UG vs CODA

For growth investors, Coda Octopus Group, Inc.

(CODA) is the stronger pick with 30. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 4% for United-Guardian, Inc. (UG). United-Guardian, Inc. (UG) offers the better valuation at 15. 2x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Coda Octopus Group, Inc. (CODA) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, United-Guardian, Inc.

(UG) is the cheapest at 15. 2x versus Coda Octopus Group, Inc. at 32. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Coda Octopus Group, Inc.

(CODA) delivered a total return of +49. 7%, compared to -30. 0% for United-Guardian, Inc. (UG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CODA returned +844. 4% versus UG's -12. 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), United-Guardian, Inc.

(UG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 33β versus Coda Octopus Group, Inc. 's 1. 00β — meaning CODA is approximately 201% more volatile than UG relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Coda Octopus Group, Inc.

(CODA) is pulling ahead at 30. 7% versus -13. 4% for United-Guardian, Inc. (UG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Coda Octopus Group, Inc. grew EPS 15. 6% year-over-year, compared to -35. 2% for United-Guardian, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CODA leads at 6. 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.

United-Guardian, Inc.

(UG) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 0% net margin versus 15. 5% for Coda Octopus Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UG leads at 21. 3% versus 17. 1% for CODA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CODA leads at 66. 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.

In this comparison, UG (8.

6% yield) pays a dividend. CODA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, United-Guardian, Inc.

(UG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 33), 8. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UG: -12. 1%, CODA: +844. 4%), 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 (UG (Consumer Defensive) and CODA (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: UG is a small-cap deep-value stock; CODA is a small-cap high-growth stock. UG pays a dividend while CODA does 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.