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Stock Comparison

REFR vs NVDA

Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.

Live fundamentals10-year financials5-year price chart
REFR
Research Frontiers Incorporated

Hardware, Equipment & Parts

TechnologyNASDAQ • US
Market Cap$29M
5Y Perf.-81.3%
NVDA
NVIDIA Corporation

Semiconductors

TechnologyNASDAQ • US
Market Cap$5.14T
5Y Perf.+2281.7%

REFR vs NVDA — Key Financials

Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.

Company Snapshot
REFR logoREFR
NVDA logoNVDA
IndustryHardware, Equipment & PartsSemiconductors
Market Cap$29M$5.14T
Revenue (TTM)$1M$215.94B
Net Income (TTM)$-2M$120.07B
Gross Margin95.8%71.1%
Operating Margin-190.2%60.4%
Forward P/E25.6x
Total Debt$1M$11.41B
Cash & Equiv.$664K$10.61B

REFR vs NVDALong-Term Stock Performance

Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.

REFR
NVDA
StockMay 20May 26Return
Research Frontiers … (REFR)10018.7-81.3%
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)1002381.7+2281.7%

Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.

Quick Verdict: REFR vs NVDA

Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.

Bottom line: NVDA leads in 5 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Research Frontiers Incorporated is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
REFR
Research Frontiers Incorporated
The Income Pick

REFR is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.

  • beta 0.86
  • Lower volatility, beta 0.86, current ratio 3.84x
  • Beta 0.86, current ratio 3.84x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
NVDA
NVIDIA Corporation
The Growth Play

NVDA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.

  • Rev growth 65.5%, EPS growth 66.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 100.0%
  • 239.0% 10Y total return vs REFR's -80.2%
  • 65.5% revenue growth vs REFR's -16.0%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
CategoryWinnerWhy
GrowthNVDA logoNVDA65.5% revenue growth vs REFR's -16.0%
Quality / MarginsNVDA logoNVDA55.6% margin vs REFR's -182.4%
Stability / SafetyREFR logoREFRBeta 0.86 vs NVDA's 1.73
DividendsNVDA logoNVDA0.0% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
Momentum (1Y)NVDA logoNVDA+80.7% vs REFR's -28.2%
Efficiency (ROA)NVDA logoNVDA58.1% ROA vs REFR's -68.4%, ROIC 81.8% vs -95.7%

REFR vs NVDA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment

How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units

REFRResearch Frontiers Incorporated

Segment breakdown not available.

NVDANVIDIA Corporation
FY 2026
Data Center
89.7%$193.7B
Gaming
7.4%$16.0B
Professional Visualization
1.5%$3.2B
Automotive
1.1%$2.3B
OEM And Other
0.3%$619M

REFR vs NVDA — Financial Metrics

Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.

BEST OVERALLNVDALAGGINGREFR

Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)

NVDA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.

NVDA is the larger business by revenue, generating $215.9B annually — 192587.4x REFR's $1M. NVDA is the more profitable business, keeping 55.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to REFR's -182.4%. On growth, NVDA holds the edge at +73.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.

MetricREFR logoREFRResearch Frontier…NVDA logoNVDANVIDIA Corporation
RevenueTrailing 12 months$1M$215.9B
EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax-$2M$133.2B
Net IncomeAfter-tax profit-$2M$120.1B
Free Cash FlowCash after capex-$1M$96.7B
Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue+95.8%+71.1%
Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue-190.2%+60.4%
Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue-182.4%+55.6%
FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue-118.6%+44.8%
Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year-59.5%+73.2%
EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year-26.0%+97.8%
NVDA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.

Valuation Metrics

REFR leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
MetricREFR logoREFRResearch Frontier…NVDA logoNVDANVIDIA Corporation
Market CapShares × price$29M$5.14T
Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash$29M$5.14T
Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS-13.70x43.16x
Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est.25.55x
PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate0.45x
EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple38.59x
Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue25.82x23.80x
Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share30.03x32.85x
Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF53.17x
REFR leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.

Profitability & Efficiency

NVDA leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.

