Data I/O (DAIO) vs Research Frontiers (REFR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Data I/O (DAIO) has outperformed Research Frontiers (REFR) over the past year, losing 13.9% versus a loss of 66.9%. Over five years, DAIO leads with a -55.5% price change compared with -73.1% for REFR. Data I/O is the larger company by market cap ($29.6 million vs $21.7 million), about 1.4 times the size.
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 | DAIO | REFR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $2.85 | $0.6224 |
| Market cap | $29.63M | $21.70M |
| 1-day change | -1.72% | -8.95% |
| YTD return | -10.09% | -52.49% |
| 1-year return | -13.90% | -66.89% |
| 5-year return | -55.54% | -73.06% |
| Forward P/E | 19.00 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.94 | $-0.06 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $4.49 | $2.70 |
| 52-week low | $2.16 | $0.34 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.53% | -76.95% |
| Analyst consensus | none | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +92.98% | — |
| Average volume | 33.16K | 1.66M |
| Shares outstanding | 10.40M | 34.87M |
| Employees | 90 | 5 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Electronic Components | Electronic Components |
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
- DAIO has outperformed REFR by 53.0 percentage points over the past year.
About Data I/O
DAIO stock →Data I/O Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of programming and security deployment systems and services for electronic device manufacturers in the United States, Germany, China, Mexico, and Korea. The company offers PSV systems off-line automated programming systems; PSV7000 high-mix automated programming system; and PSV5000 compact automated programming system, as well as LumenX and FlashPAK III programming non-automated systems.
Technology · Electronic Components · 90 employees
About Research Frontiers
REFR stock →Research Frontiers Incorporated, together with other subsidiary, engages in the development and marketing of technology and devices to control the flow of light worldwide. It develops and licenses suspended particle device (SPD-Smart) light-control technology to companies that manufacture and market the SPD-Smart chemical emulsion, light-control film made from the chemical emulsion, the light-control panels made by laminating the film, and electronics to power end-products incorporating the film, as well as lamination services for and the end-products, such as windows, skylights, and sunroofs.
Technology · Electronic Components · 5 employees
DAIO vs REFR FAQ
Which is bigger, Data I/O or Research Frontiers?
Data I/O (DAIO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $29.63M compared with $21.70M for Research Frontiers (REFR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DAIO or REFR?
DAIO returned -13.90% over the past 12 months, compared with -66.89% for REFR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Data I/O and Research Frontiers in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Electronic Components industry within the Technology sector.