REKR vs VIAV vs KEYS vs VRRM vs LDOS

For growth investors, Rekor Systems, Inc.

(REKR) is the stronger pick with 31. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 1% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) offers the better valuation at 11. 8x trailing P/E (11. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Rekor Systems, Inc. (REKR) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the cheapest at 11. 8x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. at 340. 3x. On forward P/E, Verra Mobility Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Leidos Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 53x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. 's 11. 99x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Viavi Solutions Inc.

(VIAV) delivered a total return of +212. 0%, compared to -95. 5% for Rekor Systems, Inc. (REKR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KEYS returned +1301% versus REKR's -70. 9%. 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), Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Rekor Systems, Inc. 's 2. 52β — meaning REKR is approximately 542% more volatile than LDOS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Verra Mobility Corporation (VRRM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 119% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Rekor Systems, Inc.

(REKR) is pulling ahead at 31. 8% versus 3. 1% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Verra Mobility Corporation grew EPS 347. 4% year-over-year, compared to 1. 4% for Rekor Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, REKR leads at 58. 4% 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.

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 7% net margin versus -133. 4% for Rekor Systems, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VRRM leads at 24. 4% versus -118. 0% for REKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VRRM leads at 96. 9%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 53x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. 's 11. 99x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Verra Mobility Corporation (VRRM) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 54. 7x for Viavi Solutions Inc. — 44. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for REKR: 249. 2% to $3. 00.

In this comparison, LDOS (1.

2% yield) pays a dividend. REKR, VIAV, KEYS, VRRM do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 1. 2% yield, +221. 6% 10Y return). Rekor Systems, Inc. (REKR) carries a higher beta of 2. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LDOS: +221. 6%, REKR: -70. 9%), 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: REKR is a small-cap high-growth stock; VIAV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KEYS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; VRRM is a small-cap deep-value stock; LDOS is a mid-cap deep-value stock. LDOS pays a dividend while REKR, VIAV, KEYS, VRRM 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.