STAA
STAAR Surgical Company
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Market Cap$1.37B
5Y Perf.-28.5%
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Stock Comparison
STAA vs ALGN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ALGN
Align Technology, Inc.
Medical - Devices
Market Cap$12.46B
5Y Perf.-29.2%
STAA vs ALGN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | STAA | ALGN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Instruments & Supplies | Medical - Devices |
| Market Cap | $1.37B | $12.46B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $239M | $4.10B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-80M | $430M |
| Gross Margin | 75.6% | 67.7% |
| Operating Margin | -33.3% | 14.4% |
| Forward P/E | 71.4x | 15.3x |
| Total Debt | $38M | $114M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $153M | $1.08B |
STAA vs ALGN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
STAA
ALGN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| STAAR Surgical Comp… (STAA) | 100 | 71.5 | -28.5% |
| Align Technology, I… (ALGN) | 100 | 70.8 | -29.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: STAA vs ALGN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ALGN leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. STAAR Surgical Company 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.
STAA
STAAR Surgical Company
The Income Pick
STAA is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 0.54
- 279.1% 10Y total return vs ALGN's 132.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.54, Low D/E 11.1%, current ratio 4.55x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
ALGN
Align Technology, Inc.
The Growth Play
ALGN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 0.9%, EPS growth 0.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.6%
- 0.9% revenue growth vs STAA's -23.7%
- Lower P/E (15.3x vs 71.4x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ALGN | 0.9% revenue growth vs STAA's -23.7% |
| Value | ALGN | Lower P/E (15.3x vs 71.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | ALGN | 10.5% margin vs STAA's -33.6% |
| Stability / Safety | STAA | Beta 0.54 vs ALGN's 1.66 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | STAA | +48.9% vs ALGN's +0.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ALGN | 6.9% ROA vs STAA's -17.8%, ROIC 15.4% vs -13.2% |
STAA vs ALGN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
STAA vs ALGN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLALGNLAGGINGSTAA
STAASTAAR Surgical Company
1leads
ALGNAlign Technology, Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs STAAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ALGN3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ALGN7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
STAA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — STAA and ALGN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ALGN is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.1B annually — 17.1x STAA's $239M. ALGN is the more profitable business, keeping 10.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to STAA's -33.6%. On growth, STAA holds the edge at +18.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | STAASTAAR Surgical Co… | ALGNAlign Technology,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $239M | $4.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$71M | $790M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$80M | $430M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$34M | $717M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +75.6% | +67.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -33.3% | +14.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -33.6% | +10.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -14.4% | +17.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.1% | +6.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +47.8% | +23.6% |
Evenly matched — STAA and ALGN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ALGN leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | STAASTAAR Surgical Co… | ALGNAlign Technology,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $12.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.3B | $11.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -17.13x | 30.79x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 71.37x | 15.34x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 14.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.73x | 3.09x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.00x | 3.12x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 25.38x |
ALGN leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ALGN leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ALGN delivers a 10.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $-23 for STAA. ALGN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to STAA's 0.11x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ALGN scores 7/9 vs STAA's 1/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | STAASTAAR Surgical Co… | ALGNAlign Technology,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -23.2% | +10.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -17.8% | +6.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -13.2% | +15.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -11.2% | +14.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.11x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$115M | -$965M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $153M | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $38M | $114M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 389.13x |
ALGN leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — STAA and ALGN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ALGN five years ago would be worth $2,975 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,095 for STAA. Over the past 12 months, STAA leads with a +48.9% total return vs ALGN's +0.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ALGN at -17.2% vs STAA's -25.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | STAASTAAR Surgical Co… | ALGNAlign Technology,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +17.6% | +11.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +48.9% | +0.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -59.0% | -43.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -79.1% | -70.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +279.1% | +132.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -25.7% | -17.2% |
Evenly matched — STAA and ALGN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
STAA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
STAA is the less volatile stock with a 0.54 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ALGN's 1.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. STAA currently trades 90.1% from its 52-week high vs ALGN's 83.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | STAASTAAR Surgical Co… | ALGNAlign Technology,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.54x | 1.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $30.81 | $208.31 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.64 | $122.00 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.1% | +83.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.9 | 38.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.2M | 1.1M |
STAA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates STAA as "Hold" and ALGN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.1% upside for ALGN (target: $204) vs -17.3% for STAA (target: $23).
| Metric | STAASTAAR Surgical Co… | ALGNAlign Technology,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $22.95 | $203.60 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.5% | +3.7% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
ALGN leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). STAA leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Best OverallAlign Technology, Inc. (ALGN)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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STAA vs ALGN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is STAA or ALGN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Align Technology, Inc.
(ALGN) is the stronger pick with 0. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 7% for STAAR Surgical Company (STAA). Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) offers the better valuation at 30. 8x trailing P/E (15. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 — STAA or ALGN?
On forward P/E, Align Technology, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 15. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — STAA or ALGN?
Over the past 5 years, Align Technology, Inc.
(ALGN) delivered a total return of -70. 3%, compared to -79. 1% for STAAR Surgical Company (STAA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STAA returned +279. 1% versus ALGN's +132. 9%. 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 — STAA or ALGN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), STAAR Surgical Company (STAA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
54β versus Align Technology, Inc. 's 1. 66β — meaning ALGN is approximately 206% more volatile than STAA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 11% for STAAR Surgical Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — STAA or ALGN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Align Technology, Inc.
(ALGN) is pulling ahead at 0. 9% versus -23. 7% for STAAR Surgical Company (STAA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Align Technology, Inc. grew EPS 0. 5% year-over-year, compared to -295. 1% for STAAR Surgical Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALGN leads at 2. 6% 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 — STAA or ALGN?
Align Technology, Inc.
(ALGN) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 2% net margin versus -33. 6% for STAAR Surgical Company — meaning it keeps 10. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALGN leads at 15. 3% versus -19. 2% for STAA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STAA leads at 73. 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.
07Is STAA or ALGN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Align Technology, Inc.
(ALGN) trades at 15. 3x forward P/E versus 71. 4x for STAAR Surgical Company — 56. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALGN: 17. 1% to $203. 60.
08Which pays a better dividend — STAA or ALGN?
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.
09Is STAA or ALGN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, STAAR Surgical Company (STAA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
54), +279. 1% 10Y return). Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) carries a higher beta of 1. 66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (STAA: +279. 1%, ALGN: +132. 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.
10What are the main differences between STAA and ALGN?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare 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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