Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) vs SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SKYT | 29.2% revenue growth vs GFS's 0.6% |
| Value | SKYT | Lower P/E (12.1x vs 25.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | SKYT | 26.9% net margin vs GFS's 13.0% |
| Stability / Safety | GFS | Beta 1.60 vs SKYT's 2.28 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SKYT | +215.8% vs GFS's +22.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SKYT | 16.2% ROA vs GFS's 5.2%, ROIC -1.3% vs 5.3% |
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
GLOBALFOUNDRIES is a semiconductor foundry that manufactures integrated circuits for other companies rather than designing its own chips. It generates revenue primarily from wafer fabrication services — including specialty technologies for automotive, IoT, and communications applications — with contract manufacturing fees from customers like AMD, Qualcomm, and Broadcom. Its competitive advantage lies in being one of the few pure-play foundries with advanced specialty process technologies, particularly in RF, analog, and power semiconductors where it avoids direct competition with TSMC and Samsung in leading-edge nodes.
SkyWater Technology is a specialized semiconductor foundry that provides custom development and manufacturing services for analog, mixed-signal, and specialty chips. It generates revenue primarily from engineering services and wafer manufacturing—roughly 60% from manufacturing and 40% from development services—serving aerospace, defense, automotive, and IoT markets. Its key advantage is being the only U.S.-owned and Department of Defense-accredited pure-play semiconductor foundry, offering trusted domestic manufacturing for sensitive applications.
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
GFS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Risk & Volatility). SKYT leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GFS is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.8B annually — 15.4x SKYT's $442M. SKYT is the more profitable business, keeping 26.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GFS's 13.0%. On growth, SKYT holds the edge at +126.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GFSGLOBALFOUNDRIES I… | SKYTSkyWater Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.8B | $442M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.1B | $21M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $885M | $119M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.0B | -$53M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.2% | +19.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | -0.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.0% | +26.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.9% | -12.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | +126.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +127.3% | -10.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 12.1x trailing earnings, SKYT trades at a 60% valuation discount to GFS's 29.9x P/E.
| Metric | GFSGLOBALFOUNDRIES I… | SKYTSkyWater Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $26.4B | $1.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $26.3B | $1.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 29.91x | 12.07x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.83x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.44x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.89x | 3.23x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.21x | 7.33x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 26.19x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
SKYT delivers a 60.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $61 in annual profit, vs $7 for GFS. SKYT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GFS's 0.14x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GFS scores 7/9 vs SKYT's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GFSGLOBALFOUNDRIES I… | SKYTSkyWater Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.4% | +60.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.2% | +16.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.3% | -1.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.6% | -0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.14x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$171M | -$17M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.8B | $23M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.6B | $6M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 28.24x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SKYT five years ago would be worth $16,607 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,248 for GFS. Over the past 12 months, SKYT leads with a +215.8% total return vs GFS's +22.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SKYT at 30.9% vs GFS's -10.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GFSGLOBALFOUNDRIES I… | SKYTSkyWater Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +29.0% | +31.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.6% | +215.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.2% | +124.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2.5% | +66.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2.5% | +66.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -10.1% | +30.9% |
Risk & Volatility
GFS is the less volatile stock with a 1.60 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SKYT's 2.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GFS currently trades 93.3% from its 52-week high vs SKYT's 81.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GFSGLOBALFOUNDRIES I… | SKYTSkyWater Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.60x | 2.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $50.98 | $36.27 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $29.77 | $5.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.3% | +81.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.2 | 58.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.3M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GFS as "Buy" and SKYT as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 18.8% upside for SKYT (target: $35) vs 7.5% for GFS (target: $51).
| Metric | GFSGLOBALFOUNDRIES I… | SKYTSkyWater Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $51.14 | $35.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 6 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Oct 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) | 100 | 90.91 | -9.1% |
| SkyWater Technology… (SKYT) | 100 | 91.47 | -8.5% |
SkyWater Technology… (SKYT) returned +66% over 5 years vs GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS)'s +2%. A $10,000 investment in SKYT 5 years ago would be worth $16,607 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) | $5.8B | $6.8B | +16.8% |
| SkyWater Technology… (SKYT) | $132M | $442M | +234.5% |
SkyWater Technology, Inc.'s revenue grew from $132M (2018) to $442M (2025) — a 18.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) | -23.6% | 13.0% | +155.2% |
| SkyWater Technology… (SKYT) | -0.0% | 26.9% | +54765.4% |
SkyWater Technology, Inc.'s net margin went from -0% (2018) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 3 Years
| Stock | 2022 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) | 20.6 | 22 | +6.8% |
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. has traded in a 21x–33x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~30x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) | -2.66 | 1.59 | +159.8% |
| SkyWater Technology… (SKYT) | -0 | 2.44 | +143629.4% |
SkyWater Technology, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.00 (2018) to $2.44 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (-6% vs 2021). SkyWater Technology, Inc. generated $-53M FCF in 2025 (+39% vs 2021).
GFS vs SKYT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GFS or SKYT a better buy right now?
SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT) offers the better valuation at 12.1x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — GFS or SKYT?
On trailing P/E, SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT) is the cheapest at 12.1x versus GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. at 29.9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GFS or SKYT?
Over the past 5 years, SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT) delivered a total return of +66.1%, compared to +2.5% for GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS). A $10,000 investment in SKYT five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SKYT returned +66.1% versus GFS's +2.5%. 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 — GFS or SKYT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.60β versus SkyWater Technology, Inc.'s 2.28β — meaning SKYT is approximately 42% more volatile than GFS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 14% for GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GFS or SKYT?
SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 13.0% for GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GFS leads at 11.7% versus -0.6% for SKYT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GFS leads at 25.2%, 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 GFS or SKYT more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SKYT: 18.8% to $35.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — GFS or SKYT?
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.
08Is GFS or SKYT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GFS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT) 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 (GFS: +2.5%, SKYT: +66.1%), 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 GFS and SKYT?
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: GFS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SKYT is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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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