EVI vs MIDD vs ITW vs WSO vs POOL

For growth investors, EVI Industries, Inc.

(EVI) is the stronger pick with 10. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -17. 4% for The Middleby Corporation (MIDD). Pool Corporation (POOL) offers the better valuation at 17. 6x trailing P/E (17. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EVI Industries, Inc. (EVI) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Pool Corporation (POOL) is the cheapest at 17.

6x versus EVI Industries, Inc. at 41. 0x. On forward P/E, Pool Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: EVI Industries, Inc. wins at 0. 59x versus Pool Corporation's 4. 38x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Watsco, Inc.

(WSO) delivered a total return of +59. 8%, compared to -52. 3% for Pool Corporation (POOL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EVI returned +453. 8% versus MIDD's +52. 0%. 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), Illinois Tool Works Inc.

(ITW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus EVI Industries, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning EVI is approximately 117% more volatile than ITW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Watsco, Inc. (WSO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 3% for Illinois Tool Works Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), EVI Industries, Inc.

(EVI) is pulling ahead at 10. 3% versus -17. 4% for The Middleby Corporation (MIDD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: EVI Industries, Inc. grew EPS 32. 4% year-over-year, compared to -168. 1% for The Middleby Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, EVI leads at 13. 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.

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

(ITW) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 1% net margin versus -8. 7% for The Middleby Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ITW leads at 26. 3% versus 3. 5% for EVI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ITW leads at 44. 1%, 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, EVI Industries, Inc. (EVI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 59x versus Pool Corporation's 4. 38x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Pool Corporation (POOL) trades at 17. 0x forward P/E versus 33. 3x for Watsco, Inc. — 16. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EVI: 64. 2% to $33. 00.

In this comparison, WSO (2.

9% yield), POOL (2. 6% yield), ITW (2. 4% yield), EVI (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. MIDD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Illinois Tool Works Inc.

(ITW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 68), 2. 4% yield, +188. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ITW: +188. 6%, MIDD: +52. 0%), 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: EVI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MIDD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ITW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; WSO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; POOL is a small-cap deep-value stock. EVI, ITW, WSO, POOL pay a dividend while MIDD 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.