ALV vs APH

For growth investors, Amphenol Corporation (APH) is the stronger pick with 51.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 1% for Autoliv, Inc. (ALV). Autoliv, Inc. (ALV) offers the better valuation at 12. 7x trailing P/E (11. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Amphenol Corporation (APH) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, Autoliv, Inc.

(ALV) is the cheapest at 12. 7x versus Amphenol Corporation at 41. 5x. On forward P/E, Autoliv, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Autoliv, Inc. wins at 0. 33x versus Amphenol Corporation's 1. 07x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Amphenol Corporation (APH) delivered a total return of +321.

4%, compared to +31. 5% for Autoliv, Inc. (ALV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APH returned +917. 7% versus ALV's +59. 4%. 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), Autoliv, Inc.

(ALV) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 09β versus Amphenol Corporation's 1. 62β — meaning APH is approximately 48% more volatile than ALV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Autoliv, Inc. (ALV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 95% versus 115% for Amphenol Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Amphenol Corporation (APH) is pulling ahead at 51.

7% versus 4. 1% for Autoliv, Inc. (ALV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Amphenol Corporation grew EPS 74. 0% year-over-year, compared to 19. 1% for Autoliv, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, APH leads at 22. 3% 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.

Amphenol Corporation (APH) is the more profitable company, earning 18.

5% net margin versus 6. 8% for Autoliv, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APH leads at 25. 9% versus 10. 1% for ALV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APH leads at 36. 9%, 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, Autoliv, Inc. (ALV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 33x versus Amphenol Corporation's 1. 07x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Autoliv, Inc. (ALV) trades at 11. 6x forward P/E versus 29. 7x for Amphenol Corporation — 18. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APH: 30. 2% to $180. 33.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Autoliv, Inc. (ALV) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 0. 5% for Amphenol Corporation (APH).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Autoliv, Inc.

(ALV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 09), 2. 6% yield). Amphenol Corporation (APH) carries a higher beta of 1. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALV: +59. 4%, APH: +917. 7%), 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 (ALV (Consumer Cyclical) and APH (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ALV is a small-cap deep-value stock; APH is a mid-cap high-growth stock. ALV pays a dividend while APH 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.