GNRC vs HUBB vs POWL vs FELE vs CMI

For growth investors, Powell Industries, Inc.

(POWL) is the stronger pick with 9. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB) offers the better valuation at 29. 8x trailing P/E (25. 0x 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, Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB) is the cheapest at 29.

8x versus Generac Holdings Inc. at 99. 2x. On forward P/E, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 8x — 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: Powell Industries, Inc. wins at 0. 92x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 2. 50x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Powell Industries, Inc.

(POWL) delivered a total return of +24. 3%, compared to -18. 5% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: POWL returned +26. 5% versus FELE's +231. 4%. 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), Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 92β versus Powell Industries, Inc. 's 1. 95β — meaning POWL is approximately 113% more volatile than FELE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 68% for Hubbell Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(POWL) is pulling ahead at 9. 1% versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Powell Industries, Inc. grew EPS 20. 9% year-over-year, compared to -50. 1% for Generac Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, POWL leads at 27. 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.

Powell Industries, Inc.

(POWL) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 4% net margin versus 3. 8% for Generac Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HUBB leads at 20. 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, Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 92x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. 's 2. 50x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE) trades at 21. 8x forward P/E versus 55. 4x for Powell Industries, Inc. — 33. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HUBB: 8. 5% to $535. 14.

In this comparison, CMI (1.

1% yield), FELE (1. 1% yield), HUBB (1. 1% yield), POWL (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. GNRC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 92), 1. 1% yield, +231. 4% 10Y return). Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) carries a higher beta of 1. 95 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FELE: +231. 4%, POWL: +26. 5%), 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.

HUBB, FELE, CMI pay a dividend while GNRC, POWL 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.