QUAD vs ACCO

For growth investors, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the stronger pick with -8.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 4% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD). ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E (4. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the cheapest at 9.

2x versus Quad/Graphics, Inc. at 14. 2x. On forward P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) delivered a total return of +158. 1%, compared to -39. 3% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QUAD returned -23. 3% versus ACCO's -35. 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), Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 03β versus ACCO Brands Corporation's 1. 33β — meaning ACCO is approximately 29% more volatile than QUAD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 139% versus 3% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is pulling ahead at -8.

5% versus -9. 4% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Quad/Graphics, Inc. grew EPS 150. 5% year-over-year, compared to 141. 5% for ACCO Brands Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACCO leads at -7. 8% 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.

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

7% net margin versus 1. 1% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACCO leads at 7. 1% versus 4. 9% for QUAD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACCO leads at 29. 8%, 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, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) trades at 4.

8x forward P/E versus 6. 3x for Quad/Graphics, Inc. — 1. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACCO: 97. 0% to $8. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 3. 8% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 03), 3. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (QUAD: -23. 3%, ACCO: -35. 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.

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.