Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication
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HIHO vs LYTS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
HIHO vs LYTS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $3M | $760M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6M | $592M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-535K | $26M |
| Gross Margin | 29.4% | 25.3% |
| Operating Margin | -21.6% | 6.5% |
| Forward P/E | 33.0x | 22.3x |
| Total Debt | $810K | $67M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $6M | $3M |
HIHO vs LYTS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highway Holdings Li… (HIHO) | 100 | 41.4 | -58.6% |
| LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) | 100 | 397.7 | +297.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HIHO vs LYTS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
HIHO is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.70, yield 14.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.70, Low D/E 12.9%, current ratio 2.79x
- Beta 0.70, yield 14.1%, current ratio 2.79x
LYTS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 22.1%, EPS growth -4.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.0%
- 108.5% 10Y total return vs HIHO's -41.1%
- 22.1% revenue growth vs HIHO's 17.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 22.1% revenue growth vs HIHO's 17.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (22.3x vs 33.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 4.3% margin vs HIHO's -8.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.70 vs LYTS's 1.43, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 14.1% yield, vs LYTS's 0.8% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +58.0% vs HIHO's -51.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.5% ROA vs HIHO's -6.4%, ROIC 9.5% vs -31.7% |
HIHO vs LYTS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
HIHO vs LYTS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LYTS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LYTS is the larger business by revenue, generating $592M annually — 96.3x HIHO's $6M. LYTS is the more profitable business, keeping 4.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HIHO's -8.7%. On growth, LYTS holds the edge at -0.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6M | $592M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$653,000 | $51M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$535,000 | $26M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $38M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +29.4% | +25.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -21.6% | +6.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -8.7% | +4.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -6.2% | +6.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -44.3% | -0.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.5% | +11.1% |
Valuation Metrics
HIHO leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 30.9x trailing earnings, LYTS trades at a 6% valuation discount to HIHO's 33.0x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3M | $760M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$2M | $823M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 32.99x | 30.91x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 22.34x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.82x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | -22.47x | 17.03x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.47x | 1.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.56x | 3.26x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 21.94x |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — HIHO and LYTS each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LYTS delivers a 10.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $-9 for HIHO. HIHO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.13x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYTS's 0.29x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HIHO scores 6/9 vs LYTS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -9.0% | +10.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -6.4% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -31.7% | +9.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -7.7% | +12.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.13x | 0.29x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$5M | $63M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6M | $3M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $810,000 | $67M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 13.52x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LYTS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LYTS five years ago would be worth $32,341 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,296 for HIHO. Over the past 12 months, LYTS leads with a +58.0% total return vs HIHO's -51.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYTS at 26.0% vs HIHO's -18.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -42.0% | +32.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -51.2% | +58.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -45.4% | +100.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -57.0% | +223.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -41.1% | +108.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -18.3% | +26.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HIHO and LYTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HIHO is the less volatile stock with a 0.70 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LYTS's 1.43 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYTS currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs HIHO's 36.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.70x | 1.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $2.21 | $24.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.74 | $15.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +36.0% | +98.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.4 | 70.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 60K | 378K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — HIHO and LYTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, HIHO offers the higher dividend yield at 14.06% vs LYTS's 0.79%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $27.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +14.1% | +0.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.11 | $0.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
LYTS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). HIHO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 3 tied.
HIHO vs LYTS: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HIHO or LYTS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the stronger pick with 22. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 17. 3% for Highway Holdings Limited (HIHO). LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) offers the better valuation at 30. 9x trailing P/E (22. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) a "Buy" — based on 5 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 — HIHO or LYTS?
On trailing P/E, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the cheapest at 30. 9x versus Highway Holdings Limited at 33. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HIHO or LYTS?
Over the past 5 years, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) delivered a total return of +223. 4%, compared to -57. 0% for Highway Holdings Limited (HIHO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYTS returned +108. 5% versus HIHO's -41. 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 — HIHO or LYTS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Highway Holdings Limited (HIHO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
70β versus LSI Industries Inc. 's 1. 43β — meaning LYTS is approximately 105% more volatile than HIHO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Highway Holdings Limited (HIHO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 29% for LSI Industries Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HIHO or LYTS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is pulling ahead at 22. 1% versus 17. 3% for Highway Holdings Limited (HIHO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Highway Holdings Limited grew EPS 111. 0% year-over-year, compared to -4. 8% for LSI Industries Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LYTS leads at 8. 0% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HIHO or LYTS?
LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 3% net margin versus 1. 4% for Highway Holdings Limited — meaning it keeps 4. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LYTS leads at 6. 2% versus -7. 2% for HIHO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HIHO leads at 33. 3%, 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.
07Which pays a better dividend — HIHO or LYTS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Highway Holdings Limited (HIHO) offers the highest yield at 14. 1%, versus 0. 8% for LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS).
08Is HIHO or LYTS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Highway Holdings Limited (HIHO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
70), 14. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HIHO: -41. 1%, LYTS: +108. 5%), 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 HIHO and LYTS?
These companies operate in different sectors (HIHO (Industrials) and LYTS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
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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