CPS vs ALSN

For growth investors, Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.

(CPS) is the stronger pick with 0. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 7% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN). Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN) offers the better valuation at 16. 8x trailing P/E (13. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (CPS) a "Hold" — based on 10 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, Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.

is actually cheaper at 10. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) delivered a total return of +183. 5%, compared to -12. 5% for Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (CPS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALSN returned +373. 8% versus CPS's -63. 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), Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 11β versus Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. 's 1. 52β — meaning CPS is approximately 37% more volatile than ALSN relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.

(CPS) is pulling ahead at 0. 4% versus -6. 7% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. grew EPS 94. 9% year-over-year, compared to -11. 8% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALSN leads at 2. 8% 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.

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 7% net margin versus -0. 2% for Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALSN leads at 32. 3% versus 3. 9% for CPS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALSN leads at 48. 4%, 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, Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.

(CPS) trades at 10. 9x forward P/E versus 13. 6x for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. — 2. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CPS: 80. 3% to $55. 00.

In this comparison, ALSN (0.

9% yield) pays a dividend. CPS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 11), 0. 9% yield, +373. 8% 10Y return). Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (CPS) 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 (ALSN: +373. 8%, CPS: -63. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CPS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ALSN is a mid-cap deep-value stock. ALSN pays a dividend while CPS 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.