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Data I/O Corporation(DAIO)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$2.85
09/25/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Advisory & Investor View for DAIO

09/25/2026: DAIO (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Data I/O Corporation is a long-standing semiconductor equipment provider specializing in automated programming and secure provisioning systems. The company holds a significant position in the niche automotive and industrial electronics markets, leveraging its PSV hardware and SentriX security platform. Its core growth story is tied to the increasing demand for secure, factory-programmed chips in electric vehicles and IoT devices. However, investors must weigh this against risks including the cyclical nature of semiconductor capital spending and competition from larger equipment players. The company currently suits investors interested in specialized hardware niches, though its lack of dividends and reliance on volatile industry cycles require careful monitoring.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers exposure to secular trends in automotive and IoT but faces cyclical revenue constraints.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock often experiences low trading volume and cyclical performance rather than sustained momentum breakouts.
Value investorStrong fitThe company often trades at reasonable valuation multiples relative to its specialized hardware footprint.
Dividend investorWeak fitData I/O does not provide dividend income to shareholders.
Low-risk investorWeak fitExposure to volatile semiconductor equipment cycles creates significant price risk.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighSmall-cap semiconductor stocks are prone to sharp price swings based on industry outlook.
Valuation riskMediumInvestors must monitor if valuations outpace the moderate growth reality.
Competition risk (Semiconductor Equipment)HighLarger players could leverage their scale to squeeze Data I/O's niche market.
Business qualityMediumThe business relies on cyclical capital expenditures rather than high-margin recurring software revenue.
Dividend incomeLow / noneNo income component exists for investors seeking yield.
Execution riskMediumSuccessful scaling of the SentriX security platform is critical for long-term viability.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Extreme Price Shocks
PRICE STABILITY

Extreme Price Shocks

The stock has experienced exceptionally large and disruptive price movements during the period.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 8.43%
Avg. Invested days 48
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 2.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/25/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
DAIO receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
DAIO has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, soft growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, growth and ownership metrics are mixed: negative earnings growth (-69.3%), soft cash generation (FCF margin -13.0%), slightly negative revenue growth (-1.2%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
DAIO's financial health is supported by solid liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 60.8%). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
DAIO's growth profile is soft, with the least-weak measure being revenue growth at -1.2% FY2025 versus FY2024. By comparison, while earnings growth (-69.3%, negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-90.5%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 29.9% and approximately 91.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 13.63% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Kanen Wealth Management LLC 8.07%
Renaissance Technologies Corp 3.92%
Penbrook Management LLC 3.42%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 2.88%
Kovack Advisors Inc 2.75%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
DAIO generates approximately $493 of gross profit, $-238 of operating income, and $-130 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -4.80% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
DAIO has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

High VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 29.94M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 5.5
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 5.5
Volume (30-day avg) 25.9K shares
Beta 1.32
52 Weeks Range 2.16 - 4.49
Updated Date 09/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 2.16 - 4.49
Updated Date 09/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -0.96

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Automated Programming SystemsSales of PSV series handlers and manual programmers for chip customization.The core hardware business provides the primary revenue stream for the company.
Services and SoftwareMaintenance contracts, software licenses, and SentriX provisioning services.This is a recurring revenue stream that is vital for long-term profitability.
GeographyOperations spanning Asia, Europe, and North America.High international exposure means the company is sensitive to global trade policies and regional economic cycles.
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Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 9.93
Enterprise Value 26.85M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.68
Enterprise Value 26.85M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.68
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.51
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 203.8
Shares Outstanding 10.40M
Shares Floating 9.49M
Shares Outstanding 10.40M
Shares Floating 9.49M
Percent Insiders 13.63
Percent Institutions 29.92

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About Data I/O Corporation

Exchange NASDAQ
Headquarters Redmond, WA, United States
IPO Launch date 1990-03-26
CEO, President & Director Mr. William O. Wentworth
Sector Technology
Industry Electronic Components
Full time employees 90
Full time employees 90

Data I/O Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of programming and security deployment systems and services for electronic device manufacturers in the United States, Germany, China, Mexico, and Korea. The company offers PSV systems off-line automated programming systems; PSV7000 high-mix automated programming system; and PSV5000 compact automated programming system, as well as LumenX and FlashPAK III programming non-automated systems. It offers its products for automotive electronics, medical devices, industrial controls, military/aerospace, semiconductor, consumer products, internet of things, wireless devices, edge AI, EMS and contract manufacturers, and programming centers industries. The company markets and sells its products to original equipment manufacturers in automotive and consumer electronics, internet of things, and industrial, as well as electronic manufacturing service contract manufacturers through direct sales, indirect sales representatives, and distributors. Data I/O Corporation was incorporated in 1969 and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.