LIVE vs CODI

For growth investors, Compass Diversified (CODI) is the stronger pick with 4.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 9% for Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE). Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) offers the better valuation at 2. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Compass Diversified (CODI) a "Hold" — based on 14 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.

Over the past 5 years, Compass Diversified (CODI) delivered a total return of -37.

0%, compared to -65. 8% for Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CODI returned +52. 1% versus LIVE's +28. 8%. 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), Compass Diversified (CODI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

09β versus Live Ventures Incorporated's 1. 23β — meaning LIVE is approximately 13% more volatile than CODI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 3% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Compass Diversified (CODI) is pulling ahead at 4.

8% versus -5. 9% for Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Live Ventures Incorporated grew EPS 158. 1% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. Over a 3-year CAGR, LIVE leads at 15. 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.

Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) is the more profitable company, earning 5.

1% net margin versus -12. 2% for Compass Diversified — meaning it keeps 5. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LIVE leads at 3. 3% versus 2. 3% for CODI. 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.

In this comparison, CODI (4.

3% yield) pays a dividend. LIVE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Compass Diversified (CODI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

09), 4. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CODI: +52. 1%, LIVE: +28. 8%), 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 (LIVE (Consumer Cyclical) and CODI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LIVE is a small-cap deep-value stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. CODI pays a dividend while LIVE 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.