IONR
ioneer Ltd
Industrial Materials
Market Cap$10M
5Y Perf.-77.0%
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Stock Comparison
IONR vs LAC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LAC
Lithium Americas Corp.
Industrial Materials
Market Cap$1.45B
5Y Perf.-51.9%
IONR vs LAC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IONR | LAC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial Materials | Industrial Materials |
| Market Cap | $10M | $1.45B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-12M | $-241M |
| Total Debt | $373K | $23M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $25M | $594M |
IONR vs LAC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IONR
LAC
| Stock | Jun 22 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ioneer Ltd (IONR) | 100 | 23.0 | -77.0% |
| Lithium Americas Co… (LAC) | 100 | 48.1 | -51.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IONR vs LAC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IONR leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Lithium Americas Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IONR
ioneer Ltd
The Income Pick
IONR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.26
- EPS growth 97.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.26, Low D/E 0.2%, current ratio 8.49x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
LAC
Lithium Americas Corp.
The Long-Run Compounder
LAC is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 256.5% 10Y total return vs IONR's -77.0%
- 1.4% margin vs IONR's 0.3%
- +98.3% vs IONR's +16.7%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IONR | -10.3% revenue growth vs LAC's -6.0% |
| Quality / Margins | LAC | 1.4% margin vs IONR's 0.3% |
| Stability / Safety | IONR | Beta 1.26 vs LAC's 1.42, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LAC | +98.3% vs IONR's +16.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IONR | -5.2% ROA vs LAC's -16.6%, ROIC -0.0% vs -7.1% |
IONR vs LAC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIONRLAGGINGLAC
LACLithium Americas Corp.
1leads
IONRioneer Ltd
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LACMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
IONR1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IONR2/2
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IONR7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LAC6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IONR leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IONR and LAC operate at a comparable scale, with $0 and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | LACLithium Americas … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$10M | -$32M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$12M | -$241M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$12M | -$648M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.0% | -21.4% |
IONR leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
IONR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | LACLithium Americas … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $10M | $1.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$15M | $881M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1012.50x | -28.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.04x | 1.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
IONR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IONR leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IONR delivers a -5.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-5 in annual profit, vs $-27 for LAC. IONR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LAC's 0.02x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IONR scores 4/9 vs LAC's 2/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | LACLithium Americas … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -5.3% | -26.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -5.2% | -16.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.0% | -7.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.0% | -3.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.02x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$25M | -$571M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $25M | $594M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $373,000 | $23M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -192.86x | — |
IONR leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LAC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LAC five years ago would be worth $7,851 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,297 for IONR. Over the past 12 months, LAC leads with a +98.3% total return vs IONR's +16.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LAC at -22.3% vs IONR's -26.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | LACLithium Americas … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -22.4% | +25.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.7% | +98.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -60.6% | -53.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -77.0% | -21.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -77.0% | +256.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -26.7% | -22.3% |
LAC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — IONR and LAC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IONR is the less volatile stock with a 1.26 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LAC's 1.42 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LAC currently trades 56.9% from its 52-week high vs IONR's 49.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | LACLithium Americas … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.26x | 1.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $8.20 | $10.52 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.30 | $2.47 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +49.4% | +56.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.2 | 63.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 170K | 9.0M |
Evenly matched — IONR and LAC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | IONRioneer Ltd | LACLithium Americas … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $7.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
IONR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LAC leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best Overallioneer Ltd (IONR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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IONR vs LAC: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IONR or LAC a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Lithium Americas Corp.
(LAC) a "Hold" — based on 15 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 is the better long-term investment — IONR or LAC?
Over the past 5 years, Lithium Americas Corp.
(LAC) delivered a total return of -21. 5%, compared to -77. 0% for ioneer Ltd (IONR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LAC returned +256. 5% versus IONR's -77. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — IONR or LAC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ioneer Ltd (IONR) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
26β versus Lithium Americas Corp. 's 1. 42β — meaning LAC is approximately 13% more volatile than IONR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ioneer Ltd (IONR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 2% for Lithium Americas Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — IONR or LAC?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ioneer Ltd grew EPS 97.
3% year-over-year, compared to -757. 1% for Lithium Americas Corp.. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — IONR or LAC?
ioneer Ltd (IONR) is the more profitable company, earning 0.
0% net margin versus 0. 0% for Lithium Americas Corp. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IONR leads at 0. 0% versus 0. 0% for LAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IONR leads at 0. 0%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — IONR or LAC?
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.
07Is IONR or LAC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Lithium Americas Corp.
(LAC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+256. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LAC: +256. 5%, IONR: -77. 0%), 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.
08What are the main differences between IONR and LAC?
Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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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