OCC
Optical Cable Corporation
Communication Equipment
Market Cap$82M
5Y Perf.+300.4%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
OCC vs CABO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CABO
Cable One, Inc.
Telecommunications Services
Market Cap$345M
5Y Perf.-96.8%
OCC vs CABO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | OCC | CABO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Telecommunications Services |
| Market Cap | $82M | $345M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $74M | $1.47B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-745K | $-260M |
| Gross Margin | 31.7% | 39.0% |
| Operating Margin | 0.3% | 26.0% |
| Forward P/E | 33.4x | 2.6x |
| Total Debt | $12M | $3.19B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $238K | $153M |
OCC vs CABO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
OCC
CABO
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optical Cable Corpo… (OCC) | 100 | 400.4 | +300.4% |
| Cable One, Inc. (CABO) | 100 | 3.2 | -96.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: OCC vs CABO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: OCC leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Cable One, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
OCC
Optical Cable Corporation
The Income Pick
OCC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 2.12
- Rev growth 9.5%, EPS growth 66.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.9%
- 311.7% 10Y total return vs CABO's -70.3%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CABO
Cable One, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
CABO is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 0.42, yield 5.0%, current ratio 0.40x
- Lower P/E (2.6x vs 33.4x)
- Beta 0.42 vs OCC's 2.12
Best for: defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | OCC | 9.5% revenue growth vs CABO's -4.9% |
| Value | CABO | Lower P/E (2.6x vs 33.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | OCC | -1.0% margin vs CABO's -17.7% |
| Stability / Safety | CABO | Beta 0.42 vs OCC's 2.12 |
| Dividends | CABO | 5.0% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | OCC | +206.1% vs CABO's -65.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | OCC | -1.9% ROA vs CABO's -4.6%, ROIC -1.0% vs 6.1% |
OCC vs CABO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2013
FY 2025
OCC vs CABO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLOCCLAGGINGCABO
CABOCable One, Inc.
1leads
OCCOptical Cable Corpora…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CABOMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CABO5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
OCC6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
OCC6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — OCC and CABO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CABO is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.5B annually — 20.0x OCC's $74M. OCC is the more profitable business, keeping -1.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CABO's -17.7%. On growth, OCC holds the edge at +4.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | OCCOptical Cable Cor… | CABOCable One, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $74M | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $995,692 | $730M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$744,565 | -$260M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$455,167 | -$167M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.7% | +39.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +26.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.0% | -17.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -0.6% | -11.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.4% | -7.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +68.0% | +12.3% |
Evenly matched — OCC and CABO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CABO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, CABO's 4.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than OCC's 245.1x.
| Metric | OCCOptical Cable Cor… | CABOCable One, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $82M | $345M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $93M | $3.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -55.61x | -0.96x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 33.37x | 2.63x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 245.13x | 4.60x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.12x | 0.23x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.73x | 0.24x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 73.29x | 1.24x |
CABO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
OCC leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
OCC delivers a -3.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-4 in annual profit, vs $-18 for CABO. OCC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.53x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CABO's 2.23x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), OCC scores 6/9 vs CABO's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | OCCOptical Cable Cor… | CABOCable One, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.6% | -18.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -1.9% | -4.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.0% | +6.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.8% | +7.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.53x | 2.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $11M | $3.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $237,508 | $153M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $12M | $3.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.22x | 3.06x |
OCC leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
OCC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in OCC five years ago would be worth $29,966 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $605 for CABO. Over the past 12 months, OCC leads with a +206.1% total return vs CABO's -65.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors OCC at 34.2% vs CABO's -50.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | OCCOptical Cable Cor… | CABOCable One, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +119.0% | -41.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +206.1% | -65.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +141.8% | -87.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +199.7% | -93.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +311.7% | -70.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +34.2% | -50.3% |
OCC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — OCC and CABO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CABO is the less volatile stock with a 0.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than OCC's 2.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. OCC currently trades 71.8% from its 52-week high vs CABO's 32.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | OCCOptical Cable Cor… | CABOCable One, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.12x | 0.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $13.95 | $186.54 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.44 | $53.94 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.8% | +32.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.6 | 23.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 215K | 151K |
Evenly matched — OCC and CABO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates OCC as "Buy" and CABO as "Hold". CABO is the only dividend payer here at 5.03% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | OCCOptical Cable Cor… | CABOCable One, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $80.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +5.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.06 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
OCC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). CABO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallOptical Cable Corporation (OCC)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
OCC vs CABO: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is OCC or CABO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) is the stronger pick with 9.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 9% for Cable One, Inc. (CABO). Analysts rate Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) a "Buy" — based on 1 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 — OCC or CABO?
Over the past 5 years, Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) delivered a total return of +199.
7%, compared to -93. 9% for Cable One, Inc. (CABO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OCC returned +311. 7% versus CABO's -70. 3%. 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 — OCC or CABO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cable One, Inc.
(CABO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 42β versus Optical Cable Corporation's 2. 12β — meaning OCC is approximately 410% more volatile than CABO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 2% for Cable One, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — OCC or CABO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) is pulling ahead at 9.
5% versus -4. 9% for Cable One, Inc. (CABO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Optical Cable Corporation grew EPS 66. 7% year-over-year, compared to -25. 5% for Cable One, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OCC leads at 1. 9% 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 — OCC or CABO?
Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) is the more profitable company, earning -2.
0% net margin versus -23. 7% for Cable One, Inc. — meaning it keeps -2. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CABO leads at 26. 5% versus -0. 6% for OCC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CABO leads at 51. 3%, 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 OCC or CABO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cable One, Inc.
(CABO) trades at 2. 6x forward P/E versus 33. 4x for Optical Cable Corporation — 30. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — OCC or CABO?
In this comparison, CABO (5.
0% yield) pays a dividend. OCC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is OCC or CABO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Cable One, Inc.
(CABO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 42), 5. 0% yield). Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) carries a higher beta of 2. 12 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CABO: -70. 3%, OCC: +311. 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.
09What are the main differences between OCC and CABO?
These companies operate in different sectors (OCC (Technology) and CABO (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: OCC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CABO is a small-cap income-oriented stock. CABO pays a dividend while OCC 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Gross Margin > 23%
- Dividend Yield > 2.0%
Revenue Growth>
%
(OCC: 4.4% · CABO: -7.3%)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.