LYTS
LSI Industries Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$757M
5Y Perf.+295.8%
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Stock Comparison
LYTS vs ACCO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ACCO
ACCO Brands Corporation
Business Equipment & Supplies
Market Cap$372M
5Y Perf.-34.9%
LYTS vs ACCO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LYTS | ACCO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Business Equipment & Supplies |
| Market Cap | $757M | $372M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $592M | $1.55B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $26M | $74M |
| Gross Margin | 25.3% | 30.7% |
| Operating Margin | 6.5% | 7.9% |
| Forward P/E | 22.2x | 4.8x |
| Total Debt | $67M | $921M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3M | $64M |
LYTS vs ACCO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LYTS
ACCO
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) | 100 | 395.8 | +295.8% |
| ACCO Brands Corpora… (ACCO) | 100 | 65.1 | -34.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LYTS vs ACCO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ACCO leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. LSI Industries Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
LYTS
LSI Industries Inc.
The Growth Play
LYTS is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 22.1%, EPS growth -4.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.0%
- 106.6% 10Y total return vs ACCO's -35.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.43, Low D/E 28.9%, current ratio 1.99x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
ACCO
ACCO Brands Corporation
The Income Pick
ACCO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.33, yield 7.1%
- Beta 1.33, yield 7.1%, current ratio 1.61x
- Lower P/E (4.8x vs 22.2x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LYTS | 22.1% revenue growth vs ACCO's -8.5% |
| Value | ACCO | Lower P/E (4.8x vs 22.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | ACCO | 4.8% margin vs LYTS's 4.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ACCO | Beta 1.33 vs LYTS's 1.43 |
| Dividends | ACCO | 7.1% yield, vs LYTS's 0.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LYTS | +58.3% vs ACCO's +21.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LYTS | 6.5% ROA vs ACCO's 3.2%, ROIC 9.5% vs 5.5% |
LYTS vs ACCO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
LYTS vs ACCO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLYTSLAGGINGACCO
ACCOACCO Brands Corporati…
2leads
LYTSLSI Industries Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ACCOMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ACCO5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ACCO6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LYTS7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LYTS6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACCO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACCO is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.6B annually — 2.6x LYTS's $592M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 4.8% (ACCO) to 4.3% (LYTS). On growth, ACCO holds the edge at +8.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | ACCOACCO Brands Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $592M | $1.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $51M | $177M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $26M | $74M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $38M | $49M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.3% | +30.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.5% | +7.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +4.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.4% | +3.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.5% | +8.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.1% | +2.4% |
ACCO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ACCO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.2x trailing earnings, ACCO trades at a 70% valuation discount to LYTS's 30.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ACCO's 6.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYTS's 17.0x.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | ACCOACCO Brands Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $757M | $372M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $820M | $1.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 30.76x | 9.16x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.23x | 4.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.81x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 16.96x | 6.79x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.32x | 0.24x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.25x | 0.57x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.83x | 7.32x |
ACCO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LYTS leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACCO delivers a 11.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $11 for LYTS. LYTS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.29x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACCO's 1.39x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACCO scores 7/9 vs LYTS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | ACCOACCO Brands Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.9% | +11.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.5% | +3.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.5% | +5.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.6% | +6.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 1.39x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $63M | $856M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3M | $64M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $67M | $921M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 13.52x | 2.50x |
LYTS leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LYTS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LYTS five years ago would be worth $32,645 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,156 for ACCO. Over the past 12 months, LYTS leads with a +58.3% total return vs ACCO's +21.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYTS at 25.8% vs ACCO's -1.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | ACCOACCO Brands Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +32.1% | +11.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +58.3% | +21.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +99.0% | -5.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +226.5% | -38.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +106.6% | -35.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +25.8% | -1.7% |
LYTS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LYTS and ACCO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ACCO is the less volatile stock with a 1.33 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LYTS's 1.43 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYTS currently trades 98.2% from its 52-week high vs ACCO's 93.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | ACCOACCO Brands Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.43x | 1.33x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.75 | $4.29 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.31 | $2.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.2% | +93.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.4 | 74.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 374K | 1.2M |
Evenly matched — LYTS and ACCO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — LYTS and ACCO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LYTS as "Buy" and ACCO as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 98.5% upside for ACCO (target: $8) vs 11.1% for LYTS (target: $27). For income investors, ACCO offers the higher dividend yield at 7.13% vs LYTS's 0.80%.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | ACCOACCO Brands Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.00 | $8.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 7 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.8% | +7.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.19 | $0.29 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +4.1% |
Evenly matched — LYTS and ACCO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ACCO leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LYTS leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallLSI Industries Inc. (LYTS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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LYTS vs ACCO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LYTS or ACCO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the stronger pick with 22. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E (4. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) a "Buy" — based on 5 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 — LYTS or ACCO?
On trailing P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the cheapest at 9.
2x versus LSI Industries Inc. at 30. 8x. On forward P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LYTS or ACCO?
Over the past 5 years, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) delivered a total return of +226. 5%, compared to -38. 4% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYTS returned +106. 6% versus ACCO's -35. 3%. 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 — LYTS or ACCO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
33β versus LSI Industries Inc. 's 1. 43β — meaning LYTS is approximately 7% more volatile than ACCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 139% for ACCO Brands Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LYTS or ACCO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is pulling ahead at 22. 1% versus -8. 5% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACCO Brands Corporation grew EPS 141. 5% year-over-year, compared to -4. 8% for LSI Industries Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LYTS leads at 8. 0% 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 — LYTS or ACCO?
LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 3% net margin versus 2. 7% for ACCO Brands Corporation — meaning it keeps 4. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACCO leads at 7. 1% versus 6. 2% for LYTS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACCO leads at 29. 8%, 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 LYTS or ACCO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) trades at 4.
8x forward P/E versus 22. 2x for LSI Industries Inc. — 17. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACCO: 98. 5% to $8. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — LYTS or ACCO?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 0. 8% for LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS).
09Is LYTS or ACCO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 8% yield, +106. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYTS: +106. 6%, ACCO: -35. 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.
10What are the main differences between LYTS and ACCO?
These companies operate in different sectors (LYTS (Technology) and ACCO (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: LYTS is a small-cap high-growth stock; ACCO is a small-cap deep-value 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(LYTS: -0.5% · ACCO: 8.3%)Net Margin>
%
(LYTS: 4.3% · ACCO: 4.8%)P/E Ratio<
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