NEON vs LIQT vs POWI vs INTT vs STM

For growth investors, LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the stronger pick with 13. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -33. 7% for Neonode Inc. (NEON). Neonode Inc. (NEON) offers the better valuation at 3. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Power Integrations, Inc. (POWI) a "Buy" — based on 16 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, Neonode Inc.

(NEON) is the cheapest at 3. 6x versus STMicroelectronics N. V. at 310. 6x. On forward P/E, inTEST Corporation is actually cheaper at 39. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, STMicroelectronics N.

V. (STM) delivered a total return of +53. 8%, compared to -96. 1% for LiqTech International, Inc. (LIQT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STM returned +981. 9% versus NEON's -91. 1%. 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), LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 52β versus Power Integrations, Inc. 's 2. 08β — meaning POWI is approximately 298% more volatile than LIQT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Neonode Inc. (NEON) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 117% for LiqTech International, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is pulling ahead at 13. 0% versus -33. 7% for Neonode Inc. (NEON). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Neonode Inc. grew EPS 224. 4% year-over-year, compared to -187. 5% for inTEST Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LIQT leads at 1. 1% 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.

Neonode Inc.

(NEON) is the more profitable company, earning 411. 9% net margin versus -51. 7% for LiqTech International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 411. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: POWI leads at 4. 8% versus -391. 5% for NEON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NEON leads at 98. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, inTEST Corporation (INTT) trades at 39.

9x forward P/E versus 55. 5x for Power Integrations, Inc. — 15. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for POWI: 10. 0% to $79. 00.

In this comparison, POWI (1.

2% yield), STM (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. NEON, LIQT, INTT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, LiqTech International, Inc.

(LIQT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 52)). Power Integrations, Inc. (POWI) carries a higher beta of 2. 08 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIQT: -90. 9%, POWI: +232. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (NEON (Technology) and LIQT (Industrials) and POWI (Technology) and INTT (Technology) and STM (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NEON is a small-cap deep-value stock; LIQT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; POWI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; INTT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; STM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. POWI, STM pay a dividend while NEON, LIQT, INTT 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.