BMI vs FELE

For growth investors, Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) is the stronger pick with 10. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE). Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) offers the better valuation at 25. 6x trailing P/E (27. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) a "Hold" — based on 18 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, Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) is the cheapest at 25. 6x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. at 30. 8x. On forward P/E, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Badger Meter, Inc. wins at 1. 18x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 2. 50x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) delivered a total return of +39. 5%, compared to +20. 3% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BMI returned +253. 6% versus FELE's +231. 4%. 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), Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 0. 92β — meaning FELE is approximately 6% more volatile than BMI relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) is pulling ahead at 10. 9% versus 5. 4% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Badger Meter, Inc. grew EPS 13. 2% year-over-year, compared to -15. 8% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BMI leads at 17. 5% 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.

Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 5% net margin versus 6. 9% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BMI leads at 20. 0% versus 12. 7% for FELE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BMI leads at 41. 7%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 18x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 2. 50x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE) trades at 21. 8x forward P/E versus 27. 3x for Badger Meter, Inc. — 5. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BMI: 40. 4% to $172. 14.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 1. 1% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87), 1. 2% yield, +253. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BMI: +253. 6%, FELE: +231. 4%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (BMI (Technology) and FELE (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.