGO (0.7% yield) pays a dividend. COHU does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is COHU 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). Cohu, Inc. (COHU) carries a higher beta of 1.66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVGO: +23.9%, COHU: +173.1%), 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 COHU 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 COHU 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.