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COHU vs UCTT
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Cohu, Inc. (COHU) vs. Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (UCTT) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both COHU and UCTT operate in the semiconductor equipment sector, benefiting from AI and datacenter demand, but UCTT focuses on subsystems and cleaning services while COHU specializes in test and inspection equipment.
- UCTT has delivered stronger year-to-date gains of approximately 209% compared to COHU's 90%, reflecting robust momentum in recent market activity.
- UCTT's market capitalization stands at around $3.5 billion, larger than COHU's $2.1 billion, with both showing negative trailing twelve-month EPS (earnings per share).
- Recent catalysts include UCTT's Q1 earnings beat and COHU's multi-million-dollar orders for AI processor testing, boosting sentiment for both.
- UCTT exhibits higher volatility with a beta of 1.81 versus COHU's 1.24, alongside elevated debt-to-equity ratio.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines COHU and UCTT, two players in the semiconductor equipment space amid surging demand for AI infrastructure and advanced chip production. Traders and investors tracking relative performance in this volatile sector may find value in contrasting their business models, recent momentum, and market positioning. As semiconductor stocks navigate cyclical upswings driven by datacenter expansion and high-performance computing (HPC), understanding these dynamics aids in evaluating potential trade-offs in growth, risk, and sentiment shifts. This analysis draws on verifiable data to highlight key differences for informed decision-making in the current market environment.
COHU Overview and Recent Performance
Cohu, Inc. (COHU) designs and manufactures semiconductor test and inspection equipment, including automated handlers, contactors, and analytics software for wafer-level and package testing. The company serves major chipmakers globally, with a focus on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and thermal subsystems.
In recent market activity, COHU shares have climbed significantly year-to-date by about 90%, trading near $44 with a 52-week range of $15.34 to $47.69. Positive sentiment stems from multi-unit orders for next-generation AI datacenter processor testing, including a $30 million follow-on deal, signaling confidence in 2026 HPC revenue growth. Analyst upgrades, such as Evercore ISI's raised price target to $53, have supported gains, though shares dipped amid broader sector pullbacks. Upcoming Q1 earnings are anticipated to provide further clarity on quarterly revenue growth, which showed 30% year-over-year in the latest period.
UCTT Overview and Recent Performance
Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (UCTT) supplies critical subsystems, components, and analytical services for semiconductor fabrication, including gas delivery systems, precision heaters, and chamber part cleaning for integrated device manufacturers and OEMs.
UCTT has exhibited explosive recent performance, with year-to-date returns exceeding 200%, trading around $78 in a 52-week range of $18.02 to $84.43. The stock's momentum accelerated following Q1 results that beat EPS estimates at $0.31 versus $0.27 expected, with revenue at $534 million. Leadership transitions, including CFO retirement and board changes, occurred alongside these gains. Analysts maintain buy ratings with an average price target of $85, though higher beta reflects increased volatility. Recent weeks' surges underscore strong positioning in semiconductor capital equipment demand.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
COHU and UCTT share semiconductor sector exposure but differ in business models: COHU emphasizes test automation and metrology, while UCTT provides broader outsourced subsystems and contamination control. Growth drivers align on AI datacenter and HPC demand, yet UCTT benefits from capital equipment cycles with higher revenue scale ($2B TTM vs. $453M).
Recent momentum favors UCTT's superior YTD gains and earnings beat over COHU's order wins. Risk factors include UCTT's higher beta (1.81) and debt-to-equity (83%) versus COHU's more conservative profile (beta 1.24, 42%). Valuation metrics show UCTT at lower price-to-sales (1.73 vs. 4.76) but elevated price-to-book. Market sentiment remains constructive for both, with analyst targets implying upside, though UCTT leads in relative performance amid sector rotation.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward UCTT over COHU, based on stronger trend consistency, earnings outperformance, and superior relative positioning in the semiconductor upcycle. While COHU shows promise via HPC orders, UCTT's momentum and scale offer higher probabilistic edge in prevailing market conditions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is COHU is a Hold and UCTT is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
COHU’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileUCTT’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- COHU’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- UCTT’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
COHU’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UCTT’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- COHU’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- UCTT’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
COHU (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +23.13% price change this week, while UCTT (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was +32.69% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +17.31%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +9.95%, and the average quarterly price growth was +135.39%.
Reported Earning Dates
COHU is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
UCTT is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (+17.31% weekly)The electronic production equipment industry makes equipment used to produce semiconductors. Such equipment includes wafer fabrication, plasma etching and photo-resist processing equipment. The industry also makes chemical vapor deposition processing systems and photomasks, which are high-purity quartz plates that contain patterns to define integrated circuits layouts. Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, and KLA-Tencor Corporation are examples of electronic production equipment manufacturing companies.
| COHU | UCTT | COHU / UCTT | |
| Capitalization | 2.89B | 4.88B | 59% |
| EBITDA | 6.05M | -34.5M | -18% |
| Gain YTD | 163.558 | 329.925 | 50% |
| P/E Ratio | 51.42 | 39.89 | 129% |
| Revenue | 481M | 2.07B | 23% |
| Total Cash | 489M | 324M | 151% |
| Total Debt | 327M | 780M | 42% |
COHU | UCTT | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 89 | 31 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 45 Fair valued | 57 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 55 | 35 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 95 | 98 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 34 | 34 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 5 | 100 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
COHU's Valuation (45) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as UCTT (57). This means that COHU’s stock grew similarly to UCTT’s over the last 12 months.
UCTT's Profit vs Risk Rating (35) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as COHU (55). This means that UCTT’s stock grew similarly to COHU’s over the last 12 months.
COHU's SMR Rating (95) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as UCTT (98). This means that COHU’s stock grew similarly to UCTT’s over the last 12 months.
COHU's Price Growth Rating (34) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as UCTT (34). This means that COHU’s stock grew similarly to UCTT’s over the last 12 months.
COHU's P/E Growth Rating (5) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is significantly better than the same rating for UCTT (100). This means that COHU’s stock grew significantly faster than UCTT’s over the last 12 months.
| COHU | UCTT | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 83% | 3 days ago 71% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 83% | 3 days ago 73% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 74% | 3 days ago 70% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 67% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 75% | 3 days ago 79% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 75% | 3 days ago 80% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 74% | 3 days ago 73% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 70% | 14 days ago 74% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 83% | 3 days ago 68% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 81% | 3 days ago 83% |
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UCTT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, UCTT has been closely correlated with ICHR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 72% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if UCTT jumps, then ICHR could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To UCTT | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCTT | 100% | +3.88% | ||
| ICHR - UCTT | 72% Closely correlated | +3.28% | ||
| RMBS - UCTT | 71% Closely correlated | +1.45% | ||
| ONTO - UCTT | 70% Closely correlated | +6.70% | ||
| LRCX - UCTT | 69% Closely correlated | +1.18% | ||
| COHU - UCTT | 69% Closely correlated | +4.71% | ||
More | ||||