National Vision (EYE) vs STAAR Surgical (STAA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
STAAR Surgical (STAA) has outperformed National Vision (EYE) over the past year, losing 16.3% versus a loss of 39.5%. Over five years, EYE leads with a -73.5% price change compared with -80.5% for STAA. National Vision is the larger company by market cap ($1.33 billion vs $1.12 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, National Vision trades at a lower forward P/E (13.9x vs 20.1x for STAAR Surgical).
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 | EYE | STAA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $16.82 | $22.36 |
| Market cap | $1.33B | $1.12B |
| 1-day change | +0.48% | +0.95% |
| YTD return | -34.86% | -3.16% |
| 1-year return | -39.50% | -16.32% |
| 5-year return | -73.52% | -80.54% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 27.13 | 279.50 |
| Forward P/E | 13.92 | 20.12 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.62 | $0.08 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $30.02 | $35.87 |
| 52-week low | $14.75 | $15.59 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -43.97% | -37.66% |
| Average volume | 2.14M | 1.01M |
| Shares outstanding | 79.07M | 50.14M |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Ophthalmic Goods | Ophthalmic Goods |
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
- STAA has outperformed EYE by 23.2 percentage points over the past year.
- STAAR Surgical trades at a higher earnings multiple (279.5x vs 27.1x trailing P/E).
EYE vs STAA FAQ
Which is bigger, National Vision or STAAR Surgical?
National Vision (EYE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.33B compared with $1.12B for STAAR Surgical (STAA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, EYE or STAA?
STAA returned -16.32% over the past 12 months, compared with -39.50% for EYE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, EYE or STAA?
EYE has the lower trailing P/E at 27.1, versus 279.5 for STAA. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are National Vision and STAAR Surgical in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Ophthalmic Goods industry within the Health Care sector.