COHU vs ICHR

For growth investors, Cohu, Inc.

(COHU) is the stronger pick with 12. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 6% for Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (ICHR). 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, Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) delivered a total return of +33. 8%, compared to +31. 4% for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ICHR returned +642. 2% 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 Ichor Holdings, Ltd. 's 3. 93β — meaning ICHR is approximately 84% more volatile than COHU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (ICHR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 46% for Cohu, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cohu, Inc.

(COHU) is pulling ahead at 12. 7% versus 11. 6% for Ichor Holdings, Ltd. (ICHR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cohu, Inc. grew EPS -6. 7% year-over-year, compared to -140. 6% for Ichor Holdings, Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ICHR leads at -9. 5% 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.

Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is the more profitable company, earning -5. 6% net margin versus -16. 4% for Cohu, Inc. — meaning it keeps -5. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ICHR leads at -4. 1% versus -13. 3% for COHU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — COHU leads at 34. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) trades at 63. 4x forward P/E versus 93. 2x for Cohu, Inc. — 29. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. 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, Ichor Holdings, Ltd.

(ICHR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+642. 2% 10Y return). Cohu, Inc. (COHU) carries a higher beta of 2. 13 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICHR: +642. 2%, COHU: +345. 2%), 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.