Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) vs Silicon Motion Technology (SIMO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) has outperformed Silicon Motion Technology (SIMO) over the past year, gaining 291.1% versus a gain of 202.6%. Over five years, AAOI leads with a +1597.2% price change compared with +322.4% for SIMO. Applied Optoelectronics is the larger company by market cap ($10.01 billion vs $9.47 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Silicon Motion Technology trades at a lower forward P/E (17.6x vs 25.6x for Applied Optoelectronics). Silicon Motion Technology pays a dividend yielding 0.72%, while Applied Optoelectronics does not currently pay one. Silicon Motion Technology converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.8% versus -8.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AAOI | SIMO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $117.89 | $279.24 |
| Market cap | $10.01B | $9.47B |
| 1-day change | -3.79% | -2.29% |
| YTD return | +251.52% | +208.28% |
| 1-year return | +291.06% | +202.57% |
| 5-year return | +1597.23% | +322.38% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 32.66 |
| Forward P/E | 25.62 | 17.59 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.75 | $8.55 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.72% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $455.71M | $885.63M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +82.75% | +10.21% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-38.23M | $122.64M |
| Gross margin | 30.04% | 48.27% |
| Operating margin | -11.98% | 10.51% |
| Net margin | -8.39% | 13.85% |
| 52-week high | $233.67 | $355.00 |
| 52-week low | $18.50 | $79.76 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -49.55% | -21.34% |
| Analyst consensus | none | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +38.60% | +32.39% |
| Average volume | 9.46M | 938.63K |
| Shares outstanding | 84.91M | 33.91M |
| Employees | 4,691 | 2,009 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- AAOI has outperformed SIMO by 88.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Silicon Motion Technology is more profitable, keeping 13.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -8.4 cents for Applied Optoelectronics.
- Applied Optoelectronics grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+82.75% vs +10.21%).
About Applied Optoelectronics
AAOI stock →Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of fiber-optic networking products in the United States, Taiwan, and China.
Technology · Semiconductors · 4,691 employees
About Silicon Motion Technology
SIMO stock →Silicon Motion Technology Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, and markets NAND flash controllers for solid-state storage devices and related devices in China, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, the United States, and internationally. It offers controllers for computing-grade solid state drives (SSDs), which are used in PCs and other client devices; enterprise-grade SSDs used in enterprise and hyperscale data centers; eMMC and UFS mobile embedded storage for use in smartphones and IoT devices; flash memory cards and flash drives for use in expandable storage; and specialized SSDs that are used in industrial, commercial, and automotive applications.
Technology · Semiconductors · 2,009 employees
AAOI vs SIMO FAQ
Which is bigger, Applied Optoelectronics or Silicon Motion Technology?
Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.01B compared with $9.47B for Silicon Motion Technology (SIMO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AAOI or SIMO?
AAOI returned +291.06% over the past 12 months, compared with +202.57% for SIMO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Applied Optoelectronics or Silicon Motion Technology?
Silicon Motion Technology pays a dividend yielding 0.72%, while Applied Optoelectronics does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Applied Optoelectronics and Silicon Motion Technology in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Semiconductors industry within the Technology sector.