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LUD vs RETO vs PESI vs CLPS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Construction Materials
Waste Management
Information Technology Services
LUD vs RETO vs PESI vs CLPS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Steel | Construction Materials | Waste Management | Information Technology Services |
| Market Cap | $116M | $356K | $207M | $25M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $45M | $9M | $59M | $299M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-361K | $-25M | $-18M | $-4M |
| Gross Margin | 25.4% | 14.0% | 4.1% | 22.8% |
| Operating Margin | 1.0% | -237.8% | -26.3% | -1.4% |
| Total Debt | $614K | $110K | $4M | $34M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $8M | $671K | $12M | $28M |
LUD vs RETO vs PESI vs CLPS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Feb 25 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luda Technology Gro… (LUD) | 100 | 142.9 | +42.9% |
| ReTo Eco-Solutions,… (RETO) | 100 | 1.8 | -98.2% |
| Perma-Fix Environme… (PESI) | 100 | 138.9 | +38.9% |
| CLPS Incorporation (CLPS) | 100 | 78.1 | -21.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LUD vs RETO vs PESI vs CLPS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LUD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.01, Low D/E 4.9%, current ratio 1.23x
- -0.8% margin vs RETO's -291.9%
- Beta 0.01 vs PESI's 1.85, lower leverage
- +45.0% vs RETO's -95.9%
RETO plays a supporting role in this comparison — it may shine differently against other peers.
PESI is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 178.6% 10Y total return vs LUD's 45.0%
CLPS is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability and growth exposure is your priority.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.27, yield 14.6%
- Rev growth 15.2%, EPS growth -181.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.7%
- Beta 0.27, yield 14.6%, current ratio 1.58x
- 15.2% revenue growth vs RETO's -43.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 15.2% revenue growth vs RETO's -43.5% | |
| Quality / Margins | -0.8% margin vs RETO's -291.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.01 vs PESI's 1.85, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 14.6% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs LUD's 2.6%, (2 stocks pay no dividend) | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +45.0% vs RETO's -95.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -0.8% ROA vs RETO's -75.1%, ROIC 4.6% vs -14.5% |
LUD vs RETO vs PESI vs CLPS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LUD vs RETO vs PESI vs CLPS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
LUD leads in 2 of 6 categories
CLPS leads 1 • RETO leads 0 • PESI leads 0 • 3 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LUD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CLPS is the larger business by revenue, generating $299M annually — 34.6x RETO's $9M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -0.8% (LUD) to -2.9% (RETO). On growth, RETO holds the edge at +49.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $45M | $9M | $59M | $299M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | — | -$19M | -$14M | -$1M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | — | -$25M | -$18M | -$4M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | — | -$7M | -$14M | $0 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.4% | +14.0% | +4.1% | +22.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.0% | -2.4% | -26.3% | -1.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.8% | -2.9% | -30.1% | -1.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.8% | -77.8% | -23.4% | -2.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +49.0% | -20.1% | +15.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +98.8% | -110.5% | +75.8% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — LUD and RETO and CLPS each lead in 1 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $116M | $355,799 | $207M | $25M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $108M | -$205,956 | $200M | $31M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -362.50x | -0.04x | -14.89x | -3.48x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 115.84x | — | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.59x | 0.19x | 3.36x | 0.15x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 10.31x | 0.01x | 4.11x | 0.43x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 26.49x | — | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
LUD leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LUD delivers a -2.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-2 in annual profit, vs $-183 for RETO. RETO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CLPS's 0.59x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LUD scores 6/9 vs CLPS's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.5% | -183.4% | -34.5% | -6.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.8% | -75.1% | -20.2% | -3.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.6% | -14.5% | -21.7% | -7.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.9% | -21.6% | -16.7% | -9.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.05x | 0.00x | 0.09x | 0.59x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$8M | -$561,755 | -$7M | $6M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $8M | $671,355 | $12M | $28M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $614,476 | $109,600 | $4M | $34M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.82x | -31.78x | -42.14x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — LUD and PESI each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PESI five years ago would be worth $14,563 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1 for RETO. Over the past 12 months, LUD leads with a +45.0% total return vs RETO's -95.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LUD at 13.2% vs RETO's -92.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -27.3% | -66.1% | -8.8% | -10.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +45.0% | -95.9% | +26.2% | -5.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.0% | -99.9% | +21.7% | +0.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.0% | -100.0% | +45.6% | -69.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.0% | -100.0% | +178.6% | -78.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.2% | -92.0% | +6.8% | +0.2% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LUD and PESI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LUD is the less volatile stock with a 0.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PESI's 1.85 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PESI currently trades 67.7% from its 52-week high vs RETO's 3.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.01x | 1.77x | 1.85x | 0.27x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.20 | $19.55 | $16.50 | $1.88 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.90 | $0.48 | $8.02 | $0.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +24.0% | +3.3% | +67.7% | +48.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.7 | 43.5 | 41.5 | 49.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 126K | 920K | 164K | 15K |
Analyst Outlook
CLPS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
For income investors, CLPS offers the higher dividend yield at 14.60% vs LUD's 2.59%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | — | Hold | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — | $18.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | — | 1 | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | — | — | +14.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | — | 1 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.15 | — | — | $0.13 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
LUD leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). CLPS leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 3 tied.
LUD vs RETO vs PESI vs CLPS: Key Questions Answered
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LUD or RETO or PESI or CLPS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, CLPS Incorporation (CLPS) is the stronger pick with 15.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -43. 5% for ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc. (RETO). Analysts rate Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI) a "Hold" — based on 1 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 — LUD or RETO or PESI or CLPS?
Over the past 5 years, Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.
(PESI) delivered a total return of +45. 6%, compared to -100. 0% for ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc. (RETO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PESI returned +178. 6% versus RETO's -100. 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 — LUD or RETO or PESI or CLPS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Luda Technology Group Limited (LUD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
01β versus Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. 's 1. 85β — meaning PESI is approximately 13270% more volatile than LUD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc. (RETO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 59% for CLPS Incorporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — LUD or RETO or PESI or CLPS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), CLPS Incorporation (CLPS) is pulling ahead at 15.
2% versus -43. 5% for ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc. (RETO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc. grew EPS 68. 0% year-over-year, compared to -181. 4% for CLPS Incorporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LUD leads at 9. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — LUD or RETO or PESI or CLPS?
Luda Technology Group Limited (LUD) is the more profitable company, earning -0.
8% net margin versus -456. 7% for ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc. — meaning it keeps -0. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LUD leads at 1. 0% versus -225. 9% for RETO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RETO leads at 45. 1%, 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 — LUD or RETO or PESI or CLPS?
In this comparison, CLPS (14.
6% yield), LUD (2. 6% yield) pay a dividend. RETO, PESI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is LUD or RETO or PESI or CLPS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Luda Technology Group Limited (LUD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
01), 2. 6% yield). ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc. (RETO) 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 (LUD: +45. 0%, RETO: -100. 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 LUD and RETO and PESI and CLPS?
These companies operate in different sectors (LUD (Basic Materials) and RETO (Basic Materials) and PESI (Industrials) and CLPS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: LUD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RETO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PESI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CLPS is a small-cap high-growth stock. LUD, CLPS pay a dividend while RETO, PESI 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.
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