ALTO vs REX vs GPRE vs ANDE vs INGR

For growth investors, The Andersons, Inc.

(ANDE) is the stronger pick with -2. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 9% for REX American Resources Corporation (REX). Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) offers the better valuation at 9. 6x trailing P/E (9. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alto Ingredients, Inc. (ALTO) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) is the cheapest at 9.

6x versus REX American Resources Corporation at 29. 5x. On forward P/E, Ingredion Incorporated is actually cheaper at 9. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Andersons, Inc. wins at 0. 21x versus REX American Resources Corporation's 1. 20x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, REX American Resources Corporation (REX) delivered a total return of +250.

0%, compared to -48. 5% for Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: REX returned +476. 3% versus ALTO's +4. 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), Alto Ingredients, Inc.

(ALTO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 18β versus Green Plains Inc. 's 1. 15β — meaning GPRE is approximately 534% more volatile than ALTO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, REX American Resources Corporation (REX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 81% for The Andersons, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Andersons, Inc.

(ANDE) is pulling ahead at -2. 2% versus -22. 9% for REX American Resources Corporation (REX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alto Ingredients, Inc. grew EPS 119. 5% year-over-year, compared to -39. 5% for Green Plains Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, INGR leads at -3. 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.

Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

1% net margin versus -5. 8% for Green Plains Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: INGR leads at 14. 4% versus -4. 0% for GPRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — INGR leads at 25. 3%, 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, The Andersons, Inc. (ANDE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 21x versus REX American Resources Corporation's 1. 20x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) trades at 9. 9x forward P/E versus 64. 1x for REX American Resources Corporation — 54. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALTO: 120. 3% to $10. 00.

In this comparison, INGR (3.

0% yield), ANDE (1. 1% yield), ALTO (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. REX, GPRE do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Andersons, Inc.

(ANDE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 36), 1. 1% yield, +194. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ANDE: +194. 5%, GPRE: +32. 9%), 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 (ALTO (Basic Materials) and REX (Basic Materials) and GPRE (Basic Materials) and ANDE (Consumer Defensive) and INGR (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ALTO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; REX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GPRE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ANDE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; INGR is a small-cap deep-value stock. ANDE, INGR pay a dividend while ALTO, REX, GPRE 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.