BNC vs GRWG vs HYFM vs AEI vs EDBL

For growth investors, Edible Garden AG Incorporated (EDBL) is the stronger pick with -1.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -59. 4% for CEA Industries Inc. Common Stock (BNC). 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.

Over the past 5 years, CEA Industries Inc.

Common Stock (BNC) delivered a total return of -91. 3%, compared to -100. 0% for Edible Garden AG Incorporated (EDBL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BNC returned +1007% versus EDBL's -100. 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), Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.

(HYFM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus Alset Inc. 's 2. 77β — meaning AEI is approximately 278% more volatile than HYFM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CEA Industries Inc. Common Stock (BNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 93% for Edible Garden AG Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Edible Garden AG Incorporated (EDBL) is pulling ahead at -1.

4% versus -59. 4% for CEA Industries Inc. Common Stock (BNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Edible Garden AG Incorporated grew EPS 95. 6% year-over-year, compared to -1. 9% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EDBL leads at 9. 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.

GrowGeneration Corp.

(GRWG) is the more profitable company, earning -14. 9% net margin versus -112. 2% for CEA Industries Inc. Common Stock — meaning it keeps -14. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GRWG leads at -15. 0% versus -113. 1% for BNC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AEI leads at 39. 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.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.

(HYFM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73)). Alset Inc. (AEI) carries a higher beta of 2. 77 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HYFM: -99. 8%, AEI: -98. 6%), 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 (BNC (Industrials) and GRWG (Consumer Cyclical) and HYFM (Industrials) and AEI (Real Estate) and EDBL (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.