STAI vs VIAV vs KEYS vs SAIC

For growth investors, Viavi Solutions Inc.

(VIAV) is the stronger pick with 8. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 9% for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) offers the better valuation at 12. 2x trailing P/E (9. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) a "Buy" — based on 19 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.

On trailing P/E, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the cheapest at 12.

2x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. at 340. 3x. On forward P/E, Science Applications International Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Science Applications International Corporation wins at 0. 56x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. 's 12. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Viavi Solutions Inc.

(VIAV) delivered a total return of +212. 0%, compared to -99. 1% for ScanTech AI Systems Inc. (STAI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KEYS returned +1279% versus STAI's -99. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

26β versus Keysight Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 71β — meaning KEYS is approximately 547% more volatile than SAIC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 89% for Viavi Solutions Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Viavi Solutions Inc.

(VIAV) is pulling ahead at 8. 4% versus -2. 9% for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Viavi Solutions Inc. grew EPS 225. 0% year-over-year, compared to 7. 4% for Science Applications International Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, KEYS leads at -0. 3% 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.

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 7% net margin versus -42. 5% for ScanTech AI Systems Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KEYS leads at 17. 6% versus -1644. 8% for STAI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KEYS leads at 62. 1%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 56x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. 's 12. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) trades at 9. 3x forward P/E versus 55. 2x for Viavi Solutions Inc. — 45. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SAIC: 3. 6% to $97. 50.

In this comparison, SAIC (1.

6% yield) pays a dividend. STAI, VIAV, KEYS do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

26), 1. 6% yield, +104. 4% 10Y return). Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) carries a higher beta of 1. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAIC: +104. 4%, VIAV: +715. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (STAI (Basic Materials) and VIAV (Technology) and KEYS (Technology) and SAIC (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: STAI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; VIAV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KEYS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SAIC is a small-cap deep-value stock. SAIC pays a dividend while STAI, VIAV, KEYS do 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.