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RFIL vs CTS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
RFIL vs CTS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Electrical Equipment & Parts | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $161M | $1.71B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $80M | $556M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $270K | $69M |
| Gross Margin | 32.0% | 38.7% |
| Operating Margin | 3.4% | 15.9% |
| Forward P/E | 25.7x | 24.6x |
| Total Debt | $27M | $122M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5M | $82M |
RFIL vs CTS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| RF Industries, Ltd. (RFIL) | 100 | 268.5 | +168.5% |
| CTS Corporation (CTS) | 100 | 280.5 | +180.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RFIL vs CTS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
RFIL is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 24.3%, EPS growth 101.1%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.9%
- 5.5% 10Y total return vs CTS's 253.2%
- 24.3% revenue growth vs CTS's 5.2%
CTS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.44, yield 0.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.44, Low D/E 22.1%, current ratio 2.30x
- Beta 1.44, yield 0.3%, current ratio 2.30x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 24.3% revenue growth vs CTS's 5.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (24.6x vs 25.7x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 12.4% margin vs RFIL's 0.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.44 vs RFIL's 2.01, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.3% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +275.6% vs CTS's +53.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 8.9% ROA vs RFIL's 0.4%, ROIC 11.1% vs 3.6% |
RFIL vs CTS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
RFIL vs CTS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CTS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CTS is the larger business by revenue, generating $556M annually — 6.9x RFIL's $80M. CTS is the more profitable business, keeping 12.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RFIL's 0.3%. On growth, CTS holds the edge at +10.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $80M | $556M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5M | $123M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $270,000 | $69M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4M | $88M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +32.0% | +38.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +15.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +12.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.5% | +15.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.2% | +10.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +34.1% |
Valuation Metrics
CTS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 27.3x trailing earnings, CTS trades at a 99% valuation discount to RFIL's 2130.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CTS's 14.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than RFIL's 34.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $161M | $1.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $183M | $1.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 2130.00x | 27.33x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.71x | 24.63x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.75x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 34.63x | 14.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.00x | 3.16x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.56x | 3.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 37.12x | 19.82x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CTS leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CTS delivers a 12.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $1 for RFIL. CTS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.22x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RFIL's 0.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RFIL scores 8/9 vs CTS's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.8% | +12.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +8.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.6% | +11.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.2% | +12.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.76x | 0.22x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $22M | $40M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5M | $82M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $27M | $122M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 18.18x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RFIL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RFIL five years ago would be worth $23,081 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,321 for CTS. Over the past 12 months, RFIL leads with a +275.6% total return vs CTS's +53.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RFIL at 55.3% vs CTS's 13.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +162.5% | +36.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +275.6% | +53.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +274.6% | +44.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +130.8% | +83.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +545.3% | +253.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +55.3% | +13.1% |
Risk & Volatility
CTS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CTS is the less volatile stock with a 1.44 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RFIL's 2.01 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.01x | 1.44x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $15.45 | $60.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.82 | $36.03 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.5% | +98.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.7 | 71.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 250K | 209K |
Analyst Outlook
CTS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RFIL as "Buy" and CTS as "Hold". CTS is the only dividend payer here at 0.27% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 4 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.16 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.3% |
CTS leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). RFIL leads in 1 (Total Returns).
RFIL vs CTS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RFIL or CTS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, RF Industries, Ltd.
(RFIL) is the stronger pick with 24. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 2% for CTS Corporation (CTS). CTS Corporation (CTS) offers the better valuation at 27. 3x trailing P/E (24. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate RF Industries, Ltd. (RFIL) a "Buy" — based on 2 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 has the better valuation — RFIL or CTS?
On trailing P/E, CTS Corporation (CTS) is the cheapest at 27.
3x versus RF Industries, Ltd. at 2130. 0x. On forward P/E, CTS Corporation is actually cheaper at 24. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RFIL or CTS?
Over the past 5 years, RF Industries, Ltd.
(RFIL) delivered a total return of +130. 8%, compared to +83. 2% for CTS Corporation (CTS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RFIL returned +545. 3% versus CTS's +253. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — RFIL or CTS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CTS Corporation (CTS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
44β versus RF Industries, Ltd. 's 2. 01β — meaning RFIL is approximately 39% more volatile than CTS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CTS Corporation (CTS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 76% for RF Industries, Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RFIL or CTS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), RF Industries, Ltd.
(RFIL) is pulling ahead at 24. 3% versus 5. 2% for CTS Corporation (CTS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RF Industries, Ltd. grew EPS 101. 1% year-over-year, compared to 15. 9% for CTS Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, RFIL 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.
06Which has better profit margins — RFIL or CTS?
CTS Corporation (CTS) is the more profitable company, earning 12.
0% net margin versus 0. 1% for RF Industries, Ltd. — meaning it keeps 12. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTS leads at 15. 6% versus 3. 5% for RFIL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTS leads at 38. 5%, 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.
07Is RFIL or CTS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CTS Corporation (CTS) trades at 24.
6x forward P/E versus 25. 7x for RF Industries, Ltd. — 1. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — RFIL or CTS?
In this comparison, CTS (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. RFIL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is RFIL or CTS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CTS Corporation (CTS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+253.
2% 10Y return). RF Industries, Ltd. (RFIL) carries a higher beta of 2. 01 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTS: +253. 2%, RFIL: +545. 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.
10What are the main differences between RFIL and CTS?
These companies operate in different sectors (RFIL (Industrials) and CTS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: RFIL is a small-cap high-growth stock; CTS is a small-cap quality compounder 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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