LOW vs MAS vs HD vs MHK

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). Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) offers the better valuation at 17. 3x trailing P/E (11. 2x 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, Mohawk Industries, Inc.

(MHK) is the cheapest at 17. 3x versus The Home Depot, Inc. at 22. 7x. On forward P/E, Mohawk Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 2x. 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. 07x versus The Home Depot, Inc. 's 6. 01x.

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

(LOW) delivered a total return of +21. 0%, compared to -55. 3% for Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LOW returned +244. 9% versus MHK's -47. 6%. 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 Mohawk Industries, Inc. 's 1. 34β — meaning MHK is approximately 60% more volatile than HD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 33% 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 -27. 1% for Mohawk Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HD leads at 1. 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.

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

7% net margin versus 3. 4% for Mohawk Industries, 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 4. 7% for MHK. 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. 07x versus The Home Depot, Inc. 's 6. 01x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 21. 5x for The Home Depot, Inc. — 10. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MHK: 26. 5% to $130. 00.

In this comparison, HD (2.

8% yield), LOW (2. 0% yield), MAS (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. MHK 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. 86), 2. 0% yield, +244. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LOW: +244. 9%, MHK: -47. 6%), 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) and HD (Consumer Cyclical) and MHK (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LOW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MAS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HD is a large-cap quality compounder stock; MHK is a small-cap deep-value stock. LOW, MAS, HD pay a dividend while MHK 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.