CIX vs FBIN vs MAS vs ALLE vs TREX

For growth investors, CompX International Inc.

(CIX) is the stronger pick with 8. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). CompX International Inc. (CIX) offers the better valuation at 15. 0x trailing P/E (88. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Masco Corporation (MAS) a "Buy" — based on 38 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, CompX International Inc.

(CIX) is the cheapest at 15. 0x versus Trex Company, Inc. at 22. 6x. On forward P/E, Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 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: Allegion plc wins at 0. 90x versus Trex Company, Inc. 's 7. 25x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CompX International Inc.

(CIX) delivered a total return of +49. 8%, compared to -62. 7% for Trex Company, Inc. (TREX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TREX returned +248. 9% versus FBIN'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), CompX International Inc.

(CIX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 56β versus Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. 's 1. 61β — meaning FBIN is approximately 187% more volatile than CIX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Trex Company, Inc. (TREX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 46% for Masco Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CompX International Inc.

(CIX) is pulling ahead at 8. 5% versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CompX International Inc. grew EPS 17. 0% year-over-year, compared to -34. 1% for Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALLE leads at 7. 5% 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.

Trex Company, Inc.

(TREX) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 2% net margin versus 6. 7% for Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TREX leads at 22. 0% versus 13. 9% for FBIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALLE leads at 45. 2%, 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, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 90x versus Trex Company, Inc. 's 7. 25x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (FBIN) trades at 11. 6x forward P/E versus 88. 0x for CompX International Inc. — 76. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FBIN: 48. 7% to $56. 43.

In this comparison, CIX (9.

3% yield), FBIN (2. 6% yield), MAS (1. 7% yield), ALLE (1. 5% yield) pay a dividend. TREX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CompX International Inc.

(CIX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 56), 9. 3% yield, +223. 2% 10Y return). Trex Company, Inc. (TREX) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CIX: +223. 2%, TREX: +248. 9%), 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.

In terms of investment character: CIX is a small-cap deep-value stock; FBIN is a small-cap deep-value stock; MAS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ALLE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; TREX is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CIX, FBIN, MAS, ALLE pay a dividend while TREX 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.