OSS vs AAON vs LII vs MRCY vs CARR

For growth investors, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the stronger pick with 20. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -41. 1% for One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS). Lennox International Inc. (LII) offers the better valuation at 23. 5x trailing P/E (21. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Lennox International Inc.

(LII) is the cheapest at 23. 5x versus AAON, Inc. at 108. 3x. On forward P/E, Lennox International Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Lennox International Inc. wins at 1. 12x versus AAON, Inc. 's 12. 51x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, One Stop Systems, Inc.

(OSS) delivered a total return of +222. 0%, compared to +41. 9% for Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAON returned +668. 2% versus OSS's +221. 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), Carrier Global Corporation (CARR) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

21β versus One Stop Systems, Inc. 's 2. 90β — meaning OSS is approximately 139% more volatile than CARR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 177% for Lennox International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(AAON) is pulling ahead at 20. 1% versus -41. 1% for One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: One Stop Systems, Inc. grew EPS 133. 8% year-over-year, compared to -72. 4% for Carrier Global Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AAON leads at 17. 5% 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.

One Stop Systems, Inc.

(OSS) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 8% net margin versus -4. 2% for Mercury Systems, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LII leads at 19. 5% versus -10. 5% for OSS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OSS leads at 46. 5%, 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, Lennox International Inc. (LII) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 12x versus AAON, Inc. 's 12. 51x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Lennox International Inc. (LII) trades at 21. 5x forward P/E versus 1568. 0x for One Stop Systems, Inc. — 1546. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OSS: 14. 8% to $18. 00.

In this comparison, CARR (1.

4% yield), LII (0. 9% yield), AAON (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. OSS, MRCY do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

21), 1. 4% yield, +491. 3% 10Y return). One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) carries a higher beta of 2. 90 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CARR: +491. 3%, OSS: +221. 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 (OSS (Technology) and AAON (Industrials) and LII (Industrials) and MRCY (Industrials) and CARR (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: OSS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AAON is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LII is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MRCY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CARR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. LII, CARR pay a dividend while OSS, AAON, MRCY 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.