POCI vs LIQT vs VIAV vs POWI vs LITE

For growth investors, Lumentum Holdings Inc.

(LITE) is the stronger pick with 21. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 1% for Precision Optics Corporation, Inc. (POCI). Power Integrations, Inc. (POWI) offers the better valuation at 184. 2x trailing P/E (58. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, Power Integrations, Inc.

(POWI) is the cheapest at 184. 2x versus Lumentum Holdings Inc. at 2412. 9x. On forward P/E, Viavi Solutions Inc. is actually cheaper at 54. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Lumentum Holdings Inc.

(LITE) delivered a total return of +976. 6%, compared to -96. 1% for LiqTech International, Inc. (LIQT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LITE returned +36. 8% versus LIQT's -91. 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), Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.

(POCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 42β versus Lumentum Holdings Inc. 's 2. 66β — meaning LITE is approximately 531% more volatile than POCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Precision Optics Corporation, Inc. (POCI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 2% for Lumentum Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lumentum Holdings Inc.

(LITE) is pulling ahead at 21. 0% versus -0. 1% for Precision Optics Corporation, Inc. (POCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Viavi Solutions Inc. grew EPS 225. 0% year-over-year, compared to -73. 5% for Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, POCI leads at 6. 8% 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.

Power Integrations, Inc.

(POWI) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 0% net margin versus -51. 7% for LiqTech International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VIAV leads at 6. 5% versus -50. 3% for LIQT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VIAV leads at 56. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Viavi Solutions Inc.

(VIAV) trades at 54. 7x forward P/E versus 110. 1x for Lumentum Holdings Inc. — 55. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for POWI: 10. 0% to $79. 00.

In this comparison, POWI (1.

2% yield) pays a dividend. POCI, LIQT, VIAV, LITE do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.

(POCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 42), +240. 0% 10Y return). Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) carries a higher beta of 2. 66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (POCI: +240. 0%, LITE: +36. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (POCI (Healthcare) and LIQT (Industrials) and VIAV (Technology) and POWI (Technology) and LITE (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: POCI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LIQT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; VIAV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; POWI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LITE is a mid-cap high-growth stock. POWI pays a dividend while POCI, LIQT, VIAV, LITE 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.