LOW vs MAS

For growth investors, Lowe's Companies, Inc.

(LOW) is the stronger pick with 3. 1% 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. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) a "Buy" — based on 51 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 Lowe's Companies, Inc. at 19. 7x. On forward P/E, Masco Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Lowe's Companies, Inc. wins at 2. 09x versus Masco Corporation's 3. 40x.

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

(LOW) delivered a total return of +23. 6%, compared to +17. 5% for Masco Corporation (MAS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LOW returned +249. 6% versus MAS's +152. 3%. 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), Lowe's Companies, Inc.

(LOW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 86β versus Masco Corporation's 1. 28β — meaning MAS is approximately 49% more volatile than LOW relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lowe's Companies, Inc.

(LOW) is pulling ahead at 3. 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 -3. 1% for Lowe's Companies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LOW leads at -3. 8% 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.

Masco Corporation (MAS) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

7% net margin versus 7. 7% for Lowe's Companies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MAS leads at 16. 8% versus 11. 8% for LOW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MAS leads at 35. 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, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 09x versus Masco Corporation's 3. 40x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Masco Corporation (MAS) trades at 16. 9x forward P/E versus 18. 5x for Lowe's Companies, Inc. — 1. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LOW: 23. 5% to $288. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) offers the highest yield at 2. 0%, versus 1. 7% for Masco Corporation (MAS).

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. 86), 2. 0% yield, +249. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LOW: +249. 6%, MAS: +152. 3%), 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 (LOW (Consumer Cyclical) and MAS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.