SOTK
Sono-Tek Corporation
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$76M
5Y Perf.+97.5%
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Stock Comparison
SOTK vs UEIC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
UEIC
Universal Electronics Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$55M
5Y Perf.-90.5%
SOTK vs UEIC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SOTK | UEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $76M | $55M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $20M | $368M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2M | $-19M |
| Gross Margin | 49.9% | 28.0% |
| Operating Margin | 7.4% | -1.6% |
| Forward P/E | 60.1x | — |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $33M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5M | $32M |
SOTK vs UEIC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SOTK
UEIC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) | 100 | 197.5 | +97.5% |
| Universal Electroni… (UEIC) | 100 | 9.5 | -90.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SOTK vs UEIC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SOTK leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Universal Electronics Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SOTK
Sono-Tek Corporation
The Income Pick
SOTK carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 0.43
- Rev growth 4.1%, EPS growth -11.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.2%
- 386.0% 10Y total return vs UEIC's -93.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
UEIC
Universal Electronics Inc.
The Value Play
UEIC is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Better valuation composite
Best for: value
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SOTK | 4.1% revenue growth vs UEIC's -6.7% |
| Value | UEIC | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | SOTK | 7.7% margin vs UEIC's -5.1% |
| Stability / Safety | SOTK | Beta 0.43 vs UEIC's 0.80 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SOTK | +21.5% vs UEIC's -25.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SOTK | 6.6% ROA vs UEIC's -6.4%, ROIC 5.7% vs -0.0% |
SOTK vs UEIC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
SOTK vs UEIC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSOTKLAGGINGUEIC
UEICUniversal Electronics…
1leads
SOTKSono-Tek Corporation
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs UEICMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SOTK4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
UEIC5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SOTK6/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SOTK5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SOTK2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SOTK leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UEIC is the larger business by revenue, generating $368M annually — 18.0x SOTK's $20M. SOTK is the more profitable business, keeping 7.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to UEIC's -5.1%. On growth, SOTK holds the edge at -3.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SOTKSono-Tek Corporat… | UEICUniversal Electro… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $20M | $368M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2M | $9M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2M | -$19M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$811,225 | $17M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +49.9% | +28.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | -1.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.7% | -5.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.0% | +4.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.6% | -20.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +24.1% | +76.3% |
SOTK leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
UEIC leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, UEIC's 4.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SOTK's 41.6x.
| Metric | SOTKSono-Tek Corporat… | UEICUniversal Electro… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $76M | $55M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $71M | $56M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 60.15x | -3.11x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 26.10x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 41.59x | 4.00x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.72x | 0.15x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.31x | 0.39x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1358.08x | 2.80x |
UEIC leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SOTK leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SOTK delivers a 8.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $-13 for UEIC. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UEIC scores 6/9 vs SOTK's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SOTKSono-Tek Corporat… | UEICUniversal Electro… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.2% | -12.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.6% | -6.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.7% | -0.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.9% | -0.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$5M | $1M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5M | $32M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $33M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -14.08x |
SOTK leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SOTK leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SOTK five years ago would be worth $11,883 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $866 for UEIC. Over the past 12 months, SOTK leads with a +21.5% total return vs UEIC's -25.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SOTK at -1.2% vs UEIC's -20.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SOTKSono-Tek Corporat… | UEICUniversal Electro… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.2% | +20.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +21.5% | -25.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -3.6% | -50.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.8% | -91.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +386.0% | -93.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.2% | -20.8% |
SOTK leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SOTK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SOTK is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UEIC's 0.80 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SOTK currently trades 85.4% from its 52-week high vs UEIC's 58.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SOTKSono-Tek Corporat… | UEICUniversal Electro… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.48x | 0.82x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $5.69 | $7.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.23 | $2.69 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.4% | +58.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.1 | 53.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 31K | 55K |
SOTK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | SOTKSono-Tek Corporat… | UEICUniversal Electro… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +5.6% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
SOTK leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). UEIC leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Best OverallSono-Tek Corporation (SOTK)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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SOTK vs UEIC: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SOTK or UEIC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) is the stronger pick with 4.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 7% for Universal Electronics Inc. (UEIC). Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) offers the better valuation at 60. 1x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. 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 — SOTK or UEIC?
Over the past 5 years, Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) delivered a total return of +18.
8%, compared to -91. 3% for Universal Electronics Inc. (UEIC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SOTK returned +382. 0% versus UEIC's -93. 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 — SOTK or UEIC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
48β versus Universal Electronics Inc. 's 0. 82β — meaning UEIC is approximately 69% more volatile than SOTK relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — SOTK or UEIC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) is pulling ahead at 4.
1% versus -6. 7% for Universal Electronics Inc. (UEIC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Universal Electronics Inc. grew EPS 23. 8% year-over-year, compared to -11. 6% for Sono-Tek Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, SOTK leads at 6. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — SOTK or UEIC?
Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) is the more profitable company, earning 6.
2% net margin versus -5. 1% for Universal Electronics Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SOTK leads at 4. 9% versus -0. 0% for UEIC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SOTK leads at 47. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — SOTK or UEIC?
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.
07Is SOTK or UEIC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
48), +382. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SOTK: +382. 0%, UEIC: -93. 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.
08What are the main differences between SOTK and UEIC?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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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