PI vs IDCC vs COHU vs SLAB

For growth investors, Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is the stronger pick with 34. 3% 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.

On forward P/E, InterDigital, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 38. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) delivered a total return of +303. 1%, compared to +22. 2% for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PI returned +742. 1% versus COHU's +330. 2%. 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), InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 12β versus Cohu, Inc. 's 2. 13β — meaning COHU is approximately 91% more volatile than IDCC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cohu, Inc. (COHU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 156% for Impinj, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Silicon Laboratories Inc.

(SLAB) is pulling ahead at 34. 3% versus -4. 0% for InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Silicon Laboratories Inc. grew EPS 66. 6% 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.

InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) is the more profitable company, earning 48. 8% net margin versus -16. 4% for Cohu, 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 -13. 3% for COHU. 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.

On forward earnings alone, InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) trades at 38. 8x forward P/E versus 89. 2x for Cohu, Inc. — 50. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IDCC: 52. 5% to $425. 00.

In this comparison, IDCC (0.

6% yield) pays a dividend. PI, COHU, SLAB do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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). Cohu, Inc. (COHU) carries a higher beta of 2. 13 — 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%, COHU: +330. 2%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: PI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IDCC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; COHU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SLAB is a small-cap high-growth stock. IDCC pays a dividend while PI, COHU, SLAB 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.