AWX vs ASTE vs CMI vs CWST

For growth investors, Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

(CWST) is the stronger pick with 18. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 3% for Cummins Inc. (CMI). Avalon Holdings Corporation (AWX) offers the better valuation at 30. 7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Avalon Holdings Corporation (AWX) is the cheapest at 30.

7x versus Casella Waste Systems, Inc. at 712. 1x. On forward P/E, Astec Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Cummins Inc.

(CMI) delivered a total return of +168. 7%, compared to -43. 9% for Avalon Holdings Corporation (AWX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CWST returned +1059% versus ASTE's +22. 1%. 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), Avalon Holdings Corporation (AWX) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

12β versus Astec Industries, Inc. 's 1. 63β — meaning ASTE is approximately -1457% more volatile than AWX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 94% for Avalon Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

(CWST) is pulling ahead at 18. 0% versus -1. 3% for Cummins Inc. (CMI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to -75. 8% for Avalon Holdings Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CWST leads at 19. 2% 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.

Cummins Inc.

(CMI) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 4% net margin versus 0. 4% for Avalon Holdings Corporation — meaning it keeps 8. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CMI leads at 11. 5% versus 2. 4% for AWX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASTE leads at 26. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) trades at 14. 2x forward P/E versus 63. 9x for Casella Waste Systems, Inc. — 49. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CWST: 39. 3% to $119. 00.

In this comparison, CMI (1.

1% yield), ASTE (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. AWX, CWST do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

(CWST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 32), +1059% 10Y return). Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a higher beta of 1. 63 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CWST: +1059%, ASTE: +22. 1%), 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: AWX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ASTE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CMI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CWST is a small-cap high-growth stock. ASTE, CMI pay a dividend while AWX, CWST 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.