MAS vs MHK vs AWI vs SHW

For growth investors, Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) is the stronger pick with 12. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) offers the better valuation at 17. 6x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Masco Corporation (MAS) a "Buy" — based on 38 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. 6x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company at 31. 5x. On forward P/E, Mohawk Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Masco Corporation wins at 3. 40x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 98x.

Over the past 5 years, Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) delivered a total return of +67. 1%, compared to -53. 6% for Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AWI returned +308. 7% versus MHK's -46. 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 Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

79β versus Mohawk Industries, Inc. 's 1. 34β — meaning MHK is approximately 69% more volatile than SHW 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), Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) is pulling ahead at 12. 1% versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Armstrong World Industries, Inc. grew EPS 17. 6% year-over-year, compared to -27. 1% for Mohawk Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AWI leads at 9. 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.

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 0% net margin versus 3. 4% for Mohawk Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AWI leads at 26. 6% versus 4. 7% for MHK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHW leads at 48. 9%, 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, Masco Corporation (MAS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 40x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 98x. 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. 4x forward P/E versus 27. 6x for The Sherwin-Williams Company — 16. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MHK: 24. 5% to $130. 00.

In this comparison, MAS (1.

7% yield), SHW (1. 0% yield), AWI (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. MHK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

(AWI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), 0. 8% yield, +308. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AWI: +308. 7%, MHK: -46. 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 (MAS (Industrials) and MHK (Consumer Cyclical) and AWI (Industrials) and SHW (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MAS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MHK is a small-cap deep-value stock; AWI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SHW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. MAS, AWI, SHW 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.