FTDR vs BLD vs POOL vs WSO vs ABM

For growth investors, Frontdoor, Inc.

(FTDR) is the stronger pick with 13. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 0% for Watsco, Inc. (WSO). ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) offers the better valuation at 15. 7x trailing P/E (10. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate TopBuild Corp. (BLD) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the cheapest at 15.

7x versus Watsco, Inc. at 35. 0x. On forward P/E, ABM Industries Incorporated is actually cheaper at 10. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ABM Industries Incorporated wins at 0. 04x versus Pool Corporation's 4. 44x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, TopBuild Corp.

(BLD) delivered a total return of +91. 2%, compared to -52. 3% for Pool Corporation (POOL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BLD returned +1219% versus ABM's +48. 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), ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

72β versus TopBuild Corp. 's 1. 47β — meaning BLD is approximately 102% more volatile than ABM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Watsco, Inc. (WSO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 5% for Frontdoor, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Frontdoor, Inc.

(FTDR) is pulling ahead at 13. 6% versus -5. 0% for Watsco, Inc. (WSO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ABM Industries Incorporated grew EPS 102. 3% year-over-year, compared to -10. 0% for TopBuild Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FTDR leads at 8. 0% 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.

Frontdoor, Inc.

(FTDR) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 2% net margin versus 1. 9% for ABM Industries Incorporated — meaning it keeps 12. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FTDR leads at 19. 1% versus 3. 7% for ABM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FTDR leads at 55. 3%, 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, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 04x versus Pool Corporation's 4. 44x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) trades at 10. 3x forward P/E versus 34. 0x for Watsco, Inc. — 23. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for POOL: 46. 7% to $279. 29.

In this comparison, WSO (2.

9% yield), POOL (2. 6% yield), ABM (2. 6% yield) pay a dividend. FTDR, BLD do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

72), 2. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABM: +48. 7%, FTDR: +126. 4%), 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 (FTDR (Consumer Cyclical) and BLD (Industrials) and POOL (Industrials) and WSO (Industrials) and ABM (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FTDR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; BLD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; POOL is a small-cap deep-value stock; WSO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ABM is a small-cap deep-value stock. POOL, WSO, ABM pay a dividend while FTDR, BLD 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.