NNBR vs IIIN

For growth investors, Insteel Industries, Inc.

(IIIN) is the stronger pick with 22. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 1% for NN, Inc. (NNBR). Insteel Industries, Inc. (IIIN) offers the better valuation at 12. 9x trailing P/E (16. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NN, Inc. (NNBR) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 forward P/E, Insteel Industries, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 16. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Insteel Industries, Inc.

(IIIN) delivered a total return of -12. 0%, compared to -63. 4% for NN, Inc. (NNBR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IIIN returned +48. 0% versus NNBR's -75. 7%. 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), Insteel Industries, Inc.

(IIIN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 01β versus NN, Inc. 's 2. 04β — meaning NNBR is approximately 102% more volatile than IIIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Insteel Industries, Inc. (IIIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 144% for NN, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Insteel Industries, Inc.

(IIIN) is pulling ahead at 22. 4% versus -9. 1% for NN, Inc. (NNBR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Insteel Industries, Inc. grew EPS 112. 1% year-over-year, compared to 3. 6% for NN, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NNBR leads at -5. 4% 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.

Insteel Industries, Inc.

(IIIN) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 3% net margin versus -8. 1% for NN, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IIIN leads at 8. 4% versus -4. 3% for NNBR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IIIN leads at 14. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Insteel Industries, Inc.

(IIIN) trades at 16. 6x forward P/E versus 43. 6x for NN, Inc. — 27. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, IIIN (4.

1% yield) pays a dividend. NNBR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Insteel Industries, Inc.

(IIIN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 01), 4. 1% yield). NN, Inc. (NNBR) carries a higher beta of 2. 04 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IIIN: +48. 0%, NNBR: -75. 7%), 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 Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: NNBR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IIIN is a small-cap high-growth stock. IIIN pays a dividend while NNBR 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.