Hardware, Equipment & Parts
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RELL vs DAKT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
RELL vs DAKT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $189M | $1.00B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $213M | $803M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $806K | $28M |
| Gross Margin | 31.1% | 26.6% |
| Operating Margin | 1.8% | 5.6% |
| Forward P/E | 60.3x | 22.1x |
| Total Debt | $2M | $17M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $36M | $128M |
RELL vs DAKT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson Electron… (RELL) | 100 | 366.2 | +266.2% |
| Daktronics, Inc. (DAKT) | 100 | 484.2 | +384.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RELL vs DAKT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
RELL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 2.03, yield 1.8%
- Rev growth 6.3%, EPS growth 334.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.4%
- 240.0% 10Y total return vs DAKT's 162.3%
DAKT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for defensive.
- Beta 1.49, current ratio 2.22x
- Lower P/E (22.1x vs 60.3x)
- 3.4% margin vs RELL's 0.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 6.3% revenue growth vs DAKT's -7.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (22.1x vs 60.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 3.4% margin vs RELL's 0.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.49 vs RELL's 2.03 | |
| Dividends | 1.8% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +76.6% vs DAKT's +47.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 5.1% ROA vs RELL's 0.4%, ROIC 13.2% vs -1.4% |
RELL vs DAKT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
RELL vs DAKT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DAKT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DAKT is the larger business by revenue, generating $803M annually — 3.8x RELL's $213M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.4% (DAKT) to 0.4% (RELL). On growth, DAKT holds the edge at +21.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $213M | $803M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $8M | $65M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $806,000 | $28M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2M | $62M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.1% | +26.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.8% | +5.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.4% | +3.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.9% | +7.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.7% | +21.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +79.2% | +117.0% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — RELL and DAKT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, DAKT's 16.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than RELL's 101.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $189M | $1.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $156M | $890M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -165.55x | -97.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 60.31x | 22.08x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 101.05x | 16.90x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.91x | 1.32x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.21x | 3.59x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.43x | 12.79x |
Profitability & Efficiency
DAKT leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DAKT delivers a 9.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $1 for RELL. RELL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DAKT's 0.06x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RELL scores 6/9 vs DAKT's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.5% | +9.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +5.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.4% | +13.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.5% | +9.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 0.06x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$34M | -$111M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $36M | $128M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2M | $17M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 37.31x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — RELL and DAKT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in DAKT five years ago would be worth $32,028 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,989 for RELL. Over the past 12 months, RELL leads with a +76.6% total return vs DAKT's +47.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DAKT at 59.2% vs RELL's 1.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +44.1% | +3.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +76.6% | +47.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +3.9% | +303.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +119.9% | +220.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +240.0% | +162.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.3% | +59.2% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — RELL and DAKT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DAKT is the less volatile stock with a 1.49 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RELL's 2.03 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. RELL currently trades 98.9% from its 52-week high vs DAKT's 72.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.03x | 1.49x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $15.55 | $28.27 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.66 | $13.05 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.9% | +72.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.6 | 51.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 110K | 444K |
Analyst Outlook
RELL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RELL as "Hold" and DAKT as "Buy". RELL is the only dividend payer here at 1.80% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 4 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.28 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.9% |
DAKT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). RELL leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 3 tied.
RELL vs DAKT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RELL or DAKT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
(RELL) is the stronger pick with 6. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 5% for Daktronics, Inc. (DAKT). Analysts rate Daktronics, Inc. (DAKT) 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — RELL or DAKT?
Over the past 5 years, Daktronics, Inc.
(DAKT) delivered a total return of +220. 3%, compared to +119. 9% for Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (RELL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RELL returned +240. 0% versus DAKT's +162. 3%. 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 — RELL or DAKT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Daktronics, Inc.
(DAKT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 49β versus Richardson Electronics, Ltd. 's 2. 03β — meaning RELL is approximately 36% more volatile than DAKT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (RELL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 6% for Daktronics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — RELL or DAKT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
(RELL) is pulling ahead at 6. 3% versus -7. 5% for Daktronics, Inc. (DAKT). Over a 3-year CAGR, DAKT leads at 7. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — RELL or DAKT?
Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
(RELL) is the more profitable company, earning -0. 5% net margin versus -1. 3% for Daktronics, Inc. — meaning it keeps -0. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DAKT leads at 4. 4% versus -1. 2% for RELL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RELL leads at 31. 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 RELL or DAKT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Daktronics, Inc.
(DAKT) trades at 22. 1x forward P/E versus 60. 3x for Richardson Electronics, Ltd. — 38. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — RELL or DAKT?
In this comparison, RELL (1.
8% yield) pays a dividend. DAKT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is RELL or DAKT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
(RELL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 8% yield, +240. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RELL: +240. 0%, DAKT: +162. 3%), 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 RELL and DAKT?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
RELL pays a dividend while DAKT 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.
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