HNI vs UFI

For growth investors, HNI Corporation (HNI) is the stronger pick with 12.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Unifi, Inc. (UFI). HNI Corporation (HNI) offers the better valuation at 31. 3x trailing P/E (8. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HNI Corporation (HNI) a "Buy" — based on 3 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.

Over the past 5 years, HNI Corporation (HNI) delivered a total return of -7.

3%, compared to -85. 3% for Unifi, Inc. (UFI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HNI returned +9. 3% versus UFI's -84. 1%. 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), Unifi, Inc.

(UFI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 31β versus HNI Corporation's 1. 07β — meaning HNI is approximately 245% more volatile than UFI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Unifi, Inc. (UFI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 89% for HNI Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), HNI Corporation (HNI) is pulling ahead at 12.

4% versus -1. 9% for Unifi, Inc. (UFI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Unifi, Inc. grew EPS 57. 5% year-over-year, compared to -61. 5% for HNI Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HNI leads at 6. 3% 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.

HNI Corporation (HNI) is the more profitable company, earning 1.

9% net margin versus -3. 6% for Unifi, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HNI leads at 8. 4% versus -1. 7% for UFI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HNI leads at 41. 4%, 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.

In this comparison, HNI (3.

7% yield) pays a dividend. UFI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Unifi, Inc.

(UFI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 31)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UFI: -84. 1%, HNI: +9. 3%), 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 (HNI (Industrials) and UFI (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HNI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; UFI is a small-cap quality compounder stock. HNI pays a dividend while UFI 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.