GFF vs MAS vs ALLE vs AWI

For growth investors, Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) is the stronger pick with 12. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for Griffon Corporation (GFF). Allegion plc (ALLE) offers the better valuation at 18. 4x trailing P/E (15. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Griffon Corporation (GFF) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the cheapest at 18.

4x versus Griffon Corporation at 83. 2x. On forward P/E, Allegion plc is actually cheaper at 15. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Allegion plc wins at 0. 92x versus Masco Corporation's 3. 40x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Griffon Corporation (GFF) delivered a total return of +265.

3%, compared to +3. 2% for Allegion plc (ALLE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GFF returned +558. 1% versus ALLE's +127. 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), Allegion plc (ALLE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

67β versus Griffon Corporation's 1. 36β — meaning GFF is approximately 105% more volatile than ALLE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (AWI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 46% for Masco Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(AWI) is pulling ahead at 12. 1% versus -3. 9% for Griffon Corporation (GFF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Armstrong World Industries, Inc. grew EPS 17. 6% year-over-year, compared to -74. 2% for Griffon Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AWI leads at 9. 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.

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 0% net margin versus 2. 0% for Griffon Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AWI leads at 26. 6% versus 8. 2% for GFF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALLE leads at 45. 2%, 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, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 92x versus Masco Corporation's 3. 40x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Allegion plc (ALLE) trades at 15. 6x forward P/E versus 19. 9x for Armstrong World Industries, Inc. — 4. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALLE: 26. 1% to $172. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Masco Corporation (MAS) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 0. 8% for Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (AWI).

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

67), 1. 5% yield, +127. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALLE: +127. 3%, MAS: +152. 1%), 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.

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.