IEP vs REZI vs JCI vs CODI

For growth investors, Resideo Technologies, Inc.

(REZI) is the stronger pick with 10. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 5% for Icahn Enterprises L. P. (IEP). Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) offers the better valuation at 54. 4x trailing P/E (30. 2x 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.

On forward P/E, Resideo Technologies, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 13. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) delivered a total return of +131.

7%, compared to -41. 0% for Icahn Enterprises L. P. (IEP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JCI returned +354. 6% versus IEP's +25. 6%. 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), Icahn Enterprises L.

P. (IEP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus Resideo Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 27β — meaning REZI is approximately 279% more volatile than IEP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 86% versus 3% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Resideo Technologies, Inc.

(REZI) is pulling ahead at 10. 5% versus -7. 5% for Icahn Enterprises L. P. (IEP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Icahn Enterprises L. P. grew EPS 44. 7% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. Over a 3-year CAGR, REZI leads at 5. 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.

Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

9% net margin versus -12. 2% for Compass Diversified — meaning it keeps 13. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JCI leads at 12. 0% versus -0. 0% for IEP. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Resideo Technologies, Inc.

(REZI) trades at 13. 3x forward P/E versus 145. 3x for Compass Diversified — 131. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CODI: 29. 1% to $15. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Icahn Enterprises L. P. (IEP) offers the highest yield at 6. 3%, versus 0. 6% for Resideo Technologies, Inc. (REZI).

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). Resideo Technologies, Inc. (REZI) carries a higher beta of 2. 27 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IEP: +25. 6%, REZI: +41. 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.

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; REZI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; JCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented 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.