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PI vs IDCC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Application
PI vs IDCC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Software - Application |
| Market Cap | $4.61B | $7.18B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $361M | $829M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-28M | $366M |
| Gross Margin | 52.3% | 83.4% |
| Operating Margin | -1.8% | 49.6% |
| Forward P/E | 80.4x | 38.8x |
| Total Debt | $327M | $506M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $48M | $739M |
PI vs IDCC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impinj, Inc. (PI) | 100 | 585.4 | +485.4% |
| InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) | 100 | 507.1 | +407.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PI vs IDCC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PI is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -1.4%, EPS growth -126.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.9%
- 7.4% 10Y total return vs IDCC's 436.7%
- -1.4% revenue growth vs IDCC's -4.0%
IDCC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.12, yield 0.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.12, Low D/E 45.9%, current ratio 1.84x
- Beta 1.12, yield 0.6%, current ratio 1.84x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -1.4% revenue growth vs IDCC's -4.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (38.8x vs 80.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 44.2% margin vs PI's -7.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.12 vs PI's 2.12, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.6% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +54.9% vs IDCC's +32.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 17.7% ROA vs PI's -5.3%, ROIC 40.9% vs -0.1% |
PI vs IDCC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PI vs IDCC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IDCC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IDCC is the larger business by revenue, generating $829M annually — 2.3x PI's $361M. IDCC is the more profitable business, keeping 44.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PI's -7.7%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $361M | $829M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $9M | $489M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$28M | $366M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $61M | $580M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +52.3% | +83.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -1.8% | +49.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -7.7% | +44.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.9% | +70.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.0% | -2.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -176.7% | -38.0% |
Valuation Metrics
IDCC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, IDCC's 12.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PI's 341.7x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.6B | $7.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.9B | $6.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -409.00x | 23.62x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 80.43x | 38.81x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.45x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 341.74x | 12.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 12.77x | 8.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 21.18x | 8.73x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 100.45x | 13.58x |
Profitability & Efficiency
IDCC leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IDCC delivers a 33.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $33 in annual profit, vs $-14 for PI. IDCC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.46x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PI's 1.56x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -13.9% | +33.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -5.3% | +17.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.1% | +40.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.3% | +38.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.56x | 0.46x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $279M | -$233M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $48M | $739M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $327M | $506M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -7.66x | 11.48x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IDCC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IDCC five years ago would be worth $40,308 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $29,339 for PI. Over the past 12 months, PI leads with a +54.9% total return vs IDCC's +32.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IDCC at 52.1% vs PI's 16.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -15.8% | -14.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +54.9% | +32.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +59.9% | +251.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +193.4% | +303.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +742.1% | +436.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.9% | +52.1% |
Risk & Volatility
IDCC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IDCC is the less volatile stock with a 1.12 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PI's 2.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IDCC currently trades 67.6% from its 52-week high vs PI's 61.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.12x | 1.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $247.06 | $412.60 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $87.36 | $205.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +61.3% | +67.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 77.6 | 30.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 550K | 393K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PI as "Buy" and IDCC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 52.5% upside for IDCC (target: $425) vs 18.9% for PI (target: $180). IDCC is the only dividend payer here at 0.63% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $180.00 | $425.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 16 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.76 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.4% |
IDCC leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics.
PI vs IDCC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PI or IDCC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Impinj, Inc.
(PI) is the stronger pick with -1. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 0% for InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC). InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) offers the better valuation at 23. 6x trailing P/E (38. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Impinj, Inc. (PI) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 — PI or IDCC?
On forward P/E, InterDigital, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 38. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PI or IDCC?
Over the past 5 years, InterDigital, Inc.
(IDCC) delivered a total return of +303. 1%, compared to +193. 4% for Impinj, Inc. (PI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PI returned +742. 1% versus IDCC's +436. 7%. 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 — PI or IDCC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), InterDigital, Inc.
(IDCC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 12β versus Impinj, Inc. 's 2. 12β — meaning PI is approximately 90% more volatile than IDCC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 156% for Impinj, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PI or IDCC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Impinj, Inc.
(PI) is pulling ahead at -1. 4% versus -4. 0% for InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: InterDigital, Inc. grew EPS -2. 2% year-over-year, compared to -126. 6% for Impinj, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IDCC leads at 22. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PI or IDCC?
InterDigital, Inc.
(IDCC) is the more profitable company, earning 48. 8% net margin versus -3. 0% for Impinj, Inc. — meaning it keeps 48. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IDCC leads at 55. 3% versus -0. 2% for PI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IDCC leads at 80. 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.
07Is PI or IDCC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, InterDigital, Inc.
(IDCC) trades at 38. 8x forward P/E versus 80. 4x for Impinj, Inc. — 41. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IDCC: 52. 5% to $425. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PI or IDCC?
In this comparison, IDCC (0.
6% yield) pays a dividend. PI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is PI or IDCC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, InterDigital, Inc.
(IDCC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 12), 0. 6% yield, +436. 7% 10Y return). Impinj, Inc. (PI) 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 (IDCC: +436. 7%, PI: +742. 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.
10What are the main differences between PI and IDCC?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
IDCC pays a dividend while PI 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.
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