ODP vs MAX vs UNFI vs ACCO vs HNI

For growth investors, MediaAlpha, Inc.

(MAX) is the stronger pick with 28. 8% 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 trailing P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the cheapest at 9.

2x versus HNI Corporation at 31. 3x. On forward P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, United Natural Foods, Inc.

(UNFI) delivered a total return of +36. 4%, compared to -77. 2% for MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UNFI returned +43. 1% versus MAX's -70. 9%. 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), United Natural Foods, Inc.

(UNFI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 97β versus The ODP Corporation's 1. 53β — meaning ODP is approximately 59% more volatile than UNFI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HNI Corporation (HNI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 89% versus 2% for United Natural Foods, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(MAX) is pulling ahead at 28. 8% 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, MAX leads at 34. 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.

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

7% net margin versus -0. 4% for United Natural Foods, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HNI leads at 8. 4% versus -0. 1% for UNFI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HNI leads at 41. 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, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) trades at 4.

8x forward P/E versus 19. 5x for United Natural Foods, Inc. — 14. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HNI: 173. 8% to $95. 00.

In this comparison, ACCO (7.

1% yield), HNI (3. 7% yield) pay a dividend. ODP, MAX, UNFI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, HNI Corporation (HNI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

07), 3. 7% 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 (HNI: +9. 3%, 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 MAX (Communication Services) and UNFI (Consumer Defensive) and ACCO (Industrials) and HNI (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; MAX is a small-cap high-growth stock; UNFI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACCO is a small-cap deep-value stock; HNI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. ACCO, HNI pay a dividend while ODP, MAX, UNFI do 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.