AAON vs VRT

For growth investors, Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) is the stronger pick with 27.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 20. 1% for AAON, Inc. (AAON). AAON, Inc. (AAON) offers the better valuation at 76. 2x trailing P/E (49. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AAON, Inc. (AAON) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the cheapest at 76. 2x versus Vertiv Holdings Co at 105. 3x. On forward P/E, AAON, Inc. is actually cheaper at 49. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) delivered a total return of +1472%, compared to +134.

3% for AAON, Inc. (AAON). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VRT returned +35. 5% versus AAON's +440. 9%. 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), AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 83β versus Vertiv Holdings Co's 2. 42β — meaning VRT is approximately 33% more volatile than AAON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AAON, Inc. (AAON) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 48% versus 86% for Vertiv Holdings Co — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) is pulling ahead at 27.

7% versus 20. 1% for AAON, Inc. (AAON). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Vertiv Holdings Co grew EPS 166. 4% year-over-year, compared to -36. 1% for AAON, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, VRT leads at 21. 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.

Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

0% net margin versus 7. 5% for AAON, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VRT leads at 18. 5% versus 10. 1% for AAON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VRT leads at 34. 4%, 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, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) trades at 49. 6x forward P/E versus 55. 9x for Vertiv Holdings Co — 6. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAON: 21. 1% to $119. 00.

In this comparison, AAON (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. VRT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+440. 9% 10Y return). Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) carries a higher beta of 2. 42 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAON: +440. 9%, VRT: +35. 5%), 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.