Communication Equipment
Compare Stocks
4 / 10Stock Comparison
KVHI vs SHEN vs GSAT vs LUMN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Telecommunications Services
Telecommunications Services
Telecommunications Services
KVHI vs SHEN vs GSAT vs LUMN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services |
| Market Cap | $199M | $898M | $10.33B | $8.71B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $118M | $266M | $262M | $12.12B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-5M | $-36M | $-50M | $-1.74B |
| Gross Margin | 17.0% | 37.9% | 57.2% | 35.2% |
| Operating Margin | -7.7% | -10.3% | 1.4% | -2.6% |
| Forward P/E | 92.7x | — | — | — |
| Total Debt | $4M | $642M | $542M | $17.71B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $70M | $27M | $391M | $1.00B |
KVHI vs SHEN vs GSAT vs LUMN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVH Industries, Inc. (KVHI) | 100 | 111.0 | +11.0% |
| Shenandoah Telecomm… (SHEN) | 100 | 30.8 | -69.2% |
| Globalstar, Inc. (GSAT) | 100 | 1826.9 | +1726.9% |
| Lumen Technologies,… (LUMN) | 100 | 86.1 | -13.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KVHI vs SHEN vs GSAT vs LUMN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
KVHI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.43, Low D/E 3.4%, current ratio 7.07x
- Beta 0.43, current ratio 7.07x
- Better valuation composite
- -4.3% margin vs GSAT's -19.0%
SHEN is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability is your priority.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.89, yield 0.7%
- 0.7% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs GSAT's 0.1%, (1 stock pays no dividend)
- -2.0% ROA vs LUMN's -5.3%, ROIC -1.1% vs -0.8%
GSAT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 11.9%, EPS growth -195.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 26.3%
- 201.8% 10Y total return vs KVHI's 26.2%
- 11.9% revenue growth vs LUMN's -5.4%
- +305.2% vs SHEN's +41.3%
LUMN lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.9% revenue growth vs LUMN's -5.4% | |
| Value | Better valuation composite | |
| Quality / Margins | -4.3% margin vs GSAT's -19.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.43 vs LUMN's 2.74 | |
| Dividends | 0.7% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs GSAT's 0.1%, (1 stock pays no dividend) | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +305.2% vs SHEN's +41.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -2.0% ROA vs LUMN's -5.3%, ROIC -1.1% vs -0.8% |
KVHI vs SHEN vs GSAT vs LUMN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
KVHI vs SHEN vs GSAT vs LUMN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
GSAT leads in 2 of 6 categories
LUMN leads 1 • SHEN leads 1 • KVHI leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — KVHI and GSAT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LUMN is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.1B annually — 102.8x KVHI's $118M. KVHI is the more profitable business, keeping -4.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GSAT's -19.0%. On growth, KVHI holds the edge at +27.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $118M | $266M | $262M | $12.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$1M | $104M | $93M | $2.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$5M | -$36M | -$50M | -$1.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1M | -$276M | $151M | $5.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +17.0% | +37.9% | +57.2% | +35.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -7.7% | -10.3% | +1.4% | -2.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.3% | -13.7% | -19.0% | -14.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.1% | -103.5% | +57.6% | +44.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.2% | -100.0% | +2.1% | -8.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +133.3% | -18.2% | -121.9% | 0.0% |
Valuation Metrics
LUMN leads this category, winning 2 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, LUMN's 9.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GSAT's 119.1x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $199M | $898M | $10.3B | $8.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $133M | $1.5B | $10.5B | $25.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -26.84x | -22.86x | -138.10x | -4.83x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 92.73x | — | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 13.80x | 119.09x | 9.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.79x | 2.51x | 41.28x | 0.70x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.51x | 0.92x | 28.58x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.37x | — | 57.85x | 23.49x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GSAT leads this category, winning 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SHEN delivers a -3.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-4 in annual profit, vs $-79 for LUMN. KVHI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GSAT's 1.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GSAT scores 5/9 vs SHEN's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.8% | -3.7% | -13.7% | -79.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.3% | -2.0% | -2.3% | -5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -10.8% | -1.1% | -0.1% | -0.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -8.2% | -1.3% | -0.1% | -0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.66x | 1.51x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$66M | $614M | $151M | $16.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $70M | $27M | $391M | $1.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4M | $642M | $542M | $17.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1369.17x | -0.65x | -0.07x | -1.12x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
