ARTW vs AGCO vs DE vs CNH vs LNN

For growth investors, Lindsay Corporation (LNN) is the stronger pick with 11.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -19. 1% for Art's-Way Manufacturing Co. , Inc. (ARTW). AGCO Corporation (AGCO) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (20. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AGCO Corporation (AGCO) 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, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) is the cheapest at 12.

1x versus Art's-Way Manufacturing Co. , Inc. at 41. 9x. On forward P/E, AGCO Corporation is actually cheaper at 20. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Lindsay Corporation wins at 1. 61x versus Deere & Company's 1. 99x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Deere & Company (DE) delivered a total return of +54.

1%, compared to -30. 3% for Lindsay Corporation (LNN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DE returned +671. 0% versus ARTW's -17. 8%. 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), Deere & Company (DE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

56β versus Art's-Way Manufacturing Co. , Inc. 's 1. 18β — meaning ARTW is approximately 110% more volatile than DE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lindsay Corporation (LNN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 3% for CNH Industrial N. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lindsay Corporation (LNN) is pulling ahead at 11.

4% versus -19. 1% for Art's-Way Manufacturing Co. , Inc. (ARTW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AGCO Corporation grew EPS 271. 4% year-over-year, compared to -58. 6% for CNH Industrial N. V.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ARTW leads at -0. 6% 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.

Deere & Company (DE) is the more profitable company, earning 11.

3% net margin versus 1. 3% for Art's-Way Manufacturing Co. , Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DE leads at 18. 8% versus 1. 9% for ARTW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DE leads at 36. 5%, 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, Lindsay Corporation (LNN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 61x versus Deere & Company's 1. 99x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) trades at 20. 4x forward P/E versus 32. 5x for Deere & Company — 12. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CNH: 22. 2% to $13. 25.

In this comparison, CNH (2.

5% yield), LNN (1. 3% yield), DE (1. 1% yield), AGCO (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. ARTW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Deere & Company (DE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

56), 1. 1% yield, +671. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DE: +671. 0%, ARTW: -17. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ARTW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AGCO is a small-cap deep-value stock; DE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CNH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LNN is a small-cap deep-value stock. AGCO, DE, CNH, LNN pay a dividend while ARTW 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.