ATMU vs DCI vs LFUS vs ESAB vs FELE

For growth investors, Littelfuse, Inc.

(LFUS) is the stronger pick with 8. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 9% for Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI). Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (ATMU) offers the better valuation at 21. 9x trailing P/E (18. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (ATMU) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc.

(ATMU) is the cheapest at 21. 9x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. at 30. 8x. On forward P/E, ESAB Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. wins at 2. 38x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 2. 50x.

Over the past 5 years, Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc.

(ATMU) delivered a total return of +155. 0%, compared to +20. 3% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LFUS returned +317. 6% versus ESAB's +107. 2%. 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 Littelfuse, Inc. 's 1. 76β — meaning LFUS is approximately 93% more volatile than FELE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 151% for Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Littelfuse, Inc.

(LFUS) is pulling ahead at 8. 9% versus 2. 9% for Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. grew EPS 12. 6% year-over-year, compared to -172. 5% for Littelfuse, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATMU leads at 4. 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.

Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc.

(ATMU) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 8% net margin versus -3. 0% for Littelfuse, Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ESAB leads at 17. 3% versus 1. 6% for LFUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LFUS leads at 38. 0%, 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, Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (ATMU) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 38x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 2. 50x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) trades at 17. 7x forward P/E versus 33. 8x for Littelfuse, Inc. — 16. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ESAB: 43. 2% to $146. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 0. 4% for ESAB Corporation (ESAB).

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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FELE: +231. 4%, ATMU: +155. 0%), 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 (ATMU (Industrials) and DCI (Industrials) and LFUS (Technology) and ESAB (Industrials) and FELE (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

DCI, LFUS, FELE pay a dividend while ATMU, ESAB 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.