Semiconductors
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
IMOS vs ONTO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
IMOS vs ONTO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $2.07B | $13.63B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $22.81B | $1.03B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $247M | $106M |
| Gross Margin | 9.5% | 48.8% |
| Operating Margin | 2.7% | 10.0% |
| Forward P/E | 0.8x | 38.7x |
| Total Debt | $15.16B | $17M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $15.22B | $346M |
IMOS vs ONTO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIE… (IMOS) | 100 | 291.9 | +191.9% |
| Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) | 100 | 881.7 | +781.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IMOS vs ONTO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
IMOS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.36, yield 1.9%
- Rev growth 6.3%, EPS growth -25.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -6.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.36, Low D/E 60.6%, current ratio 2.71x
ONTO is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 14.3% 10Y total return vs IMOS's 301.1%
- 10.3% margin vs IMOS's 1.1%
- 4.7% ROA vs IMOS's 0.6%, ROIC 5.7% vs 3.6%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 6.3% revenue growth vs ONTO's 1.8% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (0.8x vs 38.7x), PEG 0.01 vs 1.12 | |
| Quality / Margins | 10.3% margin vs IMOS's 1.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.36 vs ONTO's 2.66 | |
| Dividends | 1.9% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +251.8% vs ONTO's +118.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.7% ROA vs IMOS's 0.6%, ROIC 5.7% vs 3.6% |
IMOS vs ONTO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
IMOS vs ONTO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ONTO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IMOS is the larger business by revenue, generating $22.8B annually — 22.1x ONTO's $1.0B. ONTO is the more profitable business, keeping 10.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IMOS's 1.1%. On growth, ONTO holds the edge at +9.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $22.8B | $1.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.6B | $158M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $247M | $106M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$85M | $239M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +9.5% | +48.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +2.7% | +10.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.1% | +10.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -0.4% | +23.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.2% | +9.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.0% | -48.5% |
Valuation Metrics
IMOS leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 48.2x trailing earnings, IMOS trades at a 51% valuation discount to ONTO's 98.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), IMOS offers better value at 0.77x vs ONTO's 2.85x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.1B | $13.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $13.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 48.23x | 98.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.80x | 38.74x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.77x | 2.85x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.55x | 68.79x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.85x | 13.56x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.73x | 6.43x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 75.32x | 45.47x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ONTO leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ONTO delivers a 5.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $1 for IMOS. ONTO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IMOS's 0.61x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IMOS scores 6/9 vs ONTO's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.1% | +5.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.6% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.6% | +5.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.4% | +6.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.61x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$63M | -$329M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $15.2B | $346M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $15.2B | $17M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.24x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ONTO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ONTO five years ago would be worth $41,263 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,852 for IMOS. Over the past 12 months, IMOS leads with a +251.8% total return vs ONTO's +118.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ONTO at 47.1% vs IMOS's 35.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +94.6% | +65.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +251.8% | +118.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +146.7% | +218.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +98.5% | +312.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +301.1% | +1431.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +35.1% | +47.1% |
Risk & Volatility
IMOS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IMOS is the less volatile stock with a 1.36 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ONTO's 2.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IMOS currently trades 98.3% from its 52-week high vs ONTO's 86.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.36x | 2.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $60.47 | $315.86 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.06 | $85.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.3% | +86.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.5 | 61.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 65K | 832K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IMOS as "Hold" and ONTO as "Buy". IMOS is the only dividend payer here at 1.92% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $308.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $35.67 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.6% |
ONTO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). IMOS leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
IMOS vs ONTO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IMOS or ONTO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is the stronger pick with 6. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 8% for Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO). ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. (IMOS) offers the better valuation at 48. 2x trailing P/E (0. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 — IMOS or ONTO?
On trailing P/E, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is the cheapest at 48. 2x versus Onto Innovation Inc. at 98. 6x. On forward P/E, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. is actually cheaper at 0. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. wins at 0. 01x versus Onto Innovation Inc. 's 1. 12x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IMOS or ONTO?
Over the past 5 years, Onto Innovation Inc.
(ONTO) delivered a total return of +312. 6%, compared to +98. 5% for ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. (IMOS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ONTO returned +1432% versus IMOS's +301. 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 — IMOS or ONTO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 36β versus Onto Innovation Inc. 's 2. 66β — meaning ONTO is approximately 96% more volatile than IMOS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 61% for ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — IMOS or ONTO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is pulling ahead at 6. 3% versus 1. 8% for Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. grew EPS -25. 2% year-over-year, compared to -31. 5% for Onto Innovation Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ONTO leads at 0. 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 — IMOS or ONTO?
Onto Innovation Inc.
(ONTO) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 6% net margin versus 6. 3% for ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ONTO leads at 13. 2% versus 5. 6% for IMOS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ONTO leads at 49. 7%, 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.
07Is IMOS or ONTO more undervalued right now?
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, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. (IMOS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 01x versus Onto Innovation Inc. 's 1. 12x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc. (IMOS) trades at 0. 8x forward P/E versus 38. 7x for Onto Innovation Inc. — 37. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — IMOS or ONTO?
In this comparison, IMOS (1.
9% yield) pays a dividend. ONTO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is IMOS or ONTO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Inc.
(IMOS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 9% yield, +301. 1% 10Y return). Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) 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 (IMOS: +301. 1%, ONTO: +1432%), 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.
10What are the main differences between IMOS and ONTO?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
IMOS pays a dividend while ONTO does 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.