GNRC vs CMI vs CAT vs HLIO vs DE

For growth investors, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the stronger pick with 4. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Deere & Company (DE). Deere & Company (DE) offers the better valuation at 31. 4x trailing P/E (32. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC) a "Buy" — based on 39 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, Deere & Company (DE) is the cheapest at 31.

4x versus Generac Holdings Inc. at 99. 2x. On forward P/E, Cummins Inc. is actually cheaper at 25. 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: Helios Technologies, Inc. wins at 1. 00x versus Cummins Inc. 's 2. 30x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) delivered a total return of +282. 5%, compared to -18. 5% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1228% versus HLIO's +109. 8%. 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), Deere & Company (DE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

56β versus Generac Holdings Inc. 's 1. 69β — meaning GNRC is approximately 201% more volatile than DE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 2% for Deere & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -2. 2% for Deere & Company (DE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Helios Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 23. 9% year-over-year, compared to -50. 1% for Generac Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CMI leads at 6. 2% 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.

Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus 3. 8% for Generac Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DE leads at 18. 8% versus 6. 9% for GNRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GNRC leads at 38. 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, Helios Technologies, Inc. (HLIO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 00x versus Cummins Inc. 's 2. 30x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Cummins Inc. (CMI) trades at 25. 9x forward P/E versus 38. 8x for Caterpillar Inc. — 12. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DE: 17. 3% to $680. 54.

In this comparison, CMI (1.

1% yield), DE (1. 1% yield), CAT (0. 7% yield), HLIO (0. 5% yield) pay a dividend. GNRC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

56), 1. 1% yield, +671. 0% 10Y return). Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC) carries a higher beta of 1. 69 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DE: +671. 0%, GNRC: +666. 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.

CMI, CAT, HLIO, DE pay a dividend while GNRC 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.