AYI vs ATKR

For growth investors, Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) is the stronger pick with 13. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 0% for Atkore Inc. (ATKR). Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) offers the better valuation at 23. 6x trailing P/E (15. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) a "Hold" — based on 33 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, Atkore Inc.

is actually cheaper at 14. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) delivered a total return of +55. 7%, compared to -13. 7% for Atkore Inc. (ATKR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATKR returned +380. 6% versus AYI's +21. 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), Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 40β versus Atkore Inc. 's 1. 69β — meaning ATKR is approximately 20% more volatile than AYI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 67% for Atkore Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) is pulling ahead at 13. 1% versus -11. 0% for Atkore Inc. (ATKR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Acuity Brands, Inc. grew EPS -6. 8% year-over-year, compared to -103. 5% for Atkore Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AYI leads at 2. 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.

Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 1% net margin versus -0. 5% for Atkore Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AYI leads at 13. 7% versus 8. 3% for ATKR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AYI leads at 47. 8%, 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, Atkore Inc.

(ATKR) trades at 14. 0x forward P/E versus 15. 1x for Acuity Brands, Inc. — 1. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AYI: 32. 9% to $392. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Atkore Inc. (ATKR) offers the highest yield at 1. 8%, versus 0. 2% for Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Atkore Inc.

(ATKR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 8% yield, +380. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATKR: +380. 6%, AYI: +21. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

ATKR pays a dividend while AYI 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.