TRT vs NVEC vs RELL vs COHU vs ONTO

For growth investors, Cohu, Inc.

(COHU) is the stronger pick with 12. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 8% for Trio-Tech International (TRT). NVE Corporation (NVEC) offers the better valuation at 28. 2x trailing P/E (18. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cohu, Inc. (COHU) 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.

On trailing P/E, NVE Corporation (NVEC) is the cheapest at 28.

2x versus Onto Innovation Inc. at 98. 6x. On forward P/E, NVE Corporation is actually cheaper at 18. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Onto Innovation Inc. wins at 1. 12x versus NVE Corporation's 3. 54x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) delivered a total return of +312. 6%, compared to +22. 2% for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ONTO returned +1432% versus NVEC's +124. 0%. 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), Trio-Tech International (TRT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

52β versus Onto Innovation Inc. 's 2. 66β — meaning ONTO is approximately 408% more volatile than TRT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 46% for Cohu, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cohu, Inc.

(COHU) is pulling ahead at 12. 7% versus -13. 8% for Trio-Tech International (TRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NVE Corporation grew EPS 1. 0% year-over-year, compared to -104. 0% for Trio-Tech International. Over a 3-year CAGR, ONTO leads at 0. 0% 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.

NVE Corporation (NVEC) is the more profitable company, earning 57.

7% net margin versus -16. 4% for Cohu, Inc. — meaning it keeps 57. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVEC leads at 60. 5% versus -13. 3% for COHU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVEC leads at 78. 7%, 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, Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 12x versus NVE Corporation's 3. 54x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, NVE Corporation (NVEC) trades at 18. 9x forward P/E versus 89. 2x for Cohu, Inc. — 70. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ONTO: 12. 5% to $308. 33.

In this comparison, NVEC (4.

5% yield), RELL (1. 9% yield) pay a dividend. TRT, COHU, ONTO do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

52), +248. 3% 10Y return). Cohu, Inc. (COHU) carries a higher beta of 2. 13 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRT: +248. 3%, COHU: +330. 2%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: TRT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NVEC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; RELL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; COHU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ONTO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. NVEC, RELL pay a dividend while TRT, COHU, ONTO 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.