FTLF vs SMPL vs MGPI vs HIMS vs PLNT

For growth investors, Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is the stronger pick with 59. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 8% for MGP Ingredients, Inc. (MGPI). FitLife Brands, Inc. (FTLF) offers the better valuation at 10. 5x trailing P/E (7. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FitLife Brands, Inc. (FTLF) 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, FitLife Brands, Inc.

(FTLF) is the cheapest at 10. 5x versus Hims & Hers Health, Inc. at 50. 3x. On forward P/E, FitLife Brands, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: FitLife Brands, Inc. wins at 0. 27x versus Planet Fitness, Inc. 's 1. 80x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) delivered a total return of +137. 6%, compared to -66. 0% for MGP Ingredients, Inc. (MGPI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLNT returned +203. 6% versus MGPI's -17. 3%. 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), Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 31β versus Hims & Hers Health, Inc. 's 2. 40β — meaning HIMS is approximately 669% more volatile than PLNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 2% for Hims & Hers Health, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hims & Hers Health, Inc.

(HIMS) is pulling ahead at 59. 0% versus -23. 8% for MGP Ingredients, Inc. (MGPI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: FitLife Brands, Inc. grew EPS 68. 1% year-over-year, compared to -419. 9% for MGP Ingredients, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HIMS leads at 64. 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.

Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 5% net margin versus -20. 1% for MGP Ingredients, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLNT leads at 29. 8% versus -17. 6% for MGPI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLNT leads at 82. 6%, 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, FitLife Brands, Inc. (FTLF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 27x versus Planet Fitness, Inc. 's 1. 80x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, FitLife Brands, Inc. (FTLF) trades at 7. 0x forward P/E versus 51. 5x for Hims & Hers Health, Inc. — 44. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FTLF: 219. 0% to $30. 50.

In this comparison, MGPI (2.

5% yield) pays a dividend. FTLF, SMPL, HIMS, PLNT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, MGP Ingredients, Inc.

(MGPI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 63), 2. 5% yield). Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) carries a higher beta of 2. 40 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MGPI: -17. 3%, HIMS: +161. 9%), 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 (FTLF (Consumer Defensive) and SMPL (Consumer Defensive) and MGPI (Consumer Defensive) and HIMS (Healthcare) and PLNT (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FTLF is a small-cap high-growth stock; SMPL is a small-cap deep-value stock; MGPI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HIMS is a small-cap high-growth stock; PLNT is a small-cap deep-value stock. MGPI pays a dividend while FTLF, SMPL, HIMS, PLNT 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.