Head-To-Head Comparison: nLight (NASDAQ:LASR) versus Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ:LSCC)

nLight (NASDAQ:LASR) and Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ:LSCC) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares nLight and Lattice Semiconductor’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
nLight	-8.98%	-9.28%	-6.77%
Lattice Semiconductor	0.59%	5.60%	4.69%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares nLight and Lattice Semiconductor”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
nLight	$261.33 million	12.52	-$23.47 million	($0.47)	-124.77
Lattice Semiconductor	$523.26 million	22.35	$3.08 million	$0.02	4,274.50

Lattice Semiconductor has higher revenue and earnings than nLight. nLight is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lattice Semiconductor, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

83.9% of nLight shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.1% of Lattice Semiconductor shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.7% of nLight shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.8% of Lattice Semiconductor shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for nLight and Lattice Semiconductor, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
nLight	1	1	8	1	2.82
Lattice Semiconductor	1	0	13	1	2.93

nLight currently has a consensus target price of $58.31, indicating a potential downside of 0.56%. Lattice Semiconductor has a consensus target price of $102.64, indicating a potential upside of 20.06%. Given Lattice Semiconductor’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Lattice Semiconductor is more favorable than nLight.

Volatility and Risk

nLight has a beta of 2.27, indicating that its share price is 127% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Lattice Semiconductor has a beta of 1.65, indicating that its share price is 65% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Lattice Semiconductor beats nLight on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About nLight

nLIGHT, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace and defense applications. The company operates in two segments, Laser Products and Advanced Development. It offers semiconductor lasers with various ranges of power levels, wavelengths, and output fiber sizes; and programmable and serviceable fiber lasers for use in industrial and aerospace and defense applications. The company also provides laser sensors, including light detection and ranging technologies for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance applications; and fiber amplifiers, beam combination, and control systems for use in high-energy laser systems in directed energy applications. It sells its products through direct sales force in the United States, China, South Korea, and European countries, as well as through independent sales representatives and distributors in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. The company was formerly known as nLight Photonics Corporation and changed its name to nLIGHT, Inc. in January 2016. nLIGHT, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Camas, Washington.

About Lattice Semiconductor

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops and sells semiconductor products in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The company offers field programmable gate arrays that consist of four product families, including the Lattice Certus and ECP, Mach, iCE, and CrossLink. It also provides video connectivity application specific standard products. In addition, the company licenses its technology portfolio through standard IP and IP core licensing, patent monetization, and IP services. It sells its products directly to customers, and indirectly through a network of independent manufacturers' representatives and independent distributors. The company primarily serves original equipment manufacturers in the communications and computing, consumer, and industrial, and automotive markets. Lattice Semiconductor Corporation was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon.