AXL vs LEA

For growth investors, Lear Corporation (LEA) is the stronger pick with -0.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 7% for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AXL). Lear Corporation (LEA) offers the better valuation at 16. 6x trailing P/E (9. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AXL) a "Hold" — based on 20 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 forward P/E, Lear Corporation is actually cheaper at 9.

4x.

Over the past 5 years, Lear Corporation (LEA) delivered a total return of -23.

2%, compared to -38. 8% for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AXL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LEA returned +38. 9% versus AXL's -59. 5%. 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), Lear Corporation (LEA) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

14β versus American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 84β — meaning AXL is approximately 62% more volatile than LEA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AXL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 79% for Lear Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lear Corporation (LEA) is pulling ahead at -0.

2% versus -4. 7% for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AXL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Lear Corporation grew EPS -9. 1% year-over-year, compared to -158. 6% for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LEA leads at 3. 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.

Lear Corporation (LEA) is the more profitable company, earning 1.

9% net margin versus -0. 3% for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LEA leads at 4. 4% versus 1. 9% for AXL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AXL leads at 12. 1%, 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, Lear Corporation (LEA) trades at 9.

4x forward P/E versus 13. 6x for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. — 4. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AXL: 65. 8% to $10. 63.

In this comparison, LEA (2.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lear Corporation (LEA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

14), 2. 3% yield). American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AXL) carries a higher beta of 1. 84 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LEA: +38. 9%, AXL: -59. 5%), 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 Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: AXL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LEA is a small-cap deep-value stock. LEA pays a dividend while AXL 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.