IPWR vs ON

For growth investors, ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) is the stronger pick with -15.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -56. 1% for Ideal Power Inc. (IPWR). ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) offers the better valuation at 346. 8x trailing P/E (34. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) a "Buy" — based on 45 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, ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) delivered a total return of +160.

4%, compared to -43. 0% for Ideal Power Inc. (IPWR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ON returned +1004% versus IPWR's -90. 3%. 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), ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

95β versus Ideal Power Inc. 's 2. 41β — meaning IPWR is approximately 24% more volatile than ON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ideal Power Inc. (IPWR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 45% for ON Semiconductor Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) is pulling ahead at -15.

3% versus -56. 1% for Ideal Power Inc. (IPWR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ideal Power Inc. grew EPS 9. 4% year-over-year, compared to -92. 0% for ON Semiconductor Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ON leads at -10. 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.

ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

0% net margin versus -280. 4% for Ideal Power Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ON leads at 12. 5% versus -289. 8% for IPWR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ON leads at 32. 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.

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, ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1004% 10Y return).

Ideal Power Inc. (IPWR) carries a higher beta of 2. 41 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ON: +1004%, IPWR: -90. 3%), 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 (IPWR (Industrials) and ON (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.