SMG vs SPB

For growth investors, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) is the stronger pick with -3.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 2% for Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (SPB). Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (SPB) offers the better valuation at 22. 0x trailing P/E (16. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

(SPB) is the cheapest at 22. 0x versus The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company at 25. 4x. On forward P/E, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is actually cheaper at 14. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

(SPB) delivered a total return of +2. 4%, compared to -68. 4% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SMG returned +34. 9% versus SPB's +13. 5%. 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), Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

(SPB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company's 1. 10β — meaning SMG is approximately 35% more volatile than SPB relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) is pulling ahead at -3.

9% versus -5. 2% for Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (SPB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company grew EPS 504. 9% year-over-year, compared to -5. 6% for Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SPB leads at -3. 6% 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.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) is the more profitable company, earning 4.

3% net margin versus 3. 6% for Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SMG leads at 10. 5% versus 4. 4% for SPB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SPB leads at 36. 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.

On forward earnings alone, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) trades at 14.

3x forward P/E versus 16. 1x for Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. — 1. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SMG: 14. 6% to $72. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 2. 2% for Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (SPB).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

(SPB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), 2. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SPB: +13. 5%, SMG: +34. 9%), 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 (SMG (Basic Materials) and SPB (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SMG is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SPB is a small-cap quality compounder 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.