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MX vs DIOD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
MX vs DIOD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $144M | $5.34B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $180M | $1.48B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-25M | $66M |
| Gross Margin | 16.2% | 31.2% |
| Operating Margin | -19.3% | 2.4% |
| Forward P/E | — | 50.0x |
| Total Debt | $47M | $96M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $104M | $367M |
MX vs DIOD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnachip Semicondu… (MX) | 100 | 35.6 | -64.4% |
| Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) | 100 | 238.6 | +138.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MX vs DIOD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 2.29
DIOD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 13.0%, EPS growth 50.5%, 3Y rev CAGR -9.5%
- 5.1% 10Y total return vs MX's -22.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 2.11, Low D/E 4.9%, current ratio 3.32x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 13.0% revenue growth vs MX's -22.8% | |
| Quality / Margins | 4.5% margin vs MX's -14.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 2.11 vs MX's 2.29, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +199.8% vs MX's +30.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 2.7% ROA vs MX's -7.2%, ROIC 1.6% vs -12.9% |
MX vs DIOD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MX vs DIOD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DIOD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DIOD is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.5B annually — 8.2x MX's $180M. DIOD is the more profitable business, keeping 4.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MX's -14.1%. On growth, DIOD holds the edge at +15.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $180M | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$25M | $179M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$25M | $66M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$52M | $137M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +16.2% | +31.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -19.3% | +2.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -14.1% | +4.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -28.8% | +9.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.3% | +15.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +45.8% | +22.2% |
Valuation Metrics
MX leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $144M | $5.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $87M | $5.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -4.80x | 81.15x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 49.97x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 28.28x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.80x | 3.60x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.57x | 2.78x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 38.93x |
Profitability & Efficiency
DIOD leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DIOD delivers a 3.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $-10 for MX. DIOD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MX's 0.19x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DIOD scores 6/9 vs MX's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -10.1% | +3.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -7.2% | +2.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -12.9% | +1.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -9.7% | +1.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.19x | 0.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$57M | -$272M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $104M | $367M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $47M | $96M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -31.08x | 31.24x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
DIOD leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in DIOD five years ago would be worth $16,045 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,640 for MX. Over the past 12 months, DIOD leads with a +199.8% total return vs MX's +30.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DIOD at 11.2% vs MX's -23.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +47.0% | +125.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +30.5% | +199.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -55.0% | +37.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -83.6% | +60.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.6% | +505.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -23.4% | +11.2% |
Risk & Volatility
DIOD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DIOD is the less volatile stock with a 2.11 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MX's 2.29 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DIOD currently trades 99.6% from its 52-week high vs MX's 69.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.29x | 2.11x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $5.64 | $116.49 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.18 | $37.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +69.9% | +99.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.6 | 78.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.0M | 520K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MX as "Buy" and DIOD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 103.0% upside for MX (target: $8) vs -36.2% for DIOD (target: $74).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $8.00 | $74.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.1% | +0.6% |
DIOD leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). MX leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
MX vs DIOD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MX or DIOD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) is the stronger pick with 13.
0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 8% for Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation (MX). Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) offers the better valuation at 81. 2x trailing P/E (50. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation (MX) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 — MX or DIOD?
Over the past 5 years, Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) delivered a total return of +60.
4%, compared to -83. 6% for Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation (MX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DIOD returned +505. 7% versus MX's -22. 6%. 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 — MX or DIOD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) is the lower-risk stock at 2.
11β versus Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation's 2. 29β — meaning MX is approximately 8% more volatile than DIOD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 19% for Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — MX or DIOD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) is pulling ahead at 13.
0% versus -22. 8% for Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation (MX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Diodes Incorporated grew EPS 50. 5% year-over-year, compared to 43. 1% for Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, DIOD 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 — MX or DIOD?
Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) is the more profitable company, earning 4.
5% net margin versus -16. 6% for Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation — meaning it keeps 4. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DIOD leads at 2. 4% versus -17. 3% for MX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DIOD leads at 31. 2%, 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.
06Is MX or DIOD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MX: 103.
0% to $8. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — MX or DIOD?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is MX or DIOD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Diodes Incorporated (DIOD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+505.
7% 10Y return). Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation (MX) carries a higher beta of 2. 29 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DIOD: +505. 7%, MX: -22. 6%), 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 MX and DIOD?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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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