AXR vs ALCO vs STRR vs JBSS vs CODI

For growth investors, Compass Diversified (CODI) is the stronger pick with 4.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -66. 9% for Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (STRR). AMREP Corporation (AXR) offers the better valuation at 11. 3x trailing P/E (12. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AMREP Corporation (AXR) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, AMREP Corporation (AXR) is the cheapest at 11.

3x versus John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. at 15. 5x. On forward P/E, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AMREP Corporation (AXR) delivered a total return of +141.

3%, compared to -50. 1% for Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (STRR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AXR returned +504. 5% versus STRR's +50. 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), Star Equity Holdings, Inc.

(STRR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 19β versus Compass Diversified's 1. 09β — meaning CODI is approximately 467% more volatile than STRR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AMREP Corporation (AXR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 3% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Compass Diversified (CODI) is pulling ahead at 4.

8% versus -66. 9% for Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (STRR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AMREP Corporation grew EPS 89. 6% year-over-year, compared to -22. 2% for Alico, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, JBSS leads at 5. 0% 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.

AMREP Corporation (AXR) is the more profitable company, earning 25.

6% net margin versus -334. 3% for Alico, Inc. — meaning it keeps 25. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AXR leads at 24. 4% versus -450. 5% for ALCO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AXR leads at 66. 2%, 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, John B.

Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (JBSS) trades at 10. 7x forward P/E versus 150. 4x for Compass Diversified — 139. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CODI: 24. 7% to $15. 00.

In this comparison, STRR (7.

0% yield), CODI (4. 2% yield), JBSS (2. 7% yield), ALCO (0. 5% yield) pay a dividend. AXR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Star Equity Holdings, Inc.

(STRR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 19), 7. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STRR: +50. 6%, AXR: +504. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (AXR (Real Estate) and ALCO (Consumer Defensive) and STRR (Healthcare) and JBSS (Consumer Defensive) and CODI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AXR is a small-cap deep-value stock; ALCO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; STRR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; JBSS is a small-cap deep-value stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. STRR, JBSS, CODI pay a dividend while AXR, ALCO 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.