CSL vs DHI

For growth investors, Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) is the stronger pick with 0.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 9% for D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI). D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) offers the better valuation at 12. 9x trailing P/E (14. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) a "Buy" — based on 26 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, D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) is the cheapest at 12. 9x versus Carlisle Companies Incorporated at 21. 8x. On forward P/E, D. R. Horton, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Carlisle Companies Incorporated wins at 0. 74x versus D. R. Horton, Inc. 's 1. 12x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) delivered a total return of +102.

8%, compared to +52. 9% for D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DHI returned +434. 6% versus CSL's +290. 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), D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 85β versus Carlisle Companies Incorporated's 1. 12β — meaning CSL is approximately 33% more volatile than DHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 160% for Carlisle Companies Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) is pulling ahead at 0.

3% versus -6. 9% for D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: D. R. Horton, Inc. grew EPS -19. 3% year-over-year, compared to -38. 6% for Carlisle Companies Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, DHI leads at 0. 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.

Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) is the more profitable company, earning 14.

8% net margin versus 10. 5% for D. R. Horton, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSL leads at 19. 9% versus 12. 9% for DHI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSL leads at 35. 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.

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, Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 74x versus D. R. Horton, Inc. 's 1. 12x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) trades at 14. 0x forward P/E versus 17. 8x for Carlisle Companies Incorporated — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DHI: 9. 8% to $163. 86.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 1. 1% for D. R. Horton, Inc. (DHI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 85), 1. 1% yield, +434. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DHI: +434. 6%, CSL: +290. 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 (CSL (Industrials) and DHI (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CSL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; DHI is a mid-cap deep-value 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.