CLRO vs AAON

For growth investors, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the stronger pick with 20. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -39. 1% for ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO). AAON, Inc. (AAON) offers the better valuation at 100. 2x trailing P/E (65. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 forward P/E, ClearOne, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 21. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) delivered a total return of +196. 3%, compared to -67. 2% for ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAON returned +612. 1% versus CLRO's -92. 5%. 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), ClearOne, Inc.

(CLRO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 93β versus AAON, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning AAON is approximately 96% more volatile than CLRO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 48% for AAON, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is pulling ahead at 20. 1% versus -39. 1% for ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AAON, Inc. grew EPS -36. 1% year-over-year, compared to -1481. 2% for ClearOne, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AAON leads at 17. 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.

AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 5% net margin versus -78. 9% for ClearOne, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAON leads at 10. 1% versus -80. 9% for CLRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAON leads at 26. 7%, 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, ClearOne, Inc.

(CLRO) trades at 21. 1x forward P/E versus 65. 3x for AAON, Inc. — 44. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ClearOne, Inc. (CLRO) offers the highest yield at 19. 1%, versus 0. 3% for AAON, Inc. (AAON).

For long-horizon retirement investors, ClearOne, Inc.

(CLRO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), 19. 1% yield). AAON, Inc. (AAON) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CLRO: -92. 5%, AAON: +612. 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 (CLRO (Technology) and AAON (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CLRO is a small-cap income-oriented stock; AAON is a mid-cap high-growth stock. CLRO pays a dividend while AAON 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.