AIN vs HAYW vs ITRI vs FELE

For growth investors, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the stronger pick with 6. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for Albany International Corp. (AIN). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) offers the better valuation at 12. 5x trailing P/E (13. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Albany International Corp. (AIN) a "Hold" — based on 14 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, Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the cheapest at 12. 5x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. at 30. 8x. On forward P/E, Itron, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Hayward Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 12x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 2. 50x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) delivered a total return of +20. 3%, compared to -37. 0% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FELE returned +231. 4% versus HAYW's -13. 1%. 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), Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 92β versus Itron, Inc. 's 1. 53β — meaning ITRI is approximately 67% more volatile than FELE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 74% for Itron, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is pulling ahead at 6. 7% versus -3. 9% for Albany International Corp. (AIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hayward Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 25. 9% year-over-year, compared to -169. 3% for Albany International Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ITRI leads at 9. 7% 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.

Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 5% net margin versus -4. 8% for Albany International Corp. — meaning it keeps 13. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HAYW leads at 21. 1% versus -1. 4% for AIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HAYW leads at 45. 6%, 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, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 12x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 2. 50x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Itron, Inc. (ITRI) trades at 13. 5x forward P/E versus 23. 8x for Albany International Corp. — 10. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITRI: 68. 8% to $137. 00.

In this comparison, AIN (1.

8% yield), FELE (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. HAYW, ITRI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 92), 1. 1% yield, +231. 4% 10Y return). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FELE: +231. 4%, ITRI: +94. 4%), 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 (AIN (Consumer Cyclical) and HAYW (Industrials) and ITRI (Technology) and FELE (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AIN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HAYW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock; FELE is a small-cap quality compounder stock. AIN, FELE pay a dividend while HAYW, ITRI do 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.