OST vs LIQT vs POWI vs CODA vs AMAT

For growth investors, Coda Octopus Group, Inc.

(CODA) is the stronger pick with 30. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 4% for Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT). Coda Octopus Group, Inc. (CODA) offers the better valuation at 32. 2x trailing P/E (22. 5x forward), 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, Coda Octopus Group, Inc.

(CODA) is the cheapest at 32. 2x versus Power Integrations, Inc. at 184. 2x. On forward P/E, Coda Octopus Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Applied Materials, Inc. wins at 2. 16x versus Coda Octopus Group, Inc. 's 5. 24x.

Over the past 5 years, Applied Materials, Inc.

(AMAT) delivered a total return of +213. 8%, compared to -100. 0% for Ostin Technology Group Co. , Ltd. (OST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMAT returned +20. 1% versus OST's -100. 0%. 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), Ostin Technology Group Co.

, Ltd. (OST) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 05β versus Applied Materials, Inc. 's 2. 14β — meaning AMAT is approximately 4165% more volatile than OST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Coda Octopus Group, Inc. (CODA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for Ostin Technology Group Co. , Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Coda Octopus Group, Inc.

(CODA) is pulling ahead at 30. 7% versus 4. 4% for Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ostin Technology Group Co. , Ltd. grew EPS 97. 4% year-over-year, compared to -30. 4% for Power Integrations, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CODA leads at 6. 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.

Applied Materials, Inc.

(AMAT) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 7% net margin versus -51. 7% for LiqTech International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMAT leads at 29. 2% versus -50. 3% for LIQT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CODA leads at 66. 5%, 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, Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 16x versus Coda Octopus Group, Inc. 's 5. 24x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Coda Octopus Group, Inc. (CODA) trades at 22. 5x forward P/E versus 55. 5x for Power Integrations, Inc. — 33. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CODA: 17. 6% to $14. 00.

In this comparison, POWI (1.

2% yield), AMAT (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. OST, LIQT, CODA do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ostin Technology Group Co.

, Ltd. (OST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 05)). Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 14 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (OST: -100. 0%, AMAT: +20. 1%), 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 (OST (Technology) and LIQT (Industrials) and POWI (Technology) and CODA (Industrials) and AMAT (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: OST is a small-cap high-growth stock; LIQT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; POWI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CODA is a small-cap high-growth stock; AMAT is a large-cap quality compounder stock. POWI pays a dividend while OST, LIQT, CODA, AMAT 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.