HLMN vs POOL vs SITE vs FERG vs MSM

For growth investors, Hillman Solutions Corp.

(HLMN) is the stronger pick with 5. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 3% for MSC Industrial Direct Co. , Inc. (MSM). Pool Corporation (POOL) offers the better valuation at 17. 3x trailing P/E (17. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hillman Solutions Corp. (HLMN) 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, Pool Corporation (POOL) is the cheapest at 17.

3x versus Hillman Solutions Corp. at 39. 3x. On forward P/E, Hillman Solutions Corp. is actually cheaper at 13. 5x — 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: Ferguson plc wins at 1. 26x versus SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. 's 6. 72x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Ferguson plc (FERG) delivered a total return of +93.

4%, compared to -53. 0% for Pool Corporation (POOL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FERG returned +364. 3% versus HLMN's -19. 9%. 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), MSC Industrial Direct Co.

, Inc. (MSM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 85β versus Hillman Solutions Corp. 's 1. 39β — meaning HLMN is approximately 64% more volatile than MSM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pool Corporation (POOL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 102% for Ferguson plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hillman Solutions Corp.

(HLMN) is pulling ahead at 5. 4% versus -1. 3% for MSC Industrial Direct Co. , Inc. (MSM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hillman Solutions Corp. grew EPS 122. 2% year-over-year, compared to -22. 1% for MSC Industrial Direct Co. , Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SITE leads at 5. 4% 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.

Pool Corporation (POOL) is the more profitable company, earning 7.

7% net margin versus 2. 6% for Hillman Solutions Corp. — meaning it keeps 7. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: POOL leads at 11. 0% versus 5. 1% for SITE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MSM leads at 40. 8%, 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, Ferguson plc (FERG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 26x versus SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. 's 6. 72x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Hillman Solutions Corp. (HLMN) trades at 13. 5x forward P/E versus 27. 9x for SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. — 14. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLMN: 78. 1% to $14. 00.

In this comparison, MSM (3.

3% yield), POOL (2. 6% yield), FERG (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. HLMN, SITE do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, MSC Industrial Direct Co.

, Inc. (MSM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 85), 3. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MSM: +87. 3%, HLMN: -19. 9%), 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.

In terms of investment character: HLMN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; POOL is a small-cap deep-value stock; SITE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FERG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MSM is a small-cap income-oriented stock. POOL, FERG, MSM pay a dividend while HLMN, SITE 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.