ODC vs LIN vs APD vs ACCO

For growth investors, Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC) is the stronger pick with 11.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E (4. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Linde plc (LIN) a "Buy" — based on 28 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, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the cheapest at 9.

2x versus Linde plc at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Oil-Dri Corporation of America wins at 0. 93x versus Linde plc's 1. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC) delivered a total return of +345.

3%, compared to -39. 3% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ODC returned +386. 5% versus ACCO's -35. 1%. 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), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

24β versus ACCO Brands Corporation's 1. 33β — meaning ACCO is approximately 453% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 139% for ACCO Brands Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC) is pulling ahead at 11.

0% versus -8. 5% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACCO Brands Corporation grew EPS 141. 5% year-over-year, compared to -110. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ODC leads at 11. 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.

Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

3% net margin versus -3. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LIN leads at 26. 3% versus -7. 3% for APD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LIN leads at 43. 3%, 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, Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 93x versus Linde plc's 1. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) trades at 4. 8x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 22. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACCO: 97. 0% to $8. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 0. 7% for Oil-Dri Corporation of America (ODC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Linde plc (LIN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

24), 1. 2% yield, +375. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +375. 2%, ACCO: -35. 1%), 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 (ODC (Basic Materials) and LIN (Basic Materials) and APD (Basic Materials) and ACCO (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ODC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock; APD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ACCO is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.