ADT vs NSSC vs ALLE vs ALRM

For growth investors, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the stronger pick with 7.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 8% for Napco Security Technologies, Inc. (NSSC). ADT Inc. (ADT) offers the better valuation at 10. 3x trailing P/E (7. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ADT Inc. (ADT) 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, ADT Inc.

(ADT) is the cheapest at 10. 3x versus Napco Security Technologies, Inc. at 34. 9x. On forward P/E, ADT Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Napco Security Technologies, Inc. wins at 0. 74x versus Alarm. com Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 69x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Napco Security Technologies, Inc.

(NSSC) delivered a total return of +151. 6%, compared to -44. 8% for Alarm. com Holdings, Inc. (ALRM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NSSC returned +1366% versus ADT's -28. 0%. 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), Allegion plc (ALLE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

67β versus Napco Security Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 25β — meaning NSSC is approximately 89% more volatile than ALLE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Napco Security Technologies, Inc. (NSSC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 2% for ADT Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Allegion plc (ALLE) is pulling ahead at 7.

8% versus -3. 8% for Napco Security Technologies, Inc. (NSSC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ADT Inc. grew EPS 28. 8% year-over-year, compared to -11. 2% for Napco Security Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NSSC leads at 8. 1% 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.

Napco Security Technologies, Inc.

(NSSC) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 9% net margin versus 11. 6% for ADT Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADT leads at 26. 0% versus 13. 4% for ALRM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALRM leads at 63. 1%, 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, Napco Security Technologies, Inc. (NSSC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 74x versus Alarm. com Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 69x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ADT Inc. (ADT) trades at 7. 5x forward P/E versus 29. 0x for Napco Security Technologies, Inc. — 21. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ADT: 30. 2% to $8. 97.

In this comparison, ADT (3.

0% yield), ALLE (1. 5% yield), NSSC (0. 9% yield) pay a dividend. ALRM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Napco Security Technologies, Inc.

(NSSC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 25), 0. 9% yield, +1366% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NSSC: +1366%, ALRM: +114. 6%), 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 (ADT (Industrials) and NSSC (Industrials) and ALLE (Industrials) and ALRM (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ADT is a small-cap deep-value stock; NSSC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ALLE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ALRM is a small-cap quality compounder stock. ADT, NSSC, ALLE pay a dividend while ALRM does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.