KSCP vs ALLE vs QCOM vs ASGN

For growth investors, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the stronger pick with 13.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 6% for Knightscope, Inc. (KSCP). ASGN Incorporated (ASGN) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (5. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Allegion plc (ALLE) a "Hold" — based on 23 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, ASGN Incorporated (ASGN) is the cheapest at 8.

1x versus QUALCOMM Incorporated at 40. 4x. On forward P/E, ASGN Incorporated is actually cheaper at 5. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Allegion plc wins at 0. 90x versus QUALCOMM Incorporated's 9. 80x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) delivered a total return of +58.

5%, compared to -99. 0% for Knightscope, Inc. (KSCP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QCOM returned +382. 4% versus KSCP's -99. 0%. 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), Allegion plc (ALLE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

66β versus Knightscope, Inc. 's 2. 63β — meaning KSCP is approximately 298% more volatile than ALLE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Knightscope, Inc. (KSCP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 110% for Allegion plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is pulling ahead at 13.

7% versus -15. 6% for Knightscope, Inc. (KSCP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Knightscope, Inc. grew EPS 34. 6% year-over-year, compared to -44. 2% for QUALCOMM Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, KSCP leads at 46. 9% 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.

Allegion plc (ALLE) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

8% net margin versus -293. 7% for Knightscope, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QCOM leads at 27. 9% versus -274. 7% for KSCP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QCOM leads at 55. 4%, 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, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 90x versus QUALCOMM Incorporated's 9. 80x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ASGN Incorporated (ASGN) trades at 5. 8x forward P/E versus 20. 4x for QUALCOMM Incorporated — 14. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ASGN: 79. 4% to $37. 60.

In this comparison, QCOM (1.

7% yield), ALLE (1. 5% yield) pay a dividend. KSCP, ASGN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

66), 1. 5% yield, +123. 6% 10Y return). Knightscope, Inc. (KSCP) carries a higher beta of 2. 63 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALLE: +123. 6%, KSCP: -99. 0%), 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 (KSCP (Industrials) and ALLE (Industrials) and QCOM (Technology) and ASGN (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: KSCP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ALLE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; QCOM is a large-cap quality compounder stock; ASGN is a small-cap deep-value stock. ALLE, QCOM pay a dividend while KSCP, ASGN 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.