ALAB vs. UMC: Astera Labs vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison
How do Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC) are both classified in the Semiconductors sub-industry within the broader Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
United Microelectronics (UMC) carries decades of public-market history since September 19, 2000, while Astera Labs (ALAB) listed on March 20, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the UMC side.
Astera Labs (ALAB) trades as ordinary local shares, while United Microelectronics (UMC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Astera Labs, Inc. | United Microelectronics Corp. ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Taiwan |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
| Market Capitalization | 33.33 billion USD | 34.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 20, 2024 | September 19, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 31.42% | 102.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -- | 31.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -- | 11.51% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 101.55% | 67.94% |
| Beta (5Y) | 3.95 | 1.77 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -63.69% | -54.30% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.15M | 11.82M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.27 | 1.45 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.39 | 2.35 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Astera Labs (ALAB) at 28.21% sits in the top ROE quartile, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 20.37% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ALAB.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
28.21%
- Max
- 52.82%
- ALAB
- 28.21%
- Q3
- 22.26%
- Median
- 10.58%
- Q1
- 1.29%
- Min
- -16.89%
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
20.37%
- Max
- 52.82%
- Q3
- 22.26%
- UMC
- 20.37%
- Median
- 10.58%
- Q1
- 1.29%
- Min
- -16.89%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Astera Labs (ALAB) at 29.64% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 31.95% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
29.64%
- Max
- 63.80%
- ALAB
- 29.64%
- Q3
- 28.36%
- Median
- 11.44%
- Q1
- 0.90%
- Min
- -37.77%
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
31.95%
- Max
- 63.80%
- UMC
- 31.95%
- Q3
- 28.36%
- Median
- 11.44%
- Q1
- 0.90%
- Min
- -37.77%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Astera Labs (ALAB) at 30.61% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
30.61%
- Max
- 58.66%
- ALAB
- 30.61%
- Q3
- 30.23%
- Median
- 15.91%
- Q1
- 7.54%
- Min
- -25.74%
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
25.09%
- Max
- 58.66%
- Q3
- 30.23%
- UMC
- 25.09%
- Median
- 15.91%
- Q1
- 7.54%
- Min
- -25.74%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 28.21% | 20.37% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.41% | 5.79% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 29.64% | 31.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 30.61% | 25.09% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 73.89% | 31.72% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Astera Labs (ALAB) at 115.13% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.26%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: United Microelectronics (UMC) reports EPS growth of -12.57%, ranked against its industry; Astera Labs (ALAB) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 115.13% | 2.26% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 120.18% | -5.19% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -12.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -21.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 8.03 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
8.03
- Max
- 10.33
- ALAB
- 8.03
- Q3
- 5.62
- Median
- 3.33
- Q1
- 2.35
- Min
- 1.03
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
3.27
- Max
- 10.33
- Q3
- 5.62
- Median
- 3.33
- UMC
- 3.27
- Q1
- 2.35
- Min
- 1.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Astera Labs (ALAB) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.17 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.02
- Max
- 1.46
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.27
- Q1
- 0.04
- ALAB
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.17
- Max
- 1.46
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.27
- UMC
- 0.17
- Q1
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 8.03 | 3.27 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -3.23 | -0.60 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Astera Labs (ALAB) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile United Microelectronics (UMC) reports a yield of 19.43%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 1.37%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- ALAB
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
19.43%
- UMC
- 19.43%
- Max
- 1.37%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Astera Labs (ALAB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile United Microelectronics (UMC) reports a payout of 37.46%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 49.64%
- Q3
- 21.71%
- ALAB
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
37.46%
- Max
- 49.64%
- UMC
- 37.46%
- Q3
- 21.71%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 19.43% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 37.46% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 75.38 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
75.38
- Max
- 110.34
- ALAB
- 75.38
- Q3
- 66.81
- Median
- 37.02
- Q1
- 23.96
- Min
- 8.12
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
13.07
- Max
- 110.34
- Q3
- 66.81
- Median
- 37.02
- Q1
- 23.96
- UMC
- 13.07
- Min
- 8.12
P/S Ratio (TTM)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.13 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 21.42 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
21.42
- ALAB
- 21.42
- Max
- 21.42
- Q3
- 12.27
- Median
- 5.76
- Q1
- 2.73
- Min
- 0.00
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.13
- Max
- 21.42
- Q3
- 12.27
- Median
- 5.76
- Q1
- 2.73
- UMC
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 16.67 prices above its benchmark range — ALAB looks rich relative to book.
ALAB
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
16.67
- ALAB
- 16.67
- Max
- 14.06
- Q3
- 7.44
- Median
- 4.29
- Q1
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.20
UMC
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
2.39
- Max
- 14.06
- Q3
- 7.44
- Median
- 4.29
- UMC
- 2.39
- Q1
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.20
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ALAB | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 75.38 | 13.07 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 21.42 | 0.13 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 16.67 | 2.39 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.39% | 129.43% |