LYTS
LSI Industries Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$765M
5Y Perf.+300.0%
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Stock Comparison
LYTS vs LITE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LITE
Lumentum Holdings Inc.
Communication Equipment
Market Cap$64.50B
5Y Perf.+1132.2%
LYTS vs LITE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LYTS | LITE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Communication Equipment |
| Market Cap | $765M | $64.50B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $592M | $2.49B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $26M | $440M |
| Gross Margin | 25.3% | 37.7% |
| Operating Margin | 6.5% | 9.5% |
| Forward P/E | 22.5x | 110.1x |
| Total Debt | $67M | $2.61B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3M | $521M |
LYTS vs LITE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LYTS
LITE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) | 100 | 400.0 | +300.0% |
| Lumentum Holdings I… (LITE) | 100 | 1232.2 | +1132.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LYTS vs LITE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LYTS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Lumentum Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LYTS
LSI Industries Inc.
The Income Pick
LYTS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.40, yield 0.8%
- Rev growth 22.1%, EPS growth -4.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.40, Low D/E 28.9%, current ratio 1.99x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
LITE
Lumentum Holdings Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
LITE is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 36.8% 10Y total return vs LYTS's 109.6%
- 17.7% margin vs LYTS's 4.3%
- +12.8% vs LYTS's +53.9%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LYTS | 22.1% revenue growth vs LITE's 21.0% |
| Value | LYTS | Lower P/E (22.5x vs 110.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | LITE | 17.7% margin vs LYTS's 4.3% |
| Stability / Safety | LYTS | Beta 1.40 vs LITE's 2.66, lower leverage |
| Dividends | LYTS | 0.8% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LITE | +12.8% vs LYTS's +53.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LITE | 8.5% ROA vs LYTS's 6.5%, ROIC -4.3% vs 9.5% |
LYTS vs LITE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2023
LYTS vs LITE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLYTSLAGGINGLITE
LITELumentum Holdings Inc.
2leads
LYTSLSI Industries Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LITEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LITE6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
LYTS5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LYTS6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LITE6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
LYTS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
LYTS1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LITE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LITE is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.5B annually — 4.2x LYTS's $592M. LITE is the more profitable business, keeping 17.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LYTS's 4.3%. On growth, LITE holds the edge at +90.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | LITELumentum Holdings… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $592M | $2.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $51M | $425M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $26M | $440M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $38M | $399M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.3% | +37.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.5% | +9.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.4% | +16.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.5% | +90.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.1% | +3.3% |
LITE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
LYTS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 31.1x trailing earnings, LYTS trades at a 99% valuation discount to LITE's 2441.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LYTS's 17.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LITE's 869.4x.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | LITELumentum Holdings… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $765M | $64.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $828M | $66.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 31.09x | 2441.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.46x | 110.06x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.83x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.12x | 869.35x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.33x | 39.21x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.28x | 55.41x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.07x | — |
LYTS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LYTS leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LITE delivers a 30.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 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 LITE's 2.30x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LITE scores 7/9 vs LYTS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | LITELumentum Holdings… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.9% | +30.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.5% | +8.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.5% | -4.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.6% | -4.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 2.30x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $63M | $2.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3M | $521M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $67M | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 13.52x | 9.62x |
LYTS leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LITE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LITE five years ago would be worth $111,852 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $32,769 for LYTS. Over the past 12 months, LITE leads with a +1275.9% total return vs LYTS's +53.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LITE at 166.2% vs LYTS's 26.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | LITELumentum Holdings… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +33.5% | +134.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +53.9% | +1275.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +101.1% | +1786.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +227.7% | +1018.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +109.6% | +3680.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +26.2% | +166.2% |
LITE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LYTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LYTS is the less volatile stock with a 1.40 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LITE's 2.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYTS currently trades 99.2% from its 52-week high vs LITE's 88.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | LITELumentum Holdings… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.40x | 2.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.75 | $1021.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.31 | $63.98 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.2% | +88.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.7 | 53.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 375K | 6.5M |
LYTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
LYTS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LYTS as "Buy" and LITE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 9.9% upside for LYTS (target: $27) vs 1.7% for LITE (target: $919). LYTS is the only dividend payer here at 0.79% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | LYTSLSI Industries In… | LITELumentum Holdings… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.00 | $918.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.8% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.19 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.1% |
LYTS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
LYTS leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). LITE leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns).
Best OverallLSI Industries Inc. (LYTS)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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LYTS vs LITE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LYTS or LITE 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 21. 0% for Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE). LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) offers the better valuation at 31. 1x trailing P/E (22. 5x 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 LITE?
On trailing P/E, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the cheapest at 31. 1x versus Lumentum Holdings Inc. at 2441. 7x. On forward P/E, LSI Industries Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LYTS or LITE?
Over the past 5 years, Lumentum Holdings Inc.
(LITE) delivered a total return of +1019%, compared to +227. 7% for LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LITE returned +36. 8% versus LYTS's +109. 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 — LYTS or LITE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 40β versus Lumentum Holdings Inc. 's 2. 66β — meaning LITE is approximately 90% more volatile than LYTS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 2% for Lumentum Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LYTS or LITE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is pulling ahead at 22. 1% versus 21. 0% for Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Lumentum Holdings Inc. grew EPS 104. 6% 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 LITE?
LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 3% net margin versus 1. 6% for Lumentum Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LYTS leads at 6. 2% versus -10. 9% for LITE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LITE leads at 28. 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 LYTS or LITE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) trades at 22. 5x forward P/E versus 110. 1x for Lumentum Holdings Inc. — 87. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LYTS: 9. 9% to $27. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — LYTS or LITE?
In this comparison, LYTS (0.
8% yield) pays a dividend. LITE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is LYTS or LITE 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, +109. 6% 10Y return). Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) carries a higher beta of 2. 66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYTS: +109. 6%, LITE: +36. 8%), 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 LITE?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
LYTS pays a dividend while LITE does 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(LYTS: -0.5% · LITE: 90.1%)Net Margin>
%
(LYTS: 4.3% · LITE: 17.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
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