CDRE vs CODI vs SWBI vs KKR

For growth investors, Cadre Holdings, Inc.

(CDRE) is the stronger pick with 7. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 4% for Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (SWBI). Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) offers the better valuation at 29. 3x trailing P/E (24. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Cadre Holdings, Inc.

(CDRE) is the cheapest at 29. 3x versus Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. at 48. 5x. On forward P/E, KKR & Co. Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Cadre Holdings, Inc.

(CDRE) delivered a total return of +106. 0%, compared to -33. 7% for Compass Diversified (CODI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KKR returned +732. 3% versus SWBI's -4. 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), Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.

(SWBI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 70β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 66β — meaning KKR is approximately 137% more volatile than SWBI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (SWBI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 3% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cadre Holdings, Inc.

(CDRE) is pulling ahead at 7. 5% versus -11. 4% for Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (SWBI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cadre Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 13. 3% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. Over a 3-year CAGR, CDRE leads at 10. 1% 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.

KKR & Co.

Inc. (KKR) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 3% net margin versus -12. 2% for Compass Diversified — meaning it keeps 12. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CDRE leads at 12. 3% versus 2. 3% for CODI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CDRE leads at 42. 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.

On forward earnings alone, KKR & Co.

Inc. (KKR) trades at 16. 9x forward P/E versus 97. 9x for Compass Diversified — 81. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CDRE: 72. 5% to $51. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Compass Diversified (CODI) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 0. 8% for KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.

(SWBI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 70), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SWBI: -4. 7%, CDRE: +106. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CDRE (Industrials) and CODI (Industrials) and SWBI (Industrials) and KKR (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CDRE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SWBI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.