MultiSensor AI (MSAI) 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
Research Frontiers (REFR) has outperformed MultiSensor AI (MSAI) over the past year, losing 66.9% versus a loss of 82.1%. Research Frontiers is the larger company by market cap ($20.5 million vs $10.0 million), about 2.0 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 | MSAI | REFR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $4.55 | $0.5868 |
| Market cap | $10.04M | $20.46M |
| 1-day change | +2.53% | -5.72% |
| YTD return | -61.48% | -52.49% |
| 1-year return | -82.08% | -66.89% |
| 5-year return | — | -73.06% |
| EPS (TTM) | $-5.62 | $-0.06 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $96.00 | $2.70 |
| 52-week low | $4.38 | $0.34 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -95.26% | -78.27% |
| Analyst consensus | none | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +119.78% | — |
| Average volume | 16.93K | 1.66M |
| Shares outstanding | 2.21M | 34.87M |
| Employees | 21 | 5 |
| Sector | Technology | Miscellaneous |
| Industry | Electronic Components | 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
- Research Frontiers is about 2.0 times larger than MultiSensor AI by market value ($20.46M vs $10.04M).
- REFR has outperformed MSAI by 15.2 percentage points over the past year.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: MultiSensor AI in Technology and Research Frontiers in Miscellaneous.
About MultiSensor AI
MSAI stock →MultiSensor AI Holdings, Inc. builds and deploys integrated condition monitoring and early threat detection solutions that connect multiple sensor types through a unified edge-to-cloud software architecture in the United States and internationally.
Technology · Electronic Components · 21 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
MSAI vs REFR FAQ
Which is bigger, MultiSensor AI or Research Frontiers?
Research Frontiers (REFR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $20.46M compared with $10.04M for MultiSensor AI (MSAI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MSAI or REFR?
REFR returned -66.89% over the past 12 months, compared with -82.08% for MSAI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are MultiSensor AI and Research Frontiers in the same industry?
No. MultiSensor AI is in the Technology sector, while Research Frontiers is in Miscellaneous.