Serve Robotics vs Teradyne: Which Robotics Stock Is a Buy For 2026?

Core Insights - The article compares two companies in the robotics and AI sector: Serve Robotics Inc. (SERV) and Teradyne, Inc. (TER), highlighting their differing stages of maturity and financial trajectories [1][2]. Serve Robotics Overview - Serve Robotics is a rapidly growing developer of Level-4 autonomous sidewalk delivery robots, having deployed over 1,000 robots and expanded its operations to Chicago [4]. - The company reported a significant revenue increase of 209% year-over-year, reaching $687,000, with delivery volume rising 66% sequentially and 300% from the previous year [4][8]. - Despite operational growth, Serve Robotics reported a gross loss of $4.4 million and an operating loss of $34.8 million, indicating challenges in achieving financial viability [6]. - The company aims for a tenfold revenue increase in 2026, supported by partnerships with Uber Eats and DoorDash [4][5]. Teradyne Overview - Teradyne is a leader in semiconductor testing and industrial automation, benefiting from a surge in AI semiconductor demand, with Q3 2025 revenues of $769 million, up 4% year-over-year [7][8]. - The semiconductor test segment contributed $606 million to Teradyne's revenue, driven by high demand for AI-related chips [7][9]. - Teradyne's earnings expectations have improved, with analysts raising the 2025 EPS estimate from $3.14 to $3.51, reflecting strong demand across its product lines [18][21]. Financial Performance Comparison - Serve Robotics trades at a high forward price-to-sales ratio of 36.77X, while Teradyne trades at a more grounded 7.66X, indicating differing market valuations based on profitability and growth potential [14]. - Serve Robotics is projected to incur losses of $1.72 per share in 2026, while Teradyne is expected to grow earnings by 45.1% in the same year [16][18]. Investment Outlook - Serve Robotics presents a high-risk, high-reward investment opportunity with ambitious growth plans but significant financial losses and high valuation [20]. - Teradyne offers a more favorable risk-reward profile, with improving earnings power and a strong market position in the AI semiconductor space, reflected in its Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [21].