JHX vs EXP vs MLM vs MAS

For growth investors, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the stronger pick with 0. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). Eagle Materials Inc. (EXP) offers the better valuation at 15. 3x trailing P/E (16. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate James Hardie Industries plc (JHX) a "Buy" — based on 16 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, Eagle Materials Inc.

(EXP) is the cheapest at 15. 3x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. at 31. 4x. On forward P/E, Eagle Materials Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Eagle Materials Inc. wins at 0. 31x versus Masco Corporation's 3. 38x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) delivered a total return of +61. 1%, compared to -37. 0% for James Hardie Industries plc (JHX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MLM returned +237. 1% versus JHX's +65. 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), Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus James Hardie Industries plc's 1. 59β — meaning JHX is approximately 84% more volatile than MLM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 46% for Masco Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is pulling ahead at 0. 1% versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Masco Corporation grew EPS 2. 7% year-over-year, compared to -42. 0% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXP leads at 6. 7% 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.

Eagle Materials Inc.

(EXP) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 5% net margin versus 10. 7% for Masco Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXP leads at 26. 5% versus 16. 8% for MAS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JHX leads at 38. 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, Eagle Materials Inc. (EXP) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Masco Corporation's 3. 38x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Eagle Materials Inc. (EXP) trades at 16. 3x forward P/E versus 30. 5x for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. — 14. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MLM: 17. 3% to $692. 78.

In this comparison, MAS (1.

7% yield), MLM (0. 6% yield), EXP (0. 5% yield) pay a dividend. JHX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87), 0. 6% yield, +237. 1% 10Y return). James Hardie Industries plc (JHX) carries a higher beta of 1. 59 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MLM: +237. 1%, JHX: +65. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (JHX (Basic Materials) and EXP (Basic Materials) and MLM (Basic Materials) and MAS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: JHX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; EXP is a small-cap deep-value stock; MLM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MAS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. MLM, MAS pay a dividend while JHX, EXP 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.