ODP vs ACCO

For growth investors, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the stronger pick with -8.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 6% for The ODP Corporation (ODP). 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 The ODP Corporation (ODP) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, ACCO Brands Corporation is actually cheaper at 4.

8x.

Over the past 5 years, The ODP Corporation (ODP) delivered a total return of -36.

9%, compared to -39. 3% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACCO returned -35. 1% versus ODP's -49. 3%. 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), ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

33β versus The ODP Corporation's 1. 53β — meaning ODP is approximately 15% more volatile than ACCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The ODP Corporation (ODP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 131% versus 139% for ACCO Brands Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is pulling ahead at -8.

5% versus -10. 6% for The ODP Corporation (ODP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACCO Brands Corporation grew EPS 141. 5% year-over-year, compared to -102. 5% for The ODP Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ODP leads at -6. 2% 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.

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

7% net margin versus -0. 0% for The ODP Corporation — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACCO leads at 7. 1% versus 2. 3% for ODP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACCO leads at 29. 8%, 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, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) trades at 4.

8x forward P/E versus 9. 9x for The ODP Corporation — 5. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, ACCO (7.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (7.

1% yield). The ODP Corporation (ODP) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACCO: -35. 1%, ODP: -49. 3%), 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 (ODP (Consumer Cyclical) and ACCO (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ODP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACCO is a small-cap deep-value stock. ACCO pays a dividend while ODP 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.