ATMU vs LFUS vs HUBB vs DCI

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 Hubbell Incorporated at 29. 8x. On forward P/E, Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Hubbell Incorporated wins at 1. 20x versus Donaldson Company, Inc. 's 2. 45x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB) delivered a total return of +159.

4%, compared to +40. 0% for Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HUBB returned +410. 7% versus ATMU's +155. 0%. 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), Donaldson Company, Inc.

(DCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 97β versus Littelfuse, Inc. 's 1. 76β — meaning LFUS is approximately 81% more volatile than DCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Littelfuse, Inc. (LFUS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% 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: Hubbell Incorporated grew EPS 15. 1% year-over-year, compared to -172. 5% for Littelfuse, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HUBB leads at 5. 7% 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.

Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

2% net margin versus -3. 0% for Littelfuse, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HUBB leads at 20. 8% 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, Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 20x versus Donaldson Company, Inc. 's 2. 45x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (ATMU) trades at 18. 8x forward P/E versus 33. 8x for Littelfuse, Inc. — 15. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DCI: 20. 2% to $103. 20.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 0. 4% for Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (ATMU).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Donaldson Company, Inc.

(DCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 97), 1. 3% yield, +194. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DCI: +194. 5%, 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 LFUS (Technology) and HUBB (Industrials) and DCI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

LFUS, HUBB, DCI pay a dividend while ATMU 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.