RDVT vs COHU

For growth investors, Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is the stronger pick with 20. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 7% for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). Red Violet, Inc. (RDVT) offers the better valuation at 54. 6x trailing P/E (33. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Red Violet, Inc. (RDVT) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Red Violet, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 33. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) delivered a total return of +170. 1%, compared to +35. 5% for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COHU returned +348. 5% versus RDVT's +7. 8%. 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), Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 15β versus Cohu, Inc. 's 2. 12β — meaning COHU is approximately 85% more volatile than RDVT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Red Violet, Inc. (RDVT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 46% for Cohu, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is pulling ahead at 20. 0% versus 12. 7% for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Red Violet, Inc. grew EPS 82. 0% year-over-year, compared to -6. 7% for Cohu, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RDVT leads at 19. 2% 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.

Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 6% net margin versus -16. 4% for Cohu, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RDVT leads at 14. 6% versus -13. 3% for COHU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RDVT leads at 83. 7%, 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, Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) trades at 33. 5x forward P/E versus 85. 0x for Cohu, Inc. — 51. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RDVT: 24. 7% to $62. 00.

In this comparison, RDVT (0.

6% yield) pays a dividend. COHU does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 15), 0. 6% yield). Cohu, Inc. (COHU) 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 (RDVT: +7. 8%, COHU: +348. 5%), 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: RDVT is a small-cap high-growth stock; COHU is a small-cap quality compounder stock. RDVT pays a dividend while COHU 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.