REX vs ADM

For growth investors, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the stronger pick with -6.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 9% for REX American Resources Corporation (REX). REX American Resources Corporation (REX) offers the better valuation at 29. 5x trailing P/E (62. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate REX American Resources Corporation (REX) a "Buy" — based on 3 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, REX American Resources Corporation (REX) is the cheapest at 29.

5x versus Archer-Daniels-Midland Company at 34. 8x. On forward P/E, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company is actually cheaper at 18. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, REX American Resources Corporation (REX) delivered a total return of +250.

0%, compared to +29. 2% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: REX returned +464. 7% versus ADM's +147. 4%. 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), Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus REX American Resources Corporation's 0. 36β — meaning REX is approximately 216% more volatile than ADM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, REX American Resources Corporation (REX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 37% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is pulling ahead at -6.

2% versus -22. 9% for REX American Resources Corporation (REX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: REX American Resources Corporation grew EPS -4. 9% year-over-year, compared to -38. 9% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, REX leads at -6. 1% 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.

REX American Resources Corporation (REX) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

1% net margin versus 1. 3% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company — meaning it keeps 9. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: REX leads at 10. 0% versus 1. 8% for ADM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — REX leads at 14. 2%, 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, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) trades at 18.

6x forward P/E versus 62. 8x for REX American Resources Corporation — 44. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for REX: 23. 3% to $60. 00.

In this comparison, ADM (2.

6% yield) pays a dividend. REX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), 2. 6% yield, +147. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADM: +147. 4%, REX: +464. 7%), 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 (REX (Basic Materials) and ADM (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

ADM pays a dividend while REX 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.