ASPN vs OC

For growth investors, Owens Corning (OC) is the stronger pick with -7.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -40. 1% for Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (ASPN). Analysts rate Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (ASPN) a "Buy" — based on 23 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.

Over the past 5 years, Owens Corning (OC) delivered a total return of +24.

0%, compared to -73. 5% for Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (ASPN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OC returned +184. 8% versus ASPN's +13. 6%. 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), Owens Corning (OC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

41β versus Aspen Aerogels, Inc. 's 1. 92β — meaning ASPN is approximately 37% more volatile than OC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (ASPN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 158% for Owens Corning — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Owens Corning (OC) is pulling ahead at -7.

9% versus -40. 1% for Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (ASPN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Owens Corning grew EPS -185. 1% year-over-year, compared to -28. 9% for Aspen Aerogels, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASPN leads at 14. 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.

Owens Corning (OC) is the more profitable company, earning -5.

2% net margin versus -143. 7% for Aspen Aerogels, Inc. — meaning it keeps -5. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OC leads at 17. 0% versus -19. 0% for ASPN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OC leads at 28. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ASPN: 502.

2% to $30. 71.

In this comparison, OC (2.

3% yield) pays a dividend. ASPN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Owens Corning (OC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2.

3% yield, +184. 8% 10Y return). Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (ASPN) carries a higher beta of 1. 92 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (OC: +184. 8%, ASPN: +13. 6%), 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.

OC pays a dividend while ASPN 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.