HELE vs ACCO

For growth investors, Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) is the stronger pick with -6.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E (4. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) a "Hold" — based on 11 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 forward P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation is actually cheaper at 4.

8x.

Over the past 5 years, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) delivered a total return of -39.

3%, compared to -88. 6% for Helen of Troy Limited (HELE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACCO returned -35. 1% versus HELE's -74. 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), ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

33β versus Helen of Troy Limited's 1. 65β — meaning HELE is approximately 24% more volatile than ACCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 139% for ACCO Brands Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) is pulling ahead at -6.

4% versus -8. 5% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACCO Brands Corporation grew EPS 141. 5% year-over-year, compared to -827. 7% for Helen of Troy Limited. Over a 3-year CAGR, HELE leads at -4. 8% 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.

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

7% net margin versus -50. 3% for Helen of Troy Limited — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACCO leads at 7. 1% versus 6. 0% for HELE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HELE leads at 45. 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.

On forward earnings alone, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) trades at 4.

8x forward P/E versus 7. 5x for Helen of Troy Limited — 2. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACCO: 97. 0% to $8. 00.

In this comparison, ACCO (7.

1% yield) pays a dividend. HELE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (7.

1% yield). Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) carries a higher beta of 1. 65 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACCO: -35. 1%, HELE: -74. 4%), 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 (HELE (Consumer Defensive) and ACCO (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HELE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACCO is a small-cap deep-value stock. ACCO pays a dividend while HELE 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.