Software - Application
Compare Stocks
3 / 10Stock Comparison
SURG vs LQDT vs GSAT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Retail
Telecommunications Services
SURG vs LQDT vs GSAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Application | Specialty Retail | Telecommunications Services |
| Market Cap | $11M | $1.12B | $10.56B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $50M | $480M | $283M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-42M | $30M | $-14M |
| Gross Margin | -38.6% | 23.2% | 40.9% |
| Operating Margin | -78.8% | 8.4% | 8.6% |
| Forward P/E | — | 24.5x | — |
| Total Debt | $5M | $14M | $546M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $12M | $175M | $447M |
SURG vs LQDT vs GSAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| SurgePays, Inc. (SURG) | 100 | 3.6 | -96.4% |
| Liquidity Services,… (LQDT) | 100 | 633.8 | +533.8% |
| Globalstar, Inc. (GSAT) | 100 | 1840.6 | +1740.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SURG vs LQDT vs GSAT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
SURG is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.27, current ratio 2.95x
LQDT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.82
- Rev growth 31.2%, EPS growth 38.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 19.4%
- 5.1% 10Y total return vs GSAT's 204.0%
GSAT is the clearest fit if your priority is dividends and momentum.
- 0.1% yield; the other 2 pay no meaningful dividend
- +306.6% vs SURG's -80.0%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 31.2% revenue growth vs SURG's -55.6% | |
| Value | Better valuation composite | |
| Quality / Margins | 6.3% margin vs SURG's -83.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.82 vs GSAT's 2.04, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.1% yield; the other 2 pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +306.6% vs SURG's -80.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 8.0% ROA vs SURG's -242.4%, ROIC 60.8% vs -229.7% |
SURG vs LQDT vs GSAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
SURG vs LQDT vs GSAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 3 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
LQDT leads in 2 of 6 categories
GSAT leads 1 • SURG leads 0 • 3 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — SURG and LQDT and GSAT each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LQDT is the larger business by revenue, generating $480M annually — 9.5x SURG's $50M. LQDT is the more profitable business, keeping 6.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SURG's -83.4%.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $50M | $480M | $283M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$39M | $51M | $108M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$42M | $30M | -$14M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$26M | $78M | $45M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -38.6% | +23.2% | +40.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -78.8% | +8.4% | +8.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -83.4% | +6.3% | -5.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -50.9% | +16.2% | +15.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.9% | +3.7% | +16.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +47.2% | +4.5% | 0.0% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — SURG and LQDT each lead in 2 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, LQDT's 21.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GSAT's 104.4x.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11M | $1.1B | $10.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4M | $962M | $10.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.23x | 41.60x | -547.27x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 24.45x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 21.15x | 104.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.18x | 2.35x | 38.67x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.70x | 5.77x | 29.25x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 19.04x | 137.46x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LQDT leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LQDT delivers a 14.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $-10 for SURG. LQDT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GSAT's 1.54x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LQDT scores 7/9 vs SURG's 2/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -10.1% | +14.2% | -3.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.4% | +8.0% | -0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.3% | +60.8% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -177.3% | +17.3% | +0.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.30x | 0.07x | 1.54x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$7M | -$160M | $99M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $12M | $175M | $447M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5M | $14M | $546M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -40.65x | — | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
GSAT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GSAT five years ago would be worth $50,208 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $673 for SURG. Over the past 12 months, GSAT leads with a +306.6% total return vs SURG's -80.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GSAT at 80.5% vs SURG's -49.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -67.5% | +22.3% | +28.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -80.0% | +27.9% | +306.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.0% | +156.7% | +488.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -93.3% | +45.9% | +402.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -99.1% | +507.2% | +204.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -49.3% | +36.9% | +80.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LQDT and GSAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LQDT is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GSAT's 2.04 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GSAT currently trades 99.1% from its 52-week high vs SURG's 16.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.27x | 0.82x | 2.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.45 | $38.83 | $82.85 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.46 | $21.67 | $17.24 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +16.1% | +93.2% | +99.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.4 | 68.2 | 64.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 366K | 160K | 1.5M |
Analyst Outlook
LQDT leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: LQDT as "Buy", GSAT as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 21.6% upside for LQDT (target: $44) vs -19.6% for GSAT (target: $66). GSAT is the only dividend payer here at 0.10% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $44.00 | $66.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 14 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | $0.08 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.7% | +1.4% | 0.0% |
LQDT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). GSAT leads in 1 (Total Returns). 3 tied.
SURG vs LQDT vs GSAT: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SURG or LQDT or GSAT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Liquidity Services, Inc.
(LQDT) is the stronger pick with 31. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -55. 6% for SurgePays, Inc. (SURG). Liquidity Services, Inc. (LQDT) offers the better valuation at 41. 6x trailing P/E (24. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Liquidity Services, Inc. (LQDT) a "Buy" — based on 14 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 is the better long-term investment — SURG or LQDT or GSAT?
Over the past 5 years, Globalstar, Inc.
(GSAT) delivered a total return of +402. 1%, compared to -93. 3% for SurgePays, Inc. (SURG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LQDT returned +507. 2% versus SURG'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.
03Which is safer — SURG or LQDT or GSAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Liquidity Services, Inc.
(LQDT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus Globalstar, Inc. 's 2. 04β — meaning GSAT is approximately 150% more volatile than LQDT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Liquidity Services, Inc. (LQDT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 154% for Globalstar, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — SURG or LQDT or GSAT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Liquidity Services, Inc.
(LQDT) is pulling ahead at 31. 2% versus -55. 6% for SurgePays, Inc. (SURG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Globalstar, Inc. grew EPS 74. 6% year-over-year, compared to -273. 2% for SurgePays, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GSAT leads at 22. 5% 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 — SURG or LQDT or GSAT?
Liquidity Services, Inc.
(LQDT) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 9% net margin versus -75. 1% for SurgePays, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LQDT leads at 7. 4% versus -68. 6% for SURG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GSAT leads at 64. 8%, 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.
06Is SURG or LQDT or GSAT more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LQDT: 21.
6% to $44. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — SURG or LQDT or GSAT?
In this comparison, GSAT (0.
1% yield) pays a dividend. SURG, LQDT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SURG or LQDT or GSAT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Liquidity Services, Inc.
(LQDT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), +507. 2% 10Y return). Globalstar, Inc. (GSAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 04 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LQDT: +507. 2%, GSAT: +204. 0%), 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.
09What are the main differences between SURG and LQDT and GSAT?
These companies operate in different sectors (SURG (Technology) and LQDT (Consumer Cyclical) and GSAT (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: SURG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LQDT is a small-cap high-growth stock; GSAT is a mid-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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform all of them.
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 8%
- Gross Margin > 24%
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.