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2 / 10Stock Comparison
LFUS vs STM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
LFUS vs STM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $11.11B | $49.68B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.49B | $12.40B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-40M | $145M |
| Gross Margin | 38.3% | 33.8% |
| Operating Margin | 2.8% | 3.5% |
| Forward P/E | 31.6x | 49.8x |
| Total Debt | $946M | $2.13B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $563M | $2.84B |
LFUS vs STM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Littelfuse, Inc. (LFUS) | 100 | 281.3 | +181.3% |
| STMicroelectronics … (STM) | 100 | 238.1 | +138.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LFUS vs STM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LFUS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 16 yrs, beta 1.76, yield 0.7%
- Rev growth 8.9%, EPS growth -172.5%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.76, Low D/E 39.0%, current ratio 2.69x
STM is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 9.8% 10Y total return vs LFUS's 317.6%
- 1.2% margin vs LFUS's -1.6%
- +144.0% vs LFUS's +132.6%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.9% revenue growth vs STM's -10.8% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (31.6x vs 49.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 1.2% margin vs LFUS's -1.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.76 vs STM's 2.05 | |
| Dividends | 0.7% yield, 16-year raise streak, vs STM's 0.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +144.0% vs LFUS's +132.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 0.6% ROA vs LFUS's -1.0%, ROIC 1.3% vs 1.0% |
LFUS vs STM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LFUS vs STM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — LFUS and STM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
STM is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.4B annually — 5.0x LFUS's $2.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 1.2% (STM) to -1.6% (LFUS). On growth, STM holds the edge at +22.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.5B | $12.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $227M | $2.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$40M | $145M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $390M | $160M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.3% | +33.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +2.8% | +3.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.6% | +1.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.7% | +1.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.5% | +22.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +69.1% | -33.3% |
Valuation Metrics
LFUS leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, LFUS's 83.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than STM's 122.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.1B | $49.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.5B | $49.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -152.27x | 310.56x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 31.59x | 49.82x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 83.21x | 122.07x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.66x | 4.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.53x | 2.83x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 30.35x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
STM leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
STM delivers a 0.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $1 in annual profit, vs $-2 for LFUS. STM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LFUS's 0.39x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), STM scores 6/9 vs LFUS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -1.6% | +0.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.0% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.0% | +1.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.1% | +1.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.39x | 0.12x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $383M | -$704M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $563M | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $946M | $2.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.93x | 28.71x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — LFUS and STM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LFUS five years ago would be worth $17,185 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,376 for STM. Over the past 12 months, STM leads with a +144.0% total return vs LFUS's +132.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LFUS at 20.1% vs STM's 10.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +68.5% | +104.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +132.6% | +144.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +73.3% | +32.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +71.8% | +53.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +317.6% | +981.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +20.1% | +10.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LFUS and STM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LFUS is the less volatile stock with a 1.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than STM's 2.05 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. STM currently trades 96.4% from its 52-week high vs LFUS's 93.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.77x | 2.07x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $475.00 | $58.01 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $188.08 | $21.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.0% | +96.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 76.2 | 87.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 265K | 9.8M |
Analyst Outlook
LFUS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LFUS as "Buy" and STM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.9% upside for STM (target: $58) vs -1.5% for LFUS (target: $435). For income investors, LFUS offers the higher dividend yield at 0.65% vs STM's 0.62%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $435.00 | $57.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 16 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.89 | $0.35 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +0.7% |
LFUS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). STM leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 3 tied.
LFUS vs STM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LFUS or STM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Littelfuse, Inc.
(LFUS) is the stronger pick with 8. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 8% for STMicroelectronics N. V. (STM). STMicroelectronics N. V. (STM) offers the better valuation at 310. 6x trailing P/E (49. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Littelfuse, Inc. (LFUS) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — LFUS or STM?
On forward P/E, Littelfuse, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 31. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LFUS or STM?
Over the past 5 years, Littelfuse, Inc.
(LFUS) delivered a total return of +71. 8%, compared to +53. 8% for STMicroelectronics N. V. (STM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STM returned +1042% versus LFUS's +331. 6%. 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 — LFUS or STM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Littelfuse, Inc.
(LFUS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 77β versus STMicroelectronics N. V. 's 2. 07β — meaning STM is approximately 17% more volatile than LFUS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, STMicroelectronics N. V. (STM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 39% for Littelfuse, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LFUS or STM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Littelfuse, Inc.
(LFUS) is pulling ahead at 8. 9% versus -10. 8% for STMicroelectronics N. V. (STM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: STMicroelectronics N. V. grew EPS -89. 2% year-over-year, compared to -172. 5% for Littelfuse, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LFUS leads at -1. 7% 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 — LFUS or STM?
STMicroelectronics N.
V. (STM) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 4% net margin versus -3. 0% for Littelfuse, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STM leads at 2. 7% versus 1. 6% for LFUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LFUS leads at 38. 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.
07Is LFUS or STM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Littelfuse, Inc.
(LFUS) trades at 31. 6x forward P/E versus 49. 8x for STMicroelectronics N. V. — 18. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STM: 2. 9% to $57. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — LFUS or STM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Littelfuse, Inc. (LFUS) offers the highest yield at 0. 7%, versus 0. 6% for STMicroelectronics N. V. (STM).
09Is LFUS or STM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, STMicroelectronics N.
V. (STM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 6% yield, +1042% 10Y return). Littelfuse, Inc. (LFUS) carries a higher beta of 1. 77 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (STM: +1042%, LFUS: +331. 6%), 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 LFUS and STM?
Both stocks operate in the Technology 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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