ST
Sensata Technologies Holding plc
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$6.45B
5Y Perf.+24.4%
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Stock Comparison
ST vs KLIC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KLIC
Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Semiconductors
Market Cap$5.14B
5Y Perf.+339.0%
ST vs KLIC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ST | KLIC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Semiconductors |
| Market Cap | $6.45B | $5.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.73B | $768M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $48M | $3M |
| Gross Margin | 28.0% | 48.0% |
| Operating Margin | 14.2% | 6.9% |
| Forward P/E | 12.0x | 37.4x |
| Total Debt | $2.92B | $39M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $573M | $216M |
ST vs KLIC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ST
KLIC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensata Technologie… (ST) | 100 | 124.4 | +24.4% |
| Kulicke and Soffa I… (KLIC) | 100 | 439.0 | +339.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ST vs KLIC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ST leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ST
Sensata Technologies Holding plc
The Growth Play
ST carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth -5.9%, EPS growth -75.3%, 3Y rev CAGR -3.1%
- -5.9% revenue growth vs KLIC's -7.4%
- Lower P/E (12.0x vs 37.4x)
Best for: growth exposure
KLIC
Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
KLIC is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 1.87, yield 1.0%
- 8.1% 10Y total return vs ST's 33.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.87, Low D/E 4.7%, current ratio 4.79x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ST | -5.9% revenue growth vs KLIC's -7.4% |
| Value | ST | Lower P/E (12.0x vs 37.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | ST | 1.3% margin vs KLIC's 0.4% |
| Stability / Safety | KLIC | Beta 1.87 vs ST's 1.98, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ST | 1.1% yield, vs KLIC's 1.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KLIC | +220.8% vs ST's +106.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ST | 0.7% ROA vs KLIC's 0.3%, ROIC 7.2% vs -0.3% |
ST vs KLIC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2024
ST vs KLIC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLKLICLAGGINGST
STSensata Technologies …
1leads
KLICKulicke and Soffa Ind…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs STMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ST6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
KLIC5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KLIC6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ST and KLIC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ST is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.7B annually — 4.9x KLIC's $768M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 1.3% (ST) to 0.4% (KLIC). On growth, KLIC holds the edge at +49.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | STSensata Technolog… | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.7B | $768M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $775M | $61M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $48M | $3M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $508M | $11M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +28.0% | +48.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.2% | +6.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.3% | +0.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.6% | +1.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.0% | +49.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.5% | +141.5% |
Evenly matched — ST and KLIC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ST leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 211.1x trailing earnings, ST trades at a 98% valuation discount to KLIC's 9999.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ST's 11.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KLIC's 336.2x.
| Metric | STSensata Technolog… | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.4B | $5.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.8B | $5.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 211.14x | 9999.00x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.04x | 37.41x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.42x | 336.22x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.74x | 7.85x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.34x | 6.36x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.15x | 53.30x |
ST leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KLIC leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ST delivers a 1.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $2 in annual profit, vs $0 for KLIC. KLIC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ST's 1.05x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KLIC scores 7/9 vs ST's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | STSensata Technolog… | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.7% | +0.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.7% | +0.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.2% | -0.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.3% | -0.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.05x | 0.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.3B | -$177M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $573M | $216M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.9B | $39M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.39x | 4872.17x |
KLIC leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KLIC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KLIC five years ago would be worth $20,103 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,855 for ST. Over the past 12 months, KLIC leads with a +220.8% total return vs ST's +106.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KLIC at 29.1% vs ST's 3.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | STSensata Technolog… | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +27.4% | +103.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +106.6% | +220.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.4% | +115.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -21.4% | +101.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +33.5% | +814.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.4% | +29.1% |
KLIC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ST and KLIC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KLIC is the less volatile stock with a 1.87 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ST's 1.98 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ST currently trades 96.5% from its 52-week high vs KLIC's 91.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | STSensata Technolog… | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.98x | 1.87x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $45.96 | $107.01 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.39 | $29.91 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.5% | +91.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.4 | 77.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 617K |
Evenly matched — ST and KLIC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — ST and KLIC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ST as "Buy" and KLIC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 1.5% upside for ST (target: $45) vs -36.3% for KLIC (target: $63). For income investors, ST offers the higher dividend yield at 1.08% vs KLIC's 1.04%.
| Metric | STSensata Technolog… | KLICKulicke and Soffa… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $45.00 | $62.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 29 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.1% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.48 | $1.02 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +1.9% |
Evenly matched — ST and KLIC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
KLIC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). ST leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 3 tied.
Best OverallKulicke and Soffa Industrie… (KLIC)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
ST vs KLIC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ST or KLIC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) is the stronger pick with -5.
9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 4% for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC). Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) offers the better valuation at 211. 1x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) a "Buy" — based on 29 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 — ST or KLIC?
On trailing P/E, Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) is the cheapest at 211.
1x versus Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. at 9999. 0x. On forward P/E, Sensata Technologies Holding plc is actually cheaper at 12. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ST or KLIC?
Over the past 5 years, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
(KLIC) delivered a total return of +101. 0%, compared to -21. 4% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KLIC returned +814. 1% versus ST's +33. 5%. 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 — ST or KLIC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
(KLIC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 87β versus Sensata Technologies Holding plc's 1. 98β — meaning ST is approximately 5% more volatile than KLIC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 105% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ST or KLIC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) is pulling ahead at -5.
9% versus -7. 4% for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. grew EPS 100. 3% year-over-year, compared to -75. 3% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, ST leads at -3. 1% 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 — ST or KLIC?
Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) is the more profitable company, earning 0.
8% net margin versus 0. 0% for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ST leads at 13. 9% versus -0. 5% for KLIC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KLIC leads at 42. 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 ST or KLIC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) trades at 12.
0x forward P/E versus 37. 4x for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. — 25. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ST: 1. 5% to $45. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ST or KLIC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 1. 0% for Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC).
09Is ST or KLIC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
(KLIC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 0% yield, +814. 1% 10Y return). Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) carries a higher beta of 1. 98 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KLIC: +814. 1%, ST: +33. 5%), 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 ST and KLIC?
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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Revenue Growth>
%
(ST: 2.0% · KLIC: 49.8%)P/E Ratio<
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