Head to Head Contrast: Datavault AI (NASDAQ:DVLT) and PAR Technology (NYSE:PAR)

PAR Technology (NYSE:PAR) and Datavault AI (NASDAQ:DVLT) are both small-cap technology companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, risk and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares PAR Technology and Datavault AI’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
PAR Technology	-12.24%	-0.69%	-0.41%
Datavault AI	-370.21%	-46.04%	-39.35%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for PAR Technology and Datavault AI, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
PAR Technology	1	2	5	0	2.50
Datavault AI	1	2	0	1	2.25

PAR Technology presently has a consensus price target of $25.17, indicating a potential upside of 23.03%. Datavault AI has a consensus price target of $2.50, indicating a potential upside of 3,587.32%. Given Datavault AI’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Datavault AI is more favorable than PAR Technology.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.7% of Datavault AI shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.3% of PAR Technology shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 7.7% of Datavault AI shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares PAR Technology and Datavault AI”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
PAR Technology	$455.55 million	1.86	-$84.46 million	($1.76)	-11.62
Datavault AI	$46.86 million	1.49	-$78.99 million	($0.42)	-0.16

Datavault AI has lower revenue, but higher earnings than PAR Technology. PAR Technology is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Datavault AI, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

PAR Technology has a beta of 1.32, indicating that its stock price is 32% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Datavault AI has a beta of 0.39, indicating that its stock price is 61% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

PAR Technology beats Datavault AI on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About PAR Technology

PAR Technology Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides omnichannel cloud-based hardware and software solutions to the restaurant and retail industries worldwide. The Restaurant/Retail segment offers PUNCHH, an enterprise-grade customer loyalty and engagement solution; MENU, an eCommerce platform for restaurant brands; BRINK POS, an open cloud, point-of-sale solution; PAR PAYMENT SERVICES, a merchant services business that enables electronic payment and processing services for businesses; and DATA CENTRAL, a back-office solution that leverages business intelligence and automation technologies. This segment also offers Point-of-Sale Hardware; wireless headsets for drive-thru order-taking; and kitchen display systems, payment devices, cash drawers, printers, and other peripherals. In addition, this segment provides services, such as hardware repair, installation and implementation, training, and on-site and technical support services. The Government segment provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance solutions; mission systems operations and maintenance, and commercial software products; systems engineering support and software-based solutions; satellite and teleport facility operation and maintenance, engineering, and installation services comprising inside and outside plant services, and maintenance of infrastructure and information systems; satellite ground system support comprising operations and maintenance, sustainment, upgrades, communications security management, anomaly response/resolution, process improvement, emergency response, and disaster recovery services; and information technology infrastructure library services to the United States Department of Defense, intelligence community (IC), and other federal agencies. This segment also offers various IC support services, systems integration, situational awareness solutions, and mission readiness support services. The company was founded in 1968 and is based in New Hartford, New York.

About Datavault AI

Datavault AI Inc., a data sciences technology company, owns and operates data management and supercomputer platforms. It offers data technology and software solutions. The company was formerly known as WiSA Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Datavault AI Inc. in February 2025. Datavault AI Inc. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.