JHX vs HD vs LOW vs MAS

For growth investors, The Home Depot, Inc.

(HD) is the stronger pick with 3. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). Masco Corporation (MAS) offers the better valuation at 18. 6x trailing P/E (16. 8x 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, Masco Corporation (MAS) is the cheapest at 18.

6x versus The Home Depot, Inc. at 22. 3x. On forward P/E, Masco Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: James Hardie Industries plc wins at 1. 51x versus The Home Depot, Inc. 's 5. 92x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Lowe's Companies, Inc.

(LOW) delivered a total return of +18. 5%, compared to -37. 0% for James Hardie Industries plc (JHX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LOW returned +242. 7% 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), The Home Depot, Inc.

(HD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 84β versus James Hardie Industries plc's 1. 59β — meaning JHX is approximately 90% more volatile than HD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, James Hardie Industries plc (JHX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 46% for Masco Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Home Depot, Inc.

(HD) is pulling ahead at 3. 2% 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 -15. 5% for James Hardie Industries plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, JHX leads at 2. 4% 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.

James Hardie Industries plc (JHX) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

9% net margin versus 7. 7% for Lowe's Companies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JHX leads at 16. 9% versus 11. 8% for LOW. 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, James Hardie Industries plc (JHX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 51x versus The Home Depot, Inc. 's 5. 92x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Masco Corporation (MAS) trades at 16. 8x forward P/E versus 21. 1x for The Home Depot, Inc. — 4. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HD: 28. 5% to $408. 08.

In this comparison, HD (2.

9% yield), LOW (2. 1% yield), MAS (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. JHX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lowe's Companies, Inc.

(LOW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 88), 2. 1% yield, +242. 7% 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 (LOW: +242. 7%, 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 HD (Consumer Cyclical) and LOW (Consumer Cyclical) and MAS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

HD, LOW, MAS pay a dividend while JHX 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.