REVG vs WNC vs OSUR vs ASTE vs PATK

For growth investors, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the stronger pick with 8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -38. 1% for OraSure Technologies, Inc. (OSUR). Wabash National Corporation (WNC) offers the better valuation at 1. 5x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Wabash National Corporation (WNC) is the cheapest at 1.

5x versus REV Group, Inc. at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, Astec Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, REV Group, Inc.

(REVG) delivered a total return of +261. 2%, compared to -68. 3% for OraSure Technologies, Inc. (OSUR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PATK returned +395. 2% versus OSUR's -53. 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), Patrick Industries, Inc.

(PATK) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 93β versus Wabash National Corporation's 1. 93β — meaning WNC is approximately 107% more volatile than PATK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, OraSure Technologies, Inc. (OSUR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 139% for Patrick Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is pulling ahead at 8. 1% versus -38. 1% for OraSure Technologies, Inc. (OSUR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to -261. 5% for OraSure Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASTE leads at 3. 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.

Wabash National Corporation (WNC) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

7% net margin versus -59. 8% for OraSure Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WNC leads at 20. 8% versus -59. 2% for OSUR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OSUR leads at 41. 9%, 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, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) trades at 14. 2x forward P/E versus 18. 2x for Patrick Industries, Inc. — 4. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WNC: 124. 4% to $17. 50.

In this comparison, WNC (4.

2% yield), PATK (1. 7% yield), ASTE (1. 0% yield), REVG (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. OSUR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Patrick Industries, Inc.

(PATK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), 1. 7% yield, +395. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PATK: +395. 2%, OSUR: -53. 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 (REVG (Industrials) and WNC (Industrials) and OSUR (Healthcare) and ASTE (Industrials) and PATK (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: REVG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; WNC is a small-cap deep-value stock; OSUR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ASTE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PATK is a small-cap quality compounder stock. WNC, ASTE, PATK pay a dividend while REVG, OSUR 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.