MTH vs DHI vs LEN vs PHM vs NVR

For growth investors, NVR, Inc.

(NVR) is the stronger pick with -2. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 4% for Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH). Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH) offers the better valuation at 10. 1x trailing P/E (12. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH) 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, Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH) is the cheapest at 10.

1x versus NVR, Inc. at 13. 8x. On forward P/E, PulteGroup, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PulteGroup, Inc. wins at 0. 71x versus Lennar Corporation's 43. 27x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, PulteGroup, Inc.

(PHM) delivered a total return of +95. 4%, compared to -11. 1% for Lennar Corporation (LEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PHM returned +571. 2% versus LEN's +122. 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), NVR, Inc.

(NVR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus Meritage Homes Corporation's 1. 17β — meaning MTH is approximately 73% more volatile than NVR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 36% for Meritage Homes Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(NVR) is pulling ahead at -2. 1% versus -8. 4% for Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NVR, Inc. grew EPS -13. 8% year-over-year, compared to -44. 2% for Lennar Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PHM leads at 2. 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.

NVR, Inc.

(NVR) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 0% net margin versus 6. 0% for Lennar Corporation — meaning it keeps 13. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PHM leads at 17. 3% versus 8. 0% for LEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PHM leads at 26. 4%, 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, PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 71x versus Lennar Corporation's 43. 27x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM) trades at 11. 7x forward P/E versus 16. 7x for NVR, Inc. — 5. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTH: 29. 2% to $83. 25.

In this comparison, MTH (2.

7% yield), LEN (2. 3% yield), DHI (1. 1% yield), PHM (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. NVR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, D.

R. Horton, Inc. (DHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 85), 1. 1% yield, +424. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DHI: +424. 3%, NVR: +264. 9%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

MTH, DHI, LEN, PHM pay a dividend while NVR 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.