Conglomerates
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4 / 10Stock Comparison
IEP vs CVR vs CODI vs IIIN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories
Conglomerates
Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication
IEP vs CVR vs CODI vs IIIN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Conglomerates | Manufacturing - Tools & Accessories | Conglomerates | Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication |
| Market Cap | $5.08B | $11M | $905M | $527M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $10.18B | $28M | $1.85B | $678M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-486M | $-1M | $-227M | $48M |
| Gross Margin | 13.1% | 14.8% | 38.7% | 15.0% |
| Operating Margin | 6.8% | -5.5% | 0.3% | 9.2% |
| Forward P/E | 18.1x | — | 150.4x | 16.6x |
| Total Debt | $6.62B | $921K | $1.88B | $4M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.42B | $2M | $68M | $39M |
IEP vs CVR vs CODI vs IIIN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icahn Enterprises L… (IEP) | 100 | 16.0 | -84.0% |
| Chicago Rivet & Mac… (CVR) | 100 | 55.6 | -44.4% |
| Compass Diversified (CODI) | 100 | 70.9 | -29.1% |
| Insteel Industries,… (IIIN) | 100 | 153.8 | +53.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IEP vs CVR vs CODI vs IIIN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
IEP is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability and sleep-well-at-night is your priority.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.60, yield 6.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.60, current ratio 4.62x
- Beta 0.60, yield 6.3%, current ratio 4.62x
- Beta 0.60 vs CODI's 1.09, lower leverage
CVR plays a supporting role in this comparison — it may shine differently against other peers.
CODI is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 53.7% 10Y total return vs IIIN's 48.0%
IIIN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 22.4%, EPS growth 112.1%, 3Y rev CAGR -7.8%
- 22.4% revenue growth vs IEP's -7.5%
- Lower P/E (16.6x vs 150.4x)
- 7.0% margin vs CODI's -12.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 22.4% revenue growth vs IEP's -7.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (16.6x vs 150.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 7.0% margin vs CODI's -12.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.60 vs CODI's 1.09, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 6.3% yield, vs IIIN's 4.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +19.5% vs CODI's -30.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 10.4% ROA vs CODI's -7.3%, ROIC 14.1% vs 1.0% |
IEP vs CVR vs CODI vs IIIN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
IEP vs CVR vs CODI vs IIIN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
IIIN leads in 3 of 6 categories
IEP leads 2 • CVR leads 0 • CODI leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IIIN leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IEP is the larger business by revenue, generating $10.2B annually — 365.0x CVR's $28M. IIIN is the more profitable business, keeping 7.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CODI's -12.3%. On growth, CVR holds the edge at +45.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $10.2B | $28M | $1.8B | $678M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | -$318,590 | $109M | $81M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$486M | -$1M | -$227M | $48M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$101M | -$2M | $10M | $439,000 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +13.1% | +14.8% | +38.7% | +15.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | -5.5% | +0.3% | +9.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.8% | -3.9% | -12.3% | +7.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -1.0% | -5.6% | +0.5% | +0.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.9% | +45.9% | -5.9% | +23.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +67.9% | -5.1% | +6.1% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — CVR and IIIN each lead in 2 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, IIIN's 6.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CODI's 15.0x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.1B | $11M | $905M | $527M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.3B | $10M | $2.7B | $492M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -15.35x | -9.73x | -3.94x | 12.92x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.14x | — | 150.38x | 16.60x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | 0.78x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.80x | — | 14.99x | 6.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.54x | 0.38x | 0.48x | 0.81x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.34x | 0.56x | 1.58x | 1.43x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | 27.81x |
Profitability & Efficiency
IIIN leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IIIN delivers a 13.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $-50 for CODI. IIIN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CODI's 3.27x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IIIN scores 6/9 vs IEP's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -15.4% | -5.5% | -49.6% | +13.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.4% | -4.6% | -7.3% | +10.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.0% | -6.4% | +1.0% | +14.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.0% | -7.3% | +2.4% | +14.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.93x | 0.05x | 3.27x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.2B | -$797,274 | $1.8B | -$35M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.4B | $2M | $68M | $39M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.6B | $920,963 | $1.9B | $4M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.37x | — | -0.97x | 1192.54x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IIIN leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IIIN five years ago would be worth $8,796 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,180 for CVR. Over the past 12 months, IEP leads with a +19.5% total return vs CODI's -30.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IIIN at 3.3% vs CVR's -23.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.4% | -21.9% | +158.7% | -16.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +19.5% | +3.7% | -30.3% | -18.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -50.9% | -54.9% | -25.6% | +10.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.9% | -48.2% | -35.5% | -12.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +21.8% | -27.5% | +53.7% | +48.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -21.1% | -23.3% | -9.4% | +3.3% |
Risk & Volatility
IEP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IEP is the less volatile stock with a 0.60 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CODI's 1.09 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IEP currently trades 79.9% from its 52-week high vs IIIN's 65.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.60x | 0.97x | 1.09x | 1.01x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.99 | $15.00 | $17.46 | $41.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.08 | $8.15 | $4.58 | $24.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +79.9% | +72.7% | +68.9% | +65.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.5 | 49.4 | 70.0 | 39.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 952K | 3K | 1.2M | 211K |
Analyst Outlook
IEP leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: IEP as "Buy", CODI as "Hold", IIIN as "Buy". For income investors, IEP offers the higher dividend yield at 6.28% vs CVR's 1.10%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | — | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — | $15.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | — | 14 | 4 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.3% | +1.1% | +4.2% | +4.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.50 | $0.12 | $0.50 | $1.11 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.0% | +0.4% |
IIIN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). IEP leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
IEP vs CVR vs CODI vs IIIN: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Insteel Industries, Inc.
(IIIN) is the stronger pick with 22. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 5% for Icahn Enterprises L. P. (IEP). Insteel Industries, Inc. (IIIN) offers the better valuation at 12. 9x trailing P/E (16. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Icahn Enterprises L. P. (IEP) a "Buy" — based on 2 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.
02Which has the better valuation — IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN?
On forward P/E, Insteel Industries, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 16. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN?
Over the past 5 years, Insteel Industries, Inc.
(IIIN) delivered a total return of -12. 0%, compared to -48. 2% for Chicago Rivet & Machine Co. (CVR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CODI returned +53. 7% versus CVR's -27. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Icahn Enterprises L.
P. (IEP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus Compass Diversified's 1. 09β — meaning CODI is approximately 81% more volatile than IEP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Insteel Industries, Inc. (IIIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 3% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Insteel Industries, Inc.
(IIIN) is pulling ahead at 22. 4% versus -7. 5% for Icahn Enterprises L. P. (IEP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Insteel Industries, Inc. grew EPS 112. 1% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. Over a 3-year CAGR, CODI leads at 2. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN?
Insteel Industries, Inc.
(IIIN) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 3% net margin versus -12. 2% for Compass Diversified — meaning it keeps 6. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IIIN leads at 8. 4% versus -5. 5% for CVR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CODI leads at 38. 5%, 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.
07Is IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Insteel Industries, Inc.
(IIIN) trades at 16. 6x forward P/E versus 150. 4x for Compass Diversified — 133. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Icahn Enterprises L. P. (IEP) offers the highest yield at 6. 3%, versus 1. 1% for Chicago Rivet & Machine Co. (CVR).
09Is IEP or CVR or CODI or IIIN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Icahn Enterprises L.
P. (IEP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 60), 6. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IEP: +21. 8%, CODI: +53. 7%), 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.
10What are the main differences between IEP and CVR and CODI and IIIN?
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: IEP is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CVR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; IIIN is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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.
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