NVDA delivers a 76.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $76 in annual profit, vs $-123 for REFR. NVDA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to REFR's 1.25x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NVDA scores 4/9 vs REFR's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.

MetricREFR logoREFRResearch Frontier…NVDA logoNVDANVIDIA Corporation
ROE (TTM)Return on equity-122.9%+76.3%
ROA (TTM)Return on assets-68.4%+58.1%
ROICReturn on invested capital-95.7%+81.8%
ROCEReturn on capital employed-74.5%+97.2%
Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–934
Debt / EquityFinancial leverage1.25x0.07x
Net DebtTotal debt minus cash$501,986$807M
Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets$664,299$10.6B
Total DebtShort + long-term debt$1M$11.4B
Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense545.03x
NVDA leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.

Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)

NVDA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.

A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth $142,893 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,306 for REFR. Over the past 12 months, NVDA leads with a +80.7% total return vs REFR's -28.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVDA at 93.6% vs REFR's -17.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.

MetricREFR logoREFRResearch Frontier…NVDA logoNVDANVIDIA Corporation
YTD ReturnYear-to-date-34.9%+12.0%
1-Year ReturnPast 12 months-28.2%+80.7%
3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends-43.3%+625.9%
5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends-66.9%+1328.9%
10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends-80.2%+23902.3%
CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return-17.2%+93.6%
NVDA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.

Risk & Volatility

Evenly matched — REFR and NVDA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.

REFR is the less volatile stock with a 0.86 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVDA's 1.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NVDA currently trades 97.6% from its 52-week high vs REFR's 30.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.

MetricREFR logoREFRResearch Frontier…NVDA logoNVDANVIDIA Corporation
Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 5000.86x1.73x
52-Week HighHighest price in past year$2.70$216.80
52-Week LowLowest price in past year$0.82$112.28
% of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak+30.9%+97.6%
RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–10040.460.7
Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded33K164.5M
Evenly matched — REFR and NVDA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.

Analyst Outlook

Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
MetricREFR logoREFRResearch Frontier…NVDA logoNVDANVIDIA Corporation
Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sellBuy
Price TargetConsensus 12-month target$278.83
# AnalystsCovering analysts79
Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price+0.0%
Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises2
Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS$0.04
Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap0.0%+0.8%
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway

NVDA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). REFR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.

Best OverallNVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...

REFR vs NVDA: Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily

01

Is REFR or NVDA a better buy right now?

For growth investors, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the stronger pick with 65.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 0% for Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) offers the better valuation at 43. 2x trailing P/E (25. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) a "Buy" — based on 79 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.

02

Which is the better long-term investment — REFR or NVDA?

Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1329%, compared to -66.

9% for Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +239. 0% versus REFR's -80. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

03

Which is safer — REFR or NVDA?

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

86β versus NVIDIA Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning NVDA is approximately 101% more volatile than REFR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 125% for Research Frontiers Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

04

Which is growing faster — REFR or NVDA?

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is pulling ahead at 65.

5% versus -16. 0% for Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NVIDIA Corporation grew EPS 66. 7% year-over-year, compared to -55. 5% for Research Frontiers Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, NVDA leads at 100. 0% 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.

05

Which has better profit margins — REFR or NVDA?

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.

6% net margin versus -182. 4% for Research Frontiers Incorporated — meaning it keeps 55. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVDA leads at 60. 4% versus -190. 2% for REFR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — REFR leads at 83. 4%, 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.

06

Which pays a better dividend — REFR or NVDA?

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.

07

Is REFR or NVDA better for a retirement portfolio?

For long-horizon retirement investors, Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

86)). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (REFR: -80. 2%, NVDA: +239. 0%), 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.

08

What are the main differences between REFR and NVDA?

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: REFR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NVDA is a mega-cap high-growth stock. 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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REFR

Quality Business

  • Sector: Technology
  • Market Cap > $100B
  • Gross Margin > 57%
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NVDA

High-Growth Quality Leader

  • Sector: Technology
  • Market Cap > $100B
  • Revenue Growth > 36%
  • Net Margin > 33%
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(REFR: -59.5% · NVDA: 73.2%)

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