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LYTS vs NVDA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
LYTS vs NVDA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $760M | $5.14T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $592M | $215.94B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $26M | $120.07B |
| Gross Margin | 25.3% | 71.1% |
| Operating Margin | 6.5% | 60.4% |
| Forward P/E | 22.3x | 25.6x |
| Total Debt | $67M | $11.41B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3M | $10.61B |
LYTS vs NVDA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) | 100 | 397.7 | +297.7% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 100 | 2381.7 | +2281.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LYTS vs NVDA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LYTS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.43, yield 0.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.43, Low D/E 28.9%, current ratio 1.99x
- Beta 1.43, yield 0.8%, current ratio 1.99x
NVDA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 65.5%, EPS growth 66.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 100.0%
- 239.0% 10Y total return vs LYTS's 108.5%
- PEG 0.27 vs LYTS's 1.31
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 65.5% revenue growth vs LYTS's 22.1% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (22.3x vs 25.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 55.6% margin vs LYTS's 4.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.43 vs NVDA's 1.73 | |
| Dividends | 0.8% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs NVDA's 0.0% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +80.7% vs LYTS's +58.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 58.1% ROA vs LYTS's 6.5%, ROIC 81.8% vs 9.5% |
LYTS vs NVDA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LYTS vs NVDA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NVDA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NVDA is the larger business by revenue, generating $215.9B annually — 364.9x LYTS's $592M. NVDA is the more profitable business, keeping 55.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LYTS's 4.3%. On growth, NVDA holds the edge at +73.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $592M | $215.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $51M | $133.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $26M | $120.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $38M | $96.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.3% | +71.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.5% | +60.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +55.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.4% | +44.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.5% | +73.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.1% | +97.8% |
Valuation Metrics
LYTS leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 30.9x trailing earnings, LYTS trades at a 28% valuation discount to NVDA's 43.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NVDA offers better value at 0.45x vs LYTS's 1.82x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $760M | $5.14T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $823M | $5.14T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 30.91x | 43.16x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.34x | 25.55x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.82x | 0.45x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.03x | 38.59x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.33x | 23.80x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.26x | 32.85x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.94x | 53.17x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NVDA leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NVDA delivers a 76.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $76 in annual profit, vs $11 for LYTS. NVDA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYTS's 0.29x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LYTS scores 5/9 vs NVDA's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.9% | +76.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.5% | +58.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.5% | +81.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.6% | +97.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $63M | $807M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3M | $10.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $67M | $11.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 13.52x | 545.03x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NVDA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth $142,893 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $32,341 for LYTS. Over the past 12 months, NVDA leads with a +80.7% total return vs LYTS's +58.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVDA at 93.6% vs LYTS's 26.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +32.8% | +12.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +58.0% | +80.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.0% | +625.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +223.4% | +1328.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +108.5% | +23902.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +26.0% | +93.6% |
Risk & Volatility
LYTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LYTS is the less volatile stock with a 1.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVDA's 1.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.43x | 1.73x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.75 | $216.80 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.31 | $112.28 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.7% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.1 | 60.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 378K | 164.5M |
Analyst Outlook
LYTS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LYTS as "Buy" and NVDA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.8% upside for NVDA (target: $279) vs 10.6% for LYTS (target: $27). LYTS is the only dividend payer here at 0.79% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.00 | $278.83 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 79 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.8% | +0.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.19 | $0.04 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.8% |
NVDA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). LYTS leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
LYTS vs NVDA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LYTS or NVDA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the stronger pick with 65.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 22. 1% for LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS). LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) offers the better valuation at 30. 9x trailing P/E (22. 3x 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 NVDA?
On trailing P/E, LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the cheapest at 30. 9x versus NVIDIA Corporation at 43. 2x. On forward P/E, LSI Industries Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NVIDIA Corporation wins at 0. 27x versus LSI Industries Inc. 's 1. 31x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LYTS or NVDA?
Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1329%, compared to +223.
4% for LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +239. 0% versus LYTS's +108. 5%. 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 NVDA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LSI Industries Inc.
(LYTS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 43β versus NVIDIA Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning NVDA is approximately 21% more volatile than LYTS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 29% for LSI Industries Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LYTS or NVDA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is pulling ahead at 65.
5% versus 22. 1% for LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NVIDIA Corporation grew EPS 66. 7% year-over-year, compared to -4. 8% for LSI Industries Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NVDA leads at 100. 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 NVDA?
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.
6% net margin versus 4. 3% for LSI Industries Inc. — meaning it keeps 55. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVDA leads at 60. 4% versus 6. 2% for LYTS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVDA leads at 71. 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.
07Is LYTS or NVDA more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 27x versus LSI Industries Inc. 's 1. 31x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) trades at 22. 3x forward P/E versus 25. 6x for NVIDIA Corporation — 3. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVDA: 31. 8% to $278. 83.
08Which pays a better dividend — LYTS or NVDA?
In this comparison, LYTS (0.
8% yield) pays a dividend. NVDA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is LYTS or NVDA 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, +108. 5% 10Y return). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — 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: +108. 5%, NVDA: +239. 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.
10What are the main differences between LYTS and NVDA?
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 NVDA 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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