FCN vs HUBB vs ETN vs HLI vs EMR

For growth investors, Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is the stronger pick with 24. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 4% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) offers the better valuation at 19. 6x trailing P/E (17. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the cheapest at 19. 6x versus Eaton Corporation plc at 38. 2x. On forward P/E, FTI Consulting, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Hubbell Incorporated wins at 1. 20x versus Emerson Electric Co. 's 4. 81x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Eaton Corporation plc (ETN) delivered a total return of +182.

8%, compared to +12. 6% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ETN returned +608. 7% versus EMR's +206. 6%. 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), FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 09β versus Emerson Electric Co. 's 1. 52β — meaning EMR is approximately 1601% more volatile than FCN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 68% for Emerson Electric Co. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is pulling ahead at 24. 8% versus 2. 4% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Houlihan Lokey, Inc. grew EPS 41. 6% year-over-year, compared to 5. 5% for FTI Consulting, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ETN leads at 9. 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.

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 7% net margin versus 7. 1% for FTI Consulting, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HLI leads at 21. 0% versus 10. 9% for FCN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EMR leads at 52. 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, Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 20x versus Emerson Electric Co. 's 4. 81x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) trades at 17. 3x forward P/E versus 30. 0x for Eaton Corporation plc — 12. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLI: 30. 3% to $200. 00.

In this comparison, HLI (1.

6% yield), EMR (1. 5% yield), HUBB (1. 1% yield), ETN (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. FCN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 09), +294. 4% 10Y return). Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) 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 (FCN: +294. 4%, EMR: +206. 6%), 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 (FCN (Industrials) and HUBB (Industrials) and ETN (Industrials) and HLI (Financial Services) and EMR (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FCN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HUBB is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ETN is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HLI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; EMR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. HUBB, ETN, HLI, EMR pay a dividend while FCN 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.