TNL vs MAR

For growth investors, Marriott International, Inc.

(MAR) is the stronger pick with 4. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 1% for Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL). Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL) offers the better valuation at 18. 9x trailing P/E (8. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Travel + Leisure Co.

(TNL) is the cheapest at 18. 9x versus Marriott International, Inc. at 37. 8x. On forward P/E, Travel + Leisure Co. is actually cheaper at 8. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Marriott International, Inc.

(MAR) delivered a total return of +157. 9%, compared to +17. 4% for Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MAR returned +440. 0% versus TNL's +156. 2%. 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), Marriott International, Inc.

(MAR) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 09β versus Travel + Leisure Co. 's 1. 31β — meaning TNL is approximately 20% more volatile than MAR relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Marriott International, Inc.

(MAR) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus 4. 1% for Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Marriott International, Inc. grew EPS 13. 9% year-over-year, compared to -35. 7% for Travel + Leisure Co.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MAR leads at 8. 0% 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.

Marriott International, Inc.

(MAR) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 9% net margin versus 5. 7% for Travel + Leisure Co. — meaning it keeps 9. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TNL leads at 17. 8% versus 15. 8% for MAR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TNL leads at 27. 2%, 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, Travel + Leisure Co.

(TNL) trades at 8. 8x forward P/E versus 31. 0x for Marriott International, Inc. — 22. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TNL: 30. 6% to $84. 89.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL) offers the highest yield at 3. 4%, versus 0. 7% for Marriott International, Inc. (MAR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Marriott International, Inc.

(MAR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 09), 0. 7% yield, +440. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MAR: +440. 0%, TNL: +156. 2%), 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 Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: TNL is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MAR is a mid-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.