HSAI vs OUST

For growth investors, Ouster, Inc.

(OUST) is the stronger pick with 52. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 7% for Hesai Group (HSAI). Analysts rate Hesai Group (HSAI) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Hesai Group (HSAI) delivered a total return of +3.

8%, compared to -76. 1% for Ouster, Inc. (OUST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HSAI returned +3. 8% versus OUST's -74. 7%. 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), Hesai Group (HSAI) is the lower-risk stock at 2.

52β versus Ouster, Inc. 's 3. 51β — meaning OUST is approximately 39% more volatile than HSAI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ouster, Inc. (OUST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 19% for Hesai Group — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(OUST) is pulling ahead at 52. 5% versus 10. 7% for Hesai Group (HSAI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hesai Group grew EPS 79. 3% year-over-year, compared to 48. 6% for Ouster, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OUST leads at 60. 4% 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.

Hesai Group (HSAI) is the more profitable company, earning -4.

9% net margin versus -35. 6% for Ouster, Inc. — meaning it keeps -4. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HSAI leads at -9. 9% versus -43. 7% for OUST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OUST leads at 49. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OUST: 51.

0% to $37. 00.

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, Hesai Group (HSAI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding.

Ouster, Inc. (OUST) carries a higher beta of 3. 51 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HSAI: +3. 8%, OUST: -74. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (HSAI (Consumer Cyclical) and OUST (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HSAI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; OUST is a small-cap high-growth 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.