ELTK vs VIAV vs KEYS vs LITE vs COHR

For growth investors, Coherent, Inc.

(COHR) is the stronger pick with 23. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 0% for Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS). Eltek Ltd. (ELTK) offers the better valuation at 67. 3x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, Eltek Ltd.

(ELTK) is the cheapest at 67. 3x versus Lumentum Holdings Inc. at 2441. 7x. On forward P/E, Keysight Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 40. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Keysight Technologies, Inc. wins at 5. 05x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. 's 11. 99x.

Over the past 5 years, Lumentum Holdings Inc.

(LITE) delivered a total return of +1019%, compared to +32. 1% for Eltek Ltd. (ELTK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LITE returned +36. 8% versus ELTK's +90. 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), Eltek Ltd.

(ELTK) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 32β versus Coherent, Inc. 's 2. 82β — meaning COHR is approximately 787% more volatile than ELTK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Eltek Ltd. (ELTK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 2% for Lumentum Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(COHR) is pulling ahead at 23. 4% versus 8. 0% for Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Viavi Solutions Inc. grew EPS 225. 0% year-over-year, compared to -81. 0% for Eltek Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, COHR leads at 20. 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.

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 7% net margin versus 0. 8% for Coherent, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KEYS leads at 17. 6% versus -10. 9% for LITE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KEYS leads at 62. 1%, 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, Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 5. 05x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. 's 11. 99x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) trades at 40. 5x forward P/E versus 110. 1x for Lumentum Holdings Inc. — 69. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LITE: 1. 7% to $918. 67.

In this comparison, ELTK (2.

3% yield) pays a dividend. VIAV, KEYS, LITE, COHR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Eltek Ltd.

(ELTK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 32), 2. 3% yield). Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) carries a higher beta of 2. 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 (ELTK: +90. 2%, LITE: +36. 8%), 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.

In terms of investment character: ELTK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; VIAV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KEYS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LITE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; COHR is a mid-cap high-growth stock. ELTK pays a dividend while VIAV, KEYS, LITE, COHR 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.