Hardware, Equipment & Parts
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LGL vs CTS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
LGL vs CTS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $38M | $1.77B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4M | $556M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $917K | $69M |
| Gross Margin | 72.1% | 38.7% |
| Operating Margin | -2.0% | 15.9% |
| Forward P/E | 90.0x | 25.4x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $122M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $42M | $82M |
LGL vs CTS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| The LGL Group, Inc. (LGL) | 100 | 81.4 | -18.6% |
| CTS Corporation (CTS) | 100 | 289.4 | +189.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LGL vs CTS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LGL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.33
- Rev growth 28.8%, EPS growth 54.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 15.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.33, current ratio 47.17x
CTS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 264.1% 10Y total return vs LGL's 115.4%
- Lower P/E (25.4x vs 90.0x)
- 0.3% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 28.8% revenue growth vs CTS's 5.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (25.4x vs 90.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 25.1% margin vs CTS's 12.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.33 vs CTS's 1.46 | |
| Dividends | 0.3% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +54.7% vs LGL's +4.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 8.9% ROA vs LGL's 2.1% |
LGL vs CTS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LGL vs CTS — 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 — LGL and CTS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CTS is the larger business by revenue, generating $556M annually — 151.9x LGL's $4M. LGL is the more profitable business, keeping 25.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CTS's 12.4%. On growth, CTS holds the edge at +10.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4M | $556M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$51,000 | $123M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $917,000 | $69M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $408,000 | $88M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +72.1% | +38.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.0% | +15.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +25.1% | +12.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | +15.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -43.9% | +10.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.8% | +34.1% |
Valuation Metrics
CTS leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 28.2x trailing earnings, CTS trades at a 69% valuation discount to LGL's 90.0x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $38M | $1.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$4M | $1.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 89.97x | 28.20x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 25.41x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.81x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 15.13x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 17.00x | 3.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.94x | 3.34x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 43.30x | 20.44x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CTS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CTS delivers a 12.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $2 for LGL. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CTS scores 7/9 vs LGL's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.2% | +12.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.1% | +8.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +11.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -3.3% | +12.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.22x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$42M | $40M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $42M | $82M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $122M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 18.18x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CTS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CTS five years ago would be worth $19,377 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,738 for LGL. Over the past 12 months, CTS leads with a +54.7% total return vs LGL's +4.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LGL at 14.7% vs CTS's 14.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +20.9% | +40.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +4.2% | +54.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.9% | +49.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.6% | +93.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +115.4% | +264.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.7% | +14.2% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LGL and CTS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LGL is the less volatile stock with a 0.33 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CTS's 1.46 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CTS currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs LGL's 71.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.33x | 1.46x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.74 | $62.06 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.45 | $36.03 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.9% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.9 | 70.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5K | 211K |
Analyst Outlook
CTS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
CTS is the only dividend payer here at 0.26% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 4 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.16 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.2% |
CTS leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
LGL vs CTS: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LGL or CTS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The LGL Group, Inc.
(LGL) is the stronger pick with 28. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 2% for CTS Corporation (CTS). CTS Corporation (CTS) offers the better valuation at 28. 2x trailing P/E (25. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CTS Corporation (CTS) a "Hold" — 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 has the better valuation — LGL or CTS?
On trailing P/E, CTS Corporation (CTS) is the cheapest at 28.
2x versus The LGL Group, Inc. at 90. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LGL or CTS?
Over the past 5 years, CTS Corporation (CTS) delivered a total return of +93.
8%, compared to -42. 6% for The LGL Group, Inc. (LGL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTS returned +264. 1% versus LGL's +115. 4%. 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 — LGL or CTS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The LGL Group, Inc.
(LGL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 33β versus CTS Corporation's 1. 46β — meaning CTS is approximately 339% more volatile than LGL relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — LGL or CTS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The LGL Group, Inc.
(LGL) is pulling ahead at 28. 8% versus 5. 2% for CTS Corporation (CTS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The LGL Group, Inc. grew EPS 54. 7% year-over-year, compared to 15. 9% for CTS Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LGL leads at 15. 5% 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 — LGL or CTS?
The LGL Group, Inc.
(LGL) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 4% net margin versus 12. 0% for CTS Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTS leads at 15. 6% versus -61. 4% for LGL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LGL leads at 53. 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.
07Which pays a better dividend — LGL or CTS?
In this comparison, CTS (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. LGL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is LGL or CTS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The LGL Group, Inc.
(LGL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 33), +115. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LGL: +115. 4%, CTS: +264. 1%), 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 LGL and CTS?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: LGL is a small-cap high-growth stock; CTS is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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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