CSW vs HLIO vs SPXC vs AAON

For growth investors, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the stronger pick with 20. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 1% for Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO). CSW Industrials, Inc. (CSW) offers the better valuation at 33. 1x trailing P/E (28. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, CSW Industrials, Inc.

(CSW) is the cheapest at 33. 1x versus AAON, Inc. at 100. 2x. On forward P/E, SPX Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 26. 1x — 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: Helios Technologies, Inc. wins at 1. 00x versus AAON, Inc. 's 12. 01x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, SPX Technologies, Inc.

(SPXC) delivered a total return of +222. 6%, compared to -8. 1% for Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SPXC returned +1183% versus HLIO's +109. 8%. 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), SPX Technologies, Inc.

(SPXC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 30β versus AAON, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning AAON is approximately 40% more volatile than SPXC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CSW Industrials, Inc. (CSW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% 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 4. 1% for Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CSW Industrials, Inc. grew EPS 28. 5% year-over-year, compared to -36. 1% for AAON, 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.

CSW Industrials, Inc.

(CSW) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 6% net margin versus 5. 8% for Helios Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSW leads at 20. 6% versus 7. 9% for HLIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSW leads at 44. 8%, 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, Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 00x versus AAON, Inc. 's 12. 01x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, SPX Technologies, Inc. (SPXC) trades at 26. 1x forward P/E versus 65. 3x for AAON, Inc. — 39. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SPXC: 20. 4% to $247. 00.

In this comparison, HLIO (0.

5% yield), CSW (0. 3% yield), AAON (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. SPXC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, SPX Technologies, Inc.

(SPXC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1183% 10Y return). 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 (SPXC: +1183%, 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.

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: CSW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HLIO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SPXC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AAON is a mid-cap high-growth stock. HLIO pays a dividend while CSW, SPXC, AAON do 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.