AYI vs GEF vs HUBB vs SLGN vs ETN

For growth investors, Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) is the stronger pick with 13. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 0% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). Greif, Inc. (GEF) offers the better valuation at 4. 5x trailing P/E (17. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) a "Buy" — based on 21 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, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the cheapest at 4. 5x versus Eaton Corporation plc at 38. 4x. On forward P/E, Silgan Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Greif, Inc. wins at 0. 38x versus Eaton Corporation plc's 1. 23x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Eaton Corporation plc (ETN) delivered a total return of +185.

3%, compared to +1. 8% for Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ETN returned +614. 3% versus AYI's +20. 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), Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 63β versus Eaton Corporation plc's 1. 45β — meaning ETN is approximately 131% more volatile than GEF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 2% for Silgan Holdings 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 -1. 0% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Greif, Inc. grew EPS 223. 3% year-over-year, compared to -6. 8% for Acuity Brands, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ETN leads at 9. 8% 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.

Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 6% net margin versus 4. 4% for Silgan Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HUBB leads at 20. 8% versus 6. 9% for GEF. 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.

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, Greif, Inc. (GEF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 38x versus Eaton Corporation plc's 1. 23x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 30. 1x for Eaton Corporation plc — 19. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AYI: 33. 8% to $392. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Greif, Inc. (GEF) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, versus 0. 2% for Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 63), 3. 1% yield, +153. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GEF: +153. 9%, AYI: +20. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (AYI (Industrials) and GEF (Consumer Cyclical) and HUBB (Industrials) and SLGN (Consumer Cyclical) and ETN (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AYI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GEF is a small-cap deep-value stock; HUBB is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SLGN is a small-cap deep-value stock; ETN is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. GEF, HUBB, SLGN, ETN pay 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.