ASTE vs AGCO

For growth investors, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the stronger pick with 8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 5% for AGCO Corporation (AGCO). AGCO Corporation (AGCO) offers the better valuation at 12. 3x trailing P/E (20. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) a "Buy" — based on 12 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) is the cheapest at 12.

3x versus Astec Industries, Inc. at 31. 9x. On forward P/E, Astec Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) delivered a total return of -9.

6%, compared to -17. 0% for Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AGCO returned +181. 1% versus ASTE's +22. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AGCO Corporation (AGCO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

10β versus Astec Industries, Inc. 's 1. 63β — meaning ASTE is approximately 48% more volatile than AGCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 59% for AGCO Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is pulling ahead at 8. 1% versus -13. 5% for AGCO Corporation (AGCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to 271. 4% for AGCO Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASTE leads at 3. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

AGCO Corporation (AGCO) is the more profitable company, earning 7.

2% net margin versus 2. 8% for Astec Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AGCO leads at 6. 9% versus 4. 6% for ASTE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASTE leads at 26. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) trades at 14. 3x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for AGCO Corporation — 6. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGCO: 5. 9% to $127. 29.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

AGCO Corporation (AGCO) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 1. 0% for Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

10), 1. 0% yield, +181. 1% 10Y return). Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a higher beta of 1. 63 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AGCO: +181. 1%, ASTE: +22. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ASTE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AGCO is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.