BOOM vs ESAB vs NNBR vs LII vs HLIO

For growth investors, Helios Technologies, Inc.

(HLIO) is the stronger pick with 4. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 1% for NN, Inc. (NNBR). Lennox International Inc. (LII) offers the better valuation at 23. 7x trailing P/E (21. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate DMC Global Inc. (BOOM) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, Lennox International Inc.

(LII) is the cheapest at 23. 7x versus Helios Technologies, Inc. at 46. 9x. On forward P/E, ESAB Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 7x — 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: Helios Technologies, Inc. wins at 1. 00x versus ESAB Corporation's 2. 44x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) delivered a total return of +107.

2%, compared to -86. 8% for DMC Global Inc. (BOOM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LII returned +309. 4% versus NNBR's -75. 7%. 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), DMC Global Inc.

(BOOM) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 23β versus NN, Inc. 's 2. 04β — meaning NNBR is approximately 66% more volatile than BOOM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 177% for Lennox International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Helios Technologies, Inc.

(HLIO) is pulling ahead at 4. 1% versus -9. 1% for NN, Inc. (NNBR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: DMC Global Inc. grew EPS 89. 0% year-over-year, compared to -13. 7% for ESAB Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, LII leads at 3. 3% 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.

Lennox International Inc.

(LII) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 1% net margin versus -8. 1% for NN, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LII leads at 19. 5% versus -4. 3% for NNBR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ESAB leads at 35. 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.

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, Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 00x versus ESAB Corporation's 2. 44x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) trades at 17. 7x forward P/E versus 43. 6x for NN, Inc. — 25. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ESAB: 43. 2% to $146. 67.

In this comparison, LII (0.

9% yield), HLIO (0. 5% yield), ESAB (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. BOOM, NNBR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lennox International Inc.

(LII) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 23), 0. 9% yield, +309. 4% 10Y return). NN, Inc. (NNBR) carries a higher beta of 2. 04 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LII: +309. 4%, NNBR: -75. 7%), 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 (BOOM (Energy) and ESAB (Industrials) and NNBR (Industrials) and LII (Industrials) and HLIO (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

LII, HLIO pay a dividend while BOOM, ESAB, NNBR 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.