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Side-by-side financial comparison of NELNET INC (NNI) and STAAR SURGICAL CO (STAA). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
STAAR SURGICAL CO is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($49.0M vs $33.5M, roughly 1.5× NELNET INC). NELNET INC runs the higher net margin — 172.3% vs -69.9%, a 242.2% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, NELNET INC posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (79.6% vs -35.8%). NELNET INC produced more free cash flow last quarter ($396.7M vs $-5.1M). Over the past eight quarters, NELNET INC's revenue compounded faster (62.0% CAGR vs -18.4%).
Nelnet, Inc. is a United States–based conglomerate that primarily focuses on financial services including student and consumer loan origination and servicing. Additionally, the company operates an investing arm, an internet bank and has a 26% stake in Allo Fiber, a cable and internet provider. The company is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.
STAAR Surgical Co is a global ophthalmic medical device firm. It designs, makes and sells implantable collamer lenses (ICLs) for minimally invasive vision correction, plus supporting surgical products for ophthalmologists across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and other key regional markets.
NNI vs STAA — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q4 FY2024
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $33.5M | $49.0M |
| Net Profit | $57.8M | $-34.2M |
| Gross Margin | 50.5% | 64.7% |
| Operating Margin | — | -57.0% |
| Net Margin | 172.3% | -69.9% |
| Revenue YoY | 79.6% | -35.8% |
| Net Profit YoY | -8.5% | -541.3% |
| EPS (diluted) | $1.62 | $-0.69 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q4 25 | $33.5M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $23.2M | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $26.1M | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $24.7M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $18.7M | $49.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $16.6M | $88.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $14.9M | $99.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $12.8M | $77.4M |
| Q4 25 | $57.8M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $106.7M | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $181.5M | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $82.6M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $63.2M | $-34.2M | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.4M | $10.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $45.1M | $7.4M | ||
| Q1 24 | $73.4M | $-3.3M |
| Q4 25 | 50.5% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 29.6% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 29.8% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 30.5% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 13.7% | 64.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.1% | 77.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 27.3% | 79.2% | ||
| Q1 24 | 15.3% | 78.9% |
| Q4 25 | — | — | ||
| Q3 25 | — | — | ||
| Q2 25 | — | — | ||
| Q1 25 | — | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 97.7% | -57.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | -13.4% | 6.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 88.0% | 12.0% | ||
| Q1 24 | — | -2.9% |
| Q4 25 | 172.3% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 460.5% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 694.9% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 334.4% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 338.2% | -69.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | 14.4% | 11.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 303.6% | 7.5% | ||
| Q1 24 | 574.4% | -4.3% |
| Q4 25 | $1.62 | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.94 | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $4.97 | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.26 | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.74 | $-0.69 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.07 | $0.20 | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.23 | $0.15 | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.98 | $-0.07 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $296.0M | $230.5M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $7.8B | — |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $3.7B | $397.3M |
| Total Assets | $14.1B | $509.5M |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 2.11× | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $296.0M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $216.4M | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $225.8M | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $220.5M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $194.5M | $230.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $219.7M | $236.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $145.5M | $235.2M | ||
| Q1 24 | $179.7M | $245.1M |
| Q4 25 | $7.8B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $7.8B | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $7.9B | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $8.7B | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $8.3B | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $8.9B | — | ||
| Q2 24 | $9.6B | — | ||
| Q1 24 | $10.6B | — |
| Q4 25 | $3.7B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.7B | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.6B | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.4B | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.3B | $397.3M | ||
| Q3 24 | $3.3B | $428.1M | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.3B | $409.1M | ||
| Q1 24 | $3.3B | $392.8M |
| Q4 25 | $14.1B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $13.9B | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $13.7B | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $14.2B | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $13.8B | $509.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $14.1B | $537.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $14.5B | $512.7M | ||
| Q1 24 | $15.4B | $492.5M |
| Q4 25 | 2.11× | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.14× | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.21× | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.53× | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.48× | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.72× | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.90× | — | ||
| Q1 24 | 3.20× | — |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $423.0M | $642.0K |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $396.7M | $-5.1M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 1183.0% | -10.4% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 78.2% | 11.7% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 7.32× | — |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $663.4M | $-7.7M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $423.0M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $112.4M | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $81.8M | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $91.2M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $662.9M | $642.0K | ||
| Q3 24 | $137.0M | $3.8M | ||
| Q2 24 | $133.8M | $-10.4M | ||
| Q1 24 | $211.6M | $21.7M |
| Q4 25 | $396.7M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $100.8M | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $78.1M | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $87.8M | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $642.0M | $-5.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $132.6M | $-2.4M | ||
| Q2 24 | $123.1M | $-16.6M | ||
| Q1 24 | $188.3M | $16.5M |
| Q4 25 | 1183.0% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 435.0% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 299.0% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 355.6% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 3438.0% | -10.4% | ||
| Q3 24 | 797.9% | -2.7% | ||
| Q2 24 | 829.2% | -16.8% | ||
| Q1 24 | 1473.7% | 21.3% |
| Q4 25 | 78.2% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 50.4% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 14.2% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 13.7% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 111.9% | 11.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 26.7% | 7.0% | ||
| Q2 24 | 71.5% | 6.3% | ||
| Q1 24 | 181.7% | 6.7% |
| Q4 25 | 7.32× | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.05× | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.45× | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 1.10× | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 10.50× | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 57.39× | 0.38× | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.97× | -1.41× | ||
| Q1 24 | 2.88× | — |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
