AIN
Albany International Corp.
Apparel - Manufacturers
Market Cap$1.72B
5Y Perf.+0.8%
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Stock Comparison
AIN vs ESE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ESE
ESCO Technologies Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$8.69B
5Y Perf.+306.2%
AIN vs ESE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AIN | ESE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel - Manufacturers | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $1.72B | $8.69B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.21B | $1.20B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-59M | $304M |
| Gross Margin | 20.5% | 38.2% |
| Operating Margin | -2.0% | 15.8% |
| Forward P/E | 23.5x | 41.2x |
| Total Debt | $456M | $297M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $112M | $101M |
AIN vs ESE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AIN
ESE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Internationa… (AIN) | 100 | 100.8 | +0.8% |
| ESCO Technologies I… (ESE) | 100 | 406.2 | +306.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AIN vs ESE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ESE leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Albany International Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
AIN
Albany International Corp.
The Income Pick
AIN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 1.31, yield 1.8%
- Beta 1.31, yield 1.8%, current ratio 2.10x
- Lower P/E (23.5x vs 41.2x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
ESE
ESCO Technologies Inc.
The Growth Play
ESE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 6.7%, EPS growth 193.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.5%
- 7.8% 10Y total return vs AIN's 79.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.19, Low D/E 19.3%, current ratio 1.35x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ESE | 6.7% revenue growth vs AIN's -3.9% |
| Value | AIN | Lower P/E (23.5x vs 41.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | ESE | 25.3% margin vs AIN's -4.9% |
| Stability / Safety | ESE | Beta 1.19 vs AIN's 1.31, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AIN | 1.8% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs ESE's 0.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ESE | +104.7% vs AIN's -2.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ESE | 12.8% ROA vs AIN's -3.5%, ROIC 8.4% vs -1.1% |
AIN vs ESE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
AIN vs ESE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLESELAGGINGAIN
AINAlbany International …
2leads
ESEESCO Technologies Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs AINMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ESE6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AIN6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ESE9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ESE6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ESE2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
AIN2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ESE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AIN and ESE operate at a comparable scale, with $1.2B and $1.2B in trailing revenue. ESE is the more profitable business, keeping 25.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AIN's -4.9%. On growth, ESE holds the edge at +17.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AINAlbany Internatio… | ESEESCO Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $1.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $59M | $278M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$59M | $304M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $92M | $240M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.5% | +38.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.0% | +15.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.9% | +25.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.7% | +19.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.8% | +17.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.6% | +22.0% |
ESE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AIN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AIN's 28.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ESE's 35.8x.
| Metric | AINAlbany Internatio… | ESEESCO Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.7B | $8.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $8.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -31.35x | 29.06x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.46x | 41.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.43x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 28.82x | 35.81x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.46x | 7.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.46x | 5.64x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.86x | 42.26x |
AIN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ESE leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ESE delivers a 19.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $-8 for AIN. ESE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.19x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AIN's 0.62x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ESE scores 4/9 vs AIN's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | AINAlbany Internatio… | ESEESCO Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -7.7% | +19.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.5% | +12.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.1% | +8.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.2% | +10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.62x | 0.19x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $343M | $196M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $112M | $101M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $456M | $297M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.95x | 10.30x |
ESE leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ESE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ESE five years ago would be worth $30,449 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,269 for AIN. Over the past 12 months, ESE leads with a +104.7% total return vs AIN's -2.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ESE at 51.7% vs AIN's -11.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AINAlbany Internatio… | ESEESCO Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +16.7% | +69.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.8% | +104.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.5% | +249.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.3% | +204.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +79.8% | +777.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -11.0% | +51.7% |
ESE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ESE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ESE is the less volatile stock with a 1.19 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AIN's 1.31 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ESE currently trades 96.9% from its 52-week high vs AIN's 83.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AINAlbany Internatio… | ESEESCO Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.31x | 1.19x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $73.00 | $346.20 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $41.15 | $161.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.3% | +96.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.6 | 71.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 258K | 296K |
ESE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
AIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AIN as "Hold" and ESE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 4.3% upside for ESE (target: $350) vs -9.6% for AIN (target: $55). AIN is the only dividend payer here at 1.81% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | AINAlbany Internatio… | ESEESCO Technologies… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $55.00 | $350.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.10 | $0.32 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +10.8% | 0.0% |
AIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ESE leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). AIN leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Best OverallESCO Technologies Inc. (ESE)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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AIN vs ESE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AIN or ESE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ESCO Technologies Inc.
(ESE) is the stronger pick with 6. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for Albany International Corp. (AIN). ESCO Technologies Inc. (ESE) offers the better valuation at 29. 1x trailing P/E (41. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ESCO Technologies Inc. (ESE) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — AIN or ESE?
On forward P/E, Albany International Corp.
is actually cheaper at 23. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AIN or ESE?
Over the past 5 years, ESCO Technologies Inc.
(ESE) delivered a total return of +204. 5%, compared to -27. 3% for Albany International Corp. (AIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ESE returned +777. 2% versus AIN's +79. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AIN or ESE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ESCO Technologies Inc.
(ESE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 19β versus Albany International Corp. 's 1. 31β — meaning AIN is approximately 10% more volatile than ESE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ESCO Technologies Inc. (ESE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 62% for Albany International Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AIN or ESE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ESCO Technologies Inc.
(ESE) is pulling ahead at 6. 7% versus -3. 9% for Albany International Corp. (AIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ESCO Technologies Inc. grew EPS 193. 1% year-over-year, compared to -169. 3% for Albany International Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ESE leads at 8. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — AIN or ESE?
ESCO Technologies Inc.
(ESE) is the more profitable company, earning 27. 3% net margin versus -4. 8% for Albany International Corp. — meaning it keeps 27. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ESE leads at 15. 8% versus -1. 4% for AIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ESE leads at 42. 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.
07Is AIN or ESE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Albany International Corp.
(AIN) trades at 23. 5x forward P/E versus 41. 2x for ESCO Technologies Inc. — 17. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ESE: 4. 3% to $350. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AIN or ESE?
In this comparison, AIN (1.
8% yield) pays a dividend. ESE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is AIN or ESE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ESCO Technologies Inc.
(ESE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 19), +777. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ESE: +777. 2%, AIN: +79. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between AIN and ESE?
These companies operate in different sectors (AIN (Consumer Cyclical) and ESE (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
AIN pays a dividend while ESE 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.
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