PDFS
PDF Solutions, Inc.
Software - Application
Market Cap$1.90B
5Y Perf.+182.3%
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Stock Comparison
PDFS vs ONTO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ONTO
Onto Innovation Inc.
Semiconductors
Market Cap$14.63B
5Y Perf.+846.1%
PDFS vs ONTO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PDFS | ONTO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Application | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $1.90B | $14.63B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $207M | $1.03B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-53K | $106M |
| Gross Margin | 71.2% | 48.8% |
| Operating Margin | 1.2% | 10.0% |
| Forward P/E | 43.1x | 41.6x |
| Total Debt | $5M | $17M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $91M | $346M |
PDFS vs ONTO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PDFS
ONTO
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDF Solutions, Inc. (PDFS) | 100 | 282.3 | +182.3% |
| Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) | 100 | 946.1 | +846.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PDFS vs ONTO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PDFS and ONTO are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Onto Innovation Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PDFS
PDF Solutions, Inc.
The Income Pick
PDFS has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 2.21
- Rev growth 8.2%, EPS growth 25.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 17.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 2.21, Low D/E 2.1%, current ratio 3.40x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
ONTO
Onto Innovation Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
ONTO is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 15.6% 10Y total return vs PDFS's 276.8%
- Lower P/E (41.6x vs 43.1x)
- 10.3% margin vs PDFS's -0.0%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PDFS | 8.2% revenue growth vs ONTO's 1.8% |
| Value | ONTO | Lower P/E (41.6x vs 43.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | ONTO | 10.3% margin vs PDFS's -0.0% |
| Stability / Safety | PDFS | Beta 2.21 vs ONTO's 2.66 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | PDFS | +152.8% vs ONTO's +140.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ONTO | 4.7% ROA vs PDFS's -0.0%, ROIC 5.7% vs -0.3% |
PDFS vs ONTO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
PDFS vs ONTO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLONTOLAGGINGPDFS
PDFSPDF Solutions, Inc.
1leads
ONTOOnto Innovation Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PDFSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ONTO4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ONTO4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ONTO6/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ONTO5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
PDFS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ONTO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ONTO is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.0B annually — 5.0x PDFS's $207M. ONTO is the more profitable business, keeping 10.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PDFS's -0.0%. On growth, PDFS holds the edge at +23.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PDFSPDF Solutions, In… | ONTOOnto Innovation I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $207M | $1.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $9M | $158M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$53,000 | $106M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$21M | $239M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +71.2% | +48.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.2% | +10.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.0% | +10.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -9.9% | +23.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.1% | +9.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -74.8% | -48.5% |
ONTO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ONTO leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 105.8x trailing earnings, ONTO trades at a 78% valuation discount to PDFS's 481.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ONTO's 73.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PDFS's 452.1x.
| Metric | PDFSPDF Solutions, In… | ONTOOnto Innovation I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $14.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $14.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 481.60x | 105.77x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 43.10x | 41.57x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.06x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 452.05x | 73.94x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 10.60x | 14.55x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.64x | 6.90x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 48.79x |
ONTO leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ONTO leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ONTO delivers a 5.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $-0 for PDFS. ONTO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PDFS's 0.02x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PDFS scores 6/9 vs ONTO's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | PDFSPDF Solutions, In… | ONTOOnto Innovation I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -0.0% | +5.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.0% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.3% | +5.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.2% | +6.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.02x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$85M | -$329M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $91M | $346M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5M | $17M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.39x | — |
ONTO leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ONTO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ONTO five years ago would be worth $45,902 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $25,795 for PDFS. Over the past 12 months, PDFS leads with a +152.8% total return vs ONTO's +140.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ONTO at 50.6% vs PDFS's 7.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PDFSPDF Solutions, In… | ONTOOnto Innovation I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +63.0% | +77.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +152.8% | +140.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.2% | +241.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +158.0% | +359.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +276.8% | +1558.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.5% | +50.6% |
ONTO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PDFS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PDFS is the less volatile stock with a 2.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ONTO's 2.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | PDFSPDF Solutions, In… | ONTOOnto Innovation I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.21x | 2.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $50.44 | $315.86 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $17.35 | $85.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.5% | +93.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.1 | 67.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 388K | 831K |
PDFS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PDFS as "Buy" and ONTO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 4.9% upside for ONTO (target: $308) vs -0.3% for PDFS (target: $48).
| Metric | PDFSPDF Solutions, In… | ONTOOnto Innovation I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $48.00 | $308.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +0.5% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
ONTO leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). PDFS leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallOnto Innovation Inc. (ONTO)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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PDFS vs ONTO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PDFS or ONTO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, PDF Solutions, Inc.
(PDFS) is the stronger pick with 8. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 8% for Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO). Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) offers the better valuation at 105. 8x trailing P/E (41. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PDF Solutions, Inc. (PDFS) a "Buy" — based on 5 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 has the better valuation — PDFS or ONTO?
On trailing P/E, Onto Innovation Inc.
(ONTO) is the cheapest at 105. 8x versus PDF Solutions, Inc. at 481. 6x. On forward P/E, Onto Innovation Inc. is actually cheaper at 41. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PDFS or ONTO?
Over the past 5 years, Onto Innovation Inc.
(ONTO) delivered a total return of +359. 0%, compared to +158. 0% for PDF Solutions, Inc. (PDFS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ONTO returned +1558% versus PDFS's +276. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PDFS or ONTO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), PDF Solutions, Inc.
(PDFS) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 21β versus Onto Innovation Inc. 's 2. 66β — meaning ONTO is approximately 21% more volatile than PDFS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for PDF Solutions, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PDFS or ONTO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), PDF Solutions, Inc.
(PDFS) is pulling ahead at 8. 2% versus 1. 8% for Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PDF Solutions, Inc. grew EPS 25. 5% year-over-year, compared to -31. 5% for Onto Innovation Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PDFS leads at 17. 3% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PDFS or ONTO?
Onto Innovation Inc.
(ONTO) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 6% net margin versus 2. 3% for PDF Solutions, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ONTO leads at 13. 2% versus -0. 3% for PDFS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PDFS leads at 69. 8%, 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.
07Is PDFS or ONTO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Onto Innovation Inc.
(ONTO) trades at 41. 6x forward P/E versus 43. 1x for PDF Solutions, Inc. — 1. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ONTO: 4. 9% to $308. 33.
08Which pays a better dividend — PDFS or ONTO?
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.
09Is PDFS or ONTO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Onto Innovation Inc.
(ONTO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1558% 10Y return). PDF Solutions, Inc. (PDFS) carries a higher beta of 2. 21 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ONTO: +1558%, PDFS: +276. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between PDFS and ONTO?
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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(PDFS: 23.1% · ONTO: 9.5%)P/E Ratio<
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