Belden (BDC) vs ViaSat (VSAT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
ViaSat (VSAT) has outperformed Belden (BDC) over the past year, gaining 126.5% versus a loss of 5.2%. Over five years, BDC leads with a +80.6% price change compared with +28.5% for VSAT. ViaSat is the larger company by market cap ($9.76 billion vs $4.28 billion), about 2.3 times the size, while Belden is growing revenue faster (+10.3% vs +2.7%).
On valuation, Belden trades at a lower forward P/E (10.9x vs 425.2x for ViaSat). Belden pays a dividend yielding 0.18%, while ViaSat does not currently pay one. Belden converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 8.7% versus -0.7%.
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 | BDC | VSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $109.41 | $70.87 |
| Market cap | $4.28B | $9.76B |
| 1-day change | -3.36% | -4.72% |
| YTD return | -6.13% | +105.66% |
| 1-year return | -5.20% | +126.49% |
| 5-year return | +80.57% | +28.46% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 17.79 | — |
| Forward P/E | 10.90 | 425.21 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.15 | $-0.21 |
| Dividend yield | 0.18% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.20 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.72B | $4.64B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.33% | +2.67% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $237.52M | $-34.09M |
| Gross margin | 37.98% | — |
| Operating margin | 11.63% | 2.33% |
| Net margin | 8.75% | -0.73% |
| 52-week high | $159.99 | $93.03 |
| 52-week low | $98.00 | $29.13 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -31.61% | -23.82% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +40.02% | +46.66% |
| Average volume | 452.11K | 1.89M |
| Shares outstanding | 39.08M | 137.76M |
| Employees | 8,000 | 7,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Telecommunications Equipment | Telecommunications Equipment |
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
- ViaSat is about 2.3 times larger than Belden by market value ($9.76B vs $4.28B).
- VSAT has outperformed BDC by 131.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Belden is more profitable, keeping 8.7 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -0.7 cents for ViaSat.
- Belden grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+10.33% vs +2.67%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Belden in Industrials and ViaSat in Consumer Discretionary.
About Belden
BDC stock →Belden Inc. provides connection solutions to bring data infrastructure into alignment to unlock new possibilities for its customers.
Industrials · Telecommunications Equipment · 8,000 employees
About ViaSat
VSAT stock →Viasat, Inc. engages in the provision of broadband and communications products and services in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Telecommunications Equipment · 7,000 employees
BDC vs VSAT FAQ
Which is bigger, Belden or ViaSat?
ViaSat (VSAT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.76B compared with $4.28B for Belden (BDC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BDC or VSAT?
VSAT returned +126.49% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.20% for BDC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Belden or ViaSat?
Belden pays a dividend yielding 0.18%, while ViaSat does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Belden and ViaSat in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Telecommunications Equipment industry within the Industrials sector.