ITRI vs LDOS vs CSCO vs REZI vs ANET

For growth investors, Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) is the stronger pick with 28. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) offers the better valuation at 11. 8x trailing P/E (11. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) a "Buy" — based on 27 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, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the cheapest at 11. 8x versus Arista Networks, Inc. at 51. 5x. On forward P/E, Leidos Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Leidos Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 53x versus Arista Networks, Inc. 's 0. 96x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) delivered a total return of +590. 5%, compared to -7. 2% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ANET returned +33. 7% versus REZI's +37. 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), Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Resideo Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 24β — meaning REZI is approximately 469% more volatile than LDOS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 63% versus 119% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) is pulling ahead at 28. 6% versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Itron, Inc. grew EPS 25. 7% year-over-year, compared to -718. 0% for Resideo Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ANET leads at 27. 1% 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.

Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) is the more profitable company, earning 39. 0% net margin versus -7. 1% for Resideo Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 39. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ANET leads at 42. 8% versus 8. 1% for REZI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSCO leads at 64. 9%, 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, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 53x versus Arista Networks, Inc. 's 0. 96x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) trades at 11. 0x forward P/E versus 39. 1x for Arista Networks, Inc. — 28. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITRI: 68. 8% to $137. 00.

In this comparison, CSCO (1.

7% yield), LDOS (1. 2% yield), REZI (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. ITRI, ANET do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 1. 2% yield, +221. 6% 10Y return). Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET) carries a higher beta of 2. 02 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LDOS: +221. 6%, ANET: +33. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ITRI (Technology) and LDOS (Technology) and CSCO (Technology) and REZI (Industrials) and ANET (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock; LDOS is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CSCO is a large-cap quality compounder stock; REZI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ANET is a mid-cap high-growth stock. LDOS, CSCO, REZI pay a dividend while ITRI, ANET 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.