GSAT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GSAT five years ago would be worth $49,382 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,119 for LUMN. Over the past 12 months, GSAT leads with a +305.2% total return vs SHEN's +41.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GSAT at 80.1% vs SHEN's -4.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +44.3% | +43.5% | +27.3% | +10.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +104.0% | +41.3% | +305.2% | +100.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -0.2% | -13.6% | +484.1% | +267.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.1% | -27.9% | +393.8% | -28.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.2% | +21.6% | +201.8% | -35.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -0.1% | -4.8% | +80.1% | +54.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — KVHI and GSAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KVHI is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LUMN's 2.74 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GSAT currently trades 98.3% from its 52-week high vs LUMN's 70.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.43x | 0.89x | 2.08x | 2.74x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.10 | $17.34 | $82.85 | $11.95 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.93 | $9.66 | $17.24 | $3.37 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.9% | +93.6% | +98.3% | +70.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.0 | 55.2 | 66.4 | 73.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 127K | 300K | 1.5M | 12.5M |
Analyst Outlook
SHEN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: KVHI as "Buy", SHEN as "Buy", GSAT as "Hold", LUMN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 78.7% upside for SHEN (target: $29) vs -19.0% for GSAT (target: $66). For income investors, SHEN offers the higher dividend yield at 0.72% vs GSAT's 0.10%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $13.00 | $29.00 | $66.00 | $7.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 8 | 5 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.7% | +0.1% | +0.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.12 | $0.08 | $0.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
GSAT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). LUMN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
KVHI vs SHEN vs GSAT vs LUMN: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KVHI or SHEN or GSAT or LUMN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Globalstar, Inc.
(GSAT) is the stronger pick with 11. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 4% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN). Analysts rate KVH Industries, Inc. (KVHI) a "Buy" — based on 4 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 — KVHI or SHEN or GSAT or LUMN?
Over the past 5 years, Globalstar, Inc.
(GSAT) delivered a total return of +393. 8%, compared to -28. 8% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GSAT returned +201. 8% versus LUMN's -35. 7%. 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 — KVHI or SHEN or GSAT or LUMN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), KVH Industries, Inc.
(KVHI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 43β versus Lumen Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 74β — meaning LUMN is approximately 534% more volatile than KVHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, KVH Industries, Inc. (KVHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 151% for Globalstar, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — KVHI or SHEN or GSAT or LUMN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Globalstar, Inc.
(GSAT) is pulling ahead at 11. 9% versus -5. 4% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: KVH Industries, Inc. grew EPS 33. 3% year-over-year, compared to -30. 4% for Lumen Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GSAT leads at 26. 3% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — KVHI or SHEN or GSAT or LUMN?
KVH Industries, Inc.
(KVHI) is the more profitable company, earning -6. 7% net margin versus -25. 2% for Globalstar, Inc. — meaning it keeps -6. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GSAT leads at -0. 4% versus -10. 1% for KVHI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GSAT leads at 66. 9%, 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.
06Is KVHI or SHEN or GSAT or LUMN more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SHEN: 78.
7% to $29. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — KVHI or SHEN or GSAT or LUMN?
In this comparison, SHEN (0.
7% yield), GSAT (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. KVHI, LUMN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is KVHI or SHEN or GSAT or LUMN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (SHEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
89), 0. 7% yield). Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) carries a higher beta of 2. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SHEN: +21. 6%, LUMN: -35. 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.
09What are the main differences between KVHI and SHEN and GSAT and LUMN?
These companies operate in different sectors (KVHI (Technology) and SHEN (Communication Services) and GSAT (Communication Services) and LUMN (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
SHEN pays a dividend while KVHI, GSAT, LUMN do 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 all of them.
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Gross Margin > 22%
- Dividend Yield > 0.5%
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.