FUL vs AVY

For growth investors, Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) is the stronger pick with 1.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 7% for H. B. Fuller Company (FUL). Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) offers the better valuation at 19. 0x trailing P/E (16. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate H. B. Fuller Company (FUL) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) is the cheapest at 19.

0x versus H. B. Fuller Company at 22. 2x. On forward P/E, H. B. Fuller Company is actually cheaper at 12. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Avery Dennison Corporation wins at 2. 84x versus H. B. Fuller Company's 4. 16x.

Over the past 5 years, H.

B. Fuller Company (FUL) delivered a total return of -5. 7%, compared to -17. 0% for Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AVY returned +158. 0% versus FUL's +53. 2%. 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), Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

72β versus H. B. Fuller Company's 1. 20β — meaning FUL is approximately 68% more volatile than AVY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, H. B. Fuller Company (FUL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 101% versus 166% for Avery Dennison Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) is pulling ahead at 1.

1% versus -2. 7% for H. B. Fuller Company (FUL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: H. B. Fuller Company grew EPS 19. 6% year-over-year, compared to 0. 6% for Avery Dennison Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AVY leads at -0. 7% 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.

Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) is the more profitable company, earning 7.

8% net margin versus 4. 4% for H. B. Fuller Company — meaning it keeps 7. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AVY leads at 12. 5% versus 11. 5% for FUL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FUL leads at 31. 7%, 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, Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 84x versus H. B. Fuller Company's 4. 16x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, H. B. Fuller Company (FUL) trades at 12. 9x forward P/E versus 16. 6x for Avery Dennison Corporation — 3. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVY: 28. 8% to $214. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) offers the highest yield at 2. 2%, versus 1. 5% for H. B. Fuller Company (FUL).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) 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. 2% yield, +158. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVY: +158. 0%, FUL: +53. 2%), 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 (FUL (Basic Materials) and AVY (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.