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PXLW vs ALGM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Semiconductors
PXLW vs ALGM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $36M | $8.88B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $693K | $840M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-8M | $-13M |
| Gross Margin | 85.0% | 45.0% |
| Operating Margin | -16.7% | -0.0% |
| Forward P/E | — | 90.2x |
| Total Debt | $298K | $368M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $11M | $121M |
PXLW vs ALGM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Oct 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixelworks, Inc. (PXLW) | 100 | 21.1 | -78.9% |
| Allegro MicroSystem… (ALGM) | 100 | 261.9 | +161.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PXLW vs ALGM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PXLW is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.83
- Lower volatility, beta 1.83, Low D/E 4.0%, current ratio 2.51x
- Beta 1.83, current ratio 2.51x
ALGM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -30.9%, EPS growth -150.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.9%
- 170.8% 10Y total return vs PXLW's -73.6%
- -30.9% revenue growth vs PXLW's -98.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -30.9% revenue growth vs PXLW's -98.4% | |
| Quality / Margins | -1.6% margin vs PXLW's -11.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.83 vs ALGM's 2.43, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +156.4% vs PXLW's -8.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -0.9% ROA vs PXLW's -15.6%, ROIC -1.3% vs -106.5% |
PXLW vs ALGM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PXLW vs ALGM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ALGM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ALGM is the larger business by revenue, generating $840M annually — 1211.7x PXLW's $693,000. ALGM is the more profitable business, keeping -1.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PXLW's -11.9%. On growth, ALGM holds the edge at +28.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $693,000 | $840M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$10M | $66M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$8M | -$13M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$21M | $121M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.0% | +45.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -16.7% | -0.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -11.9% | -1.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -30.4% | +14.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.6% | +28.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +24.4% | +2.2% |
Valuation Metrics
ALGM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $36M | $8.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $25M | $9.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.74x | -122.90x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 90.21x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 204.21x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 51.30x | 12.25x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.12x | 9.66x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 404.45x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ALGM leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ALGM delivers a -1.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-1 in annual profit, vs $-34 for PXLW. PXLW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ALGM's 0.40x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -33.9% | -1.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -15.6% | -0.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -106.5% | -1.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -26.6% | -1.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.04x | 0.40x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$11M | $247M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $11M | $121M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $298,000 | $368M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -886.45x | -0.24x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ALGM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ALGM five years ago would be worth $19,334 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,396 for PXLW. Over the past 12 months, ALGM leads with a +156.4% total return vs PXLW's -8.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ALGM at 8.4% vs PXLW's -30.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.0% | +78.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -8.3% | +156.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -66.6% | +27.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -86.0% | +93.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -73.6% | +170.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -30.6% | +8.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PXLW and ALGM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PXLW is the less volatile stock with a 1.83 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ALGM's 2.43 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ALGM currently trades 93.2% from its 52-week high vs PXLW's 36.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.83x | 2.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $15.42 | $51.40 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.67 | $18.17 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +36.4% | +93.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.9 | 78.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 43K | 1.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PXLW as "Buy" and ALGM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 167.4% upside for PXLW (target: $15) vs -6.5% for ALGM (target: $45).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $15.00 | $44.83 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +9.6% |
ALGM leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
PXLW vs ALGM: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PXLW or ALGM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.
(ALGM) is the stronger pick with -30. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -98. 4% for Pixelworks, Inc. (PXLW). Analysts rate Pixelworks, Inc. (PXLW) a "Buy" — based on 7 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 is the better long-term investment — PXLW or ALGM?
Over the past 5 years, Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.
(ALGM) delivered a total return of +93. 3%, compared to -86. 0% for Pixelworks, Inc. (PXLW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALGM returned +170. 8% versus PXLW's -73. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — PXLW or ALGM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Pixelworks, Inc.
(PXLW) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 83β versus Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. 's 2. 43β — meaning ALGM is approximately 32% more volatile than PXLW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pixelworks, Inc. (PXLW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 40% for Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — PXLW or ALGM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.
(ALGM) is pulling ahead at -30. 9% versus -98. 4% for Pixelworks, Inc. (PXLW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pixelworks, Inc. grew EPS 74. 5% year-over-year, compared to -150. 0% for Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALGM leads at -1. 9% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — PXLW or ALGM?
Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.
(ALGM) is the more profitable company, earning -10. 1% net margin versus -1190. 3% for Pixelworks, Inc. — meaning it keeps -10. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALGM leads at -2. 7% versus -1667. 5% for PXLW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PXLW leads at 85. 0%, 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.
06Is PXLW or ALGM more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PXLW: 167.
4% to $15. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — PXLW or ALGM?
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.
08Is PXLW or ALGM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.
(ALGM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+170. 8% 10Y return). Pixelworks, Inc. (PXLW) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALGM: +170. 8%, PXLW: -73. 6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between PXLW and ALGM?
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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