LNN vs VMI vs ITRI vs AAON

For growth investors, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the stronger pick with 20. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) offers the better valuation at 12. 5x trailing P/E (13. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AAON, Inc. (AAON) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the cheapest at 12. 5x versus AAON, Inc. at 100. 2x. On forward P/E, Itron, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Valmont Industries, Inc. wins at 1. 08x versus AAON, Inc. 's 12. 01x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) delivered a total return of +196. 3%, compared to -30. 3% for Lindsay Corporation (LNN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAON returned +612. 1% versus LNN's +80. 5%. 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), Lindsay Corporation (LNN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

60β versus AAON, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning AAON is approximately 205% more volatile than LNN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lindsay Corporation (LNN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 74% for Itron, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is pulling ahead at 20. 1% 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 -36. 1% for AAON, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AAON leads at 17. 5% 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.

Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 7% net margin versus 7. 5% for AAON, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ITRI leads at 13. 5% versus 10. 1% for AAON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ITRI leads at 37. 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.

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, Valmont Industries, Inc. (VMI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 08x versus AAON, Inc. 's 12. 01x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Itron, Inc. (ITRI) trades at 13. 5x forward P/E versus 65. 3x for AAON, Inc. — 51. 8x 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, LNN (1.

3% yield), VMI (0. 5% yield), AAON (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. ITRI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

60), 1. 3% yield). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LNN: +80. 5%, ITRI: +94. 4%), 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 (LNN (Industrials) and VMI (Industrials) and ITRI (Technology) and AAON (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LNN is a small-cap deep-value stock; VMI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock; AAON is a mid-cap high-growth stock. LNN, VMI pay a dividend while ITRI, AAON 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.