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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.

Company profile comparison for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Profile ItemALABUMC
NameAstera Labs, Inc.United Microelectronics Corp. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesTaiwan
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductorsSemiconductors
Market Capitalization33.33 billion USD34.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 20, 2024September 19, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALAB
UMC
GSPC
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricALABUMC
Total Return (1Y)31.42%102.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)--31.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--11.51%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALAB
UMC
GSPC
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricALABUMC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)101.55%67.94%
Beta (5Y)3.951.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.69%-54.30%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.15M11.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALAB and UMC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricALABUMC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.271.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.392.35

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%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

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%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

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%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricALABUMC
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.

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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricALABUMC
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
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

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
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricALABUMC
Current Ratio (MRQ)8.033.27
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.020.17
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%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

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%
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricALABUMC
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
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

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
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

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
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Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricALABUMC
P/E Ratio (TTM)75.3813.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)21.420.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)16.672.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.39%129.43%