Deswell Industries (DSWL) vs Research Frontiers (REFR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Deswell Industries (DSWL) has outperformed Research Frontiers (REFR) over the past year, losing 22.1% versus a loss of 68.6%. Over five years, DSWL leads with a -23.5% price change compared with -74.3% for REFR. Deswell Industries is the larger company by market cap ($48.1 million vs $20.7 million), about 2.3 times the size.
Deswell Industries pays a dividend yielding 6.60%, while Research Frontiers does not currently pay one.
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 | DSWL | REFR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $3.03 | $0.5933 |
| Market cap | $48.13M | $20.69M |
| 1-day change | -2.10% | -4.68% |
| YTD return | -12.43% | -54.71% |
| 1-year return | -22.11% | -68.61% |
| 5-year return | -23.48% | -74.32% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 4.52 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.67 | $-0.06 |
| Dividend yield | 6.60% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.20 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $4.06 | $2.70 |
| 52-week low | $2.84 | $0.34 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.37% | -78.03% |
| Average volume | 9.42K | 1.69M |
| Shares outstanding | 15.89M | 34.87M |
| Employees | 854 | 5 |
| Sector | Industrials | Miscellaneous |
| Industry | Plastic Products | Multi-Sector Companies |
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
- Deswell Industries is about 2.3 times larger than Research Frontiers by market value ($48.13M vs $20.69M).
- DSWL has outperformed REFR by 46.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Deswell Industries offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (6.60% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Deswell Industries in Industrials and Research Frontiers in Miscellaneous.
About Deswell Industries
DSWL stock →Deswell Industries, Inc. engages in the manufacturing and sale of injection-molded plastic parts and components, and electronic products assembling.
Industrials · Plastic Products · 854 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.
Miscellaneous · Multi-Sector Companies · 5 employees
DSWL vs REFR FAQ
Which is bigger, Deswell Industries or Research Frontiers?
Deswell Industries (DSWL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $48.13M compared with $20.69M for Research Frontiers (REFR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DSWL or REFR?
DSWL returned -22.11% over the past 12 months, compared with -68.61% for REFR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Deswell Industries or Research Frontiers?
Deswell Industries pays a dividend yielding 6.60%, while Research Frontiers does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Deswell Industries and Research Frontiers in the same industry?
No. Deswell Industries is in the Industrials sector, while Research Frontiers is in Miscellaneous.