APH vs LFUS: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?
Last updated September 2026
Short answer
APH is the larger of the two ($201.20B market cap): the incumbent the market prices for continued execution (25.19x forward earnings, beta 1.25). LFUS is the smaller challenger ($10.39B), cheaper on forward earnings (20.35x): more room to run, but more to prove. The real question is which set of drivers you believe, and whether owning one (or both) leaves you over-concentrated.
APH vs LFUS: the tie-breaker metrics
Same yardstick, side by side (as of September 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.
| Metric | APH | LFUS | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $201.20B | $10.39B | Size. The larger name is the incumbent; the smaller has more room to grow and more to prove. |
| Forward P/E | 25.19 | 20.35 | Valuation on next year's expected earnings, the same yardstick for both. Lower is cheaper for that growth; higher means the market is paying up. |
| Beta | 1.25 | 1.49 | Volatility vs the market. Above 1 swings harder than the index; below 1 is steadier. Higher beta means bigger drawdowns to hold through. |
| Price vs 52-week range | 78% of range | 66% of range | Where today's price sits between the 52-week low and high. Near the high is momentum with less margin of safety; near the low is out of favor or a discount, depending on why. |
| Price / book | 12.98 | 3.97 | How much you pay over book value. Very high can signal an asset-light, high-return business or a rich price. |
Reading it: LFUS is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.
Before you buy: how APH and LFUS affect your concentration
The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. APH and LFUS share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.
This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined APH and LFUS exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.
What does Amphenol Corporation (APH) do?
Amphenol Corporation designs and manufactures electronic and fiber optic connectors, cable, and interconnect systems used across communications, information technology, automotive, industrial, aerospace, defense, mobile devices, and broadband markets. The business is organized into segments spanning harsh environment solutions, communications solutions, and interconnect and sensor systems, and it grows through a combination of organic design wins and a long, disciplined acquisition history. Its January 2026 completion of the roughly ~$10.5 billion purchase of CommScope's Connectivity and Cable Solutions business meaningfully expanded its fiber optic and IT datacom capabilities.
What does Littelfuse (LFUS) do?
Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS), founded in 1927, designs and manufactures electronic components, modules and subassemblies focused on circuit protection, power control and sensing. It reports in three segments: Electronics (its largest, spanning fuses, semiconductors, ESD suppressors and varistors for data centers, industrial drives, aerospace and telecom), Transportation (fuses and sensors for passenger, commercial and off-road vehicles) and Industrial (protection and power products for grid storage, renewables, HVAC and industrial safety). The company is widely cited as the global leader in electronic fuses with a large share of that market.
APH vs LFUS: how do they differ?
Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.
- APH drivers: AI data center demand; Acquisition-led expansion.
- LFUS drivers: Electrification and power semiconductors; Data center and renewables demand.
Which fits which kind of investor
A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: The most cited risk is valuation, with the stock trading at a premium price to earnings multiple that assumes continued strong growth. For LFUS, littelfuse is cyclical and sensitive to industrial production, auto builds and semiconductor inventory cycles, so a downturn in any of those can pressure revenue and margins.
APH or LFUS: which should you pick?
Growth-minded investors who believe the theme has years to run tend to accept the richer multiple for more upside; value-minded investors lean toward the cheaper forward earnings and steadier profile. Pick APH if you believe its drivers more; LFUS if you believe its. Many investors hold both, but since they share themes, that is a concentrated bet, not diversification. Decide deliberately and check overlap. For the full detail, see the APH and LFUS guides.
APH vs LFUS: the full fundamentals
APH. As of July 2026 Amphenol had posted record Q1 2026 revenue of roughly ~$7.6 billion, with trailing twelve month revenue near ~$23 billion and EPS around ~$3.66. The premium P/E near ~44x reflects investor expectations for continued AI-driven growth and the added contribution from the CommScope CCS acquisition. These figures are approximate and reference the July 2026 reporting picture.
LFUS. Q1 2026 revenue of about $657 million beat expectations and grew roughly 19 percent, with adjusted EPS near $3.31 well above the consensus estimate. The forward P/E in the high-20s sits above Littelfuse's five-year median near 24x, and one third-party model estimated the shares were trading well above fair value in mid-2026. Figures are approximate and drawn from recent filings and market data.
Headline figures (approximate, July 2026): APH shows revenue (ttm) ~$23 billion, net income (ttm) ~$4.3 billion, diluted eps (ttm) ~$3.66, q1 2026 revenue ~$7.6 billion; LFUS shows revenue (2025) ~$2.4B, q1 2026 revenue ~$657M (up ~19% YoY), q1 2026 adjusted eps ~$3.31, adjusted ebitda margin ~22.9%.
The bottom line: APH vs LFUS
APH and LFUS are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined APH and LFUS exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.
Wondering how APH or LFUS fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.
Investing in Amphenol Corporation with AI
Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how APH fits what you actually hold: whether you own it already through a fund, what it would do to your concentration, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.
FAQ
What is the difference between APH and LFUS?
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Amphenol Corporation designs and manufactures electronic and fiber optic connectors, cable, and interconnect systems used across communications, information technology, automotive, industrial, aerospace, defense, mobile devices, and broadband markets. Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS), founded in 1927, designs and manufactures electronic components, modules and subassemblies focused on circuit protection, power control and sensing. They show up together because they share investment themes, but they are different businesses, so the better fit depends on which thesis you are expressing.
Is APH or LFUS the better stock?
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Neither is universally better. APH is the larger incumbent; LFUS is the smaller challenger and looks cheaper on forward earnings. Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Compare what each does, the tie-breaker metrics above, and the risks, then decide which fits your thesis and what you already own.
Which is cheaper, APH or LFUS?
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On forward P/E (as of September 2026), APH trades at 25.19x and LFUS at 20.35x, so LFUS is the cheaper of the two on next year's expected earnings. A lower multiple is not automatically the better buy: a richer valuation can be justified by faster growth, and a lower one can reflect real risk. Weigh the multiple against how fast each business is compounding.
Should you own both APH and LFUS?
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Because they share themes, owning both concentrates you in that theme. That can be intentional (a focused bet) or accidental (less diversification than it looks). Walnut can show your combined exposure across both, and whether adding either over-concentrates you, before you buy.
What are the risks of APH vs LFUS?
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APH: The most cited risk is valuation, with the stock trading at a premium price to earnings multiple that assumes continued strong growth. A slowdown in AI-related data center capital spending would directly pressure the segment now driving results. Integration risk from large acquisitions like CommScope CCS, including goodwill and added debt, is another concern. Cyclical exposure to automotive, industrial, and mobile markets can create quarter to quarter volatility, and being a global manufacturer leaves it exposed to tariffs, supply chain disruption, and currency swings. Competition from large rivals could pressure pricing and share over time. LFUS: Littelfuse is cyclical and sensitive to industrial production, auto builds and semiconductor inventory cycles, so a downturn in any of those can pressure revenue and margins. The stock has traded at a premium valuation (a forward P/E in the high-20s versus a lower historical median), and at least one valuation model flagged the shares as meaningfully above estimated fair value, so multiple compression is a real risk if growth slows. Insider selling with no offsetting buying has been noted in recent months. The company also carries integration and goodwill risk from acquisitions, exposure to foreign-exchange swings, tariff and supply-chain costs, and competition from larger and lower-cost rivals. Reported growth has been flattered by acquisitions and currency, so organic trends warrant close attention.
Walnut is informational, not investment advice. This page is descriptive and not a recommendation to buy or sell APH or LFUS; figures are approximate and dated (as of September 2026). Verify current data before investing.