ERII vs HLIO

For growth investors, Helios Technologies, Inc.

(HLIO) is the stronger pick with 4. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 1% for Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII). Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII) offers the better valuation at 27. 6x trailing P/E (28. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII) a "Buy" — based on 16 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, Energy Recovery, Inc.

(ERII) is the cheapest at 27. 6x versus Helios Technologies, Inc. at 48. 1x. On forward P/E, Helios Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 27. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Helios Technologies, Inc.

(HLIO) delivered a total return of -4. 1%, compared to -43. 0% for Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLIO returned +112. 1% versus ERII's +2. 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), Energy Recovery, Inc.

(ERII) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 53β versus Helios Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 56β — meaning HLIO is approximately 2% more volatile than ERII relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 12% for Helios Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Helios Technologies, Inc.

(HLIO) is pulling ahead at 4. 1% versus -7. 1% for Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Helios Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 23. 9% year-over-year, compared to 5. 0% for Energy Recovery, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ERII leads at 2. 4% 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.

Energy Recovery, Inc.

(ERII) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 0% net margin versus 5. 8% for Helios Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ERII leads at 18. 2% versus 7. 9% for HLIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ERII leads at 65. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Helios Technologies, Inc.

(HLIO) trades at 27. 6x forward P/E versus 28. 2x for Energy Recovery, Inc. — 0. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ERII: 12. 0% to $13. 00.

In this comparison, HLIO (0.

5% yield) pays a dividend. ERII does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

(HLIO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 5% yield, +112. 1% 10Y return). Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HLIO: +112. 1%, ERII: +2. 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 Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

HLIO pays a dividend while ERII 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.