MXL vs NVDA vs AMD vs INTC vs QCOM

For growth investors, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the stronger pick with 65.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 5% for Intel Corporation (INTC). QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) offers the better valuation at 38. 5x trailing P/E (17. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MaxLinear, Inc. (MXL) a "Buy" — based on 17 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.

On trailing P/E, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the cheapest at 38.

5x versus Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. at 159. 0x. On forward P/E, QUALCOMM Incorporated is actually cheaper at 17. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NVIDIA Corporation wins at 0. 26x versus Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 's 11. 91x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1331%, compared to +53.

4% for QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +234. 3% versus INTC's +307. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

55β versus MaxLinear, Inc. 's 2. 77β — meaning MXL is approximately 78% more volatile than QCOM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 77% for QUALCOMM Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is pulling ahead at 65.

5% versus -0. 5% for Intel Corporation (INTC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. grew EPS 165. 0% year-over-year, compared to -44. 2% for QUALCOMM Incorporated. 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.

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.

6% net margin versus -29. 2% for MaxLinear, 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 -27. 1% for MXL. 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.

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. 26x versus Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 's 11. 91x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) trades at 17. 9x forward P/E versus 108. 4x for Intel Corporation — 90. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVDA: 34. 3% to $278. 83.

In this comparison, QCOM (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. MXL, NVDA, AMD, INTC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

8% yield, +333. 2% 10Y return). Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) carries a higher beta of 2. 30 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (QCOM: +333. 2%, AMD: +113. 5%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: MXL is a small-cap high-growth stock; NVDA is a mega-cap high-growth stock; AMD is a large-cap high-growth stock; INTC is a large-cap quality compounder stock; QCOM is a large-cap quality compounder stock. QCOM pays a dividend while MXL, NVDA, AMD, INTC 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.