OFLX vs ATO vs SR vs SWX

For growth investors, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is the stronger pick with 12.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -62. 0% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX) offers the better valuation at 14. 9x trailing P/E (21. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Spire Inc. (SR) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

(SWX) is the cheapest at 14. 9x versus Atmos Energy Corporation at 24. 4x. On forward P/E, Spire Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 5x — 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: Spire Inc. wins at 0. 66x versus Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 67x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) delivered a total return of +91.

7%, compared to -76. 2% for Omega Flex, Inc. (OFLX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATO returned +179. 6% versus OFLX's +39. 0%. 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), Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

00β versus Omega Flex, Inc. 's 1. 35β — meaning OFLX is approximately -39715% more volatile than ATO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Omega Flex, Inc. (OFLX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 154% for Spire Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is pulling ahead at 12.

9% versus -62. 0% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 120. 3% year-over-year, compared to -17. 4% for Omega Flex, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SR leads at 4. 0% 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.

Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is the more profitable company, earning 25.

5% net margin versus 11. 0% for Spire Inc. — meaning it keeps 25. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATO leads at 33. 2% versus 17. 2% for OFLX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SR leads at 78. 1%, 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, Spire Inc. (SR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 66x versus Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 67x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Spire Inc. (SR) trades at 16. 5x forward P/E versus 21. 9x for Atmos Energy Corporation — 5. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SR: 13. 4% to $97. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Omega Flex, Inc. (OFLX) offers the highest yield at 4. 5%, versus 1. 9% for Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO).

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

00), 1. 9% yield, +179. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATO: +179. 6%, OFLX: +39. 0%), 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 (OFLX (Industrials) and ATO (Utilities) and SR (Utilities) and SWX (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: OFLX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ATO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SWX 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.