ROL vs WSO

For growth investors, Rollins, Inc.

(ROL) is the stronger pick with 11. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 0% for Watsco, Inc. (WSO). Watsco, Inc. (WSO) offers the better valuation at 35. 0x trailing P/E (33. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Rollins, Inc. (ROL) a "Hold" — based on 17 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, Watsco, Inc.

(WSO) is the cheapest at 35. 0x versus Rollins, Inc. at 49. 9x. On forward P/E, Watsco, Inc. is actually cheaper at 33. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Watsco, Inc. wins at 2. 82x versus Rollins, Inc. 's 2. 93x.

Over the past 5 years, Watsco, Inc.

(WSO) delivered a total return of +59. 8%, compared to +54. 0% for Rollins, Inc. (ROL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ROL returned +378. 0% versus WSO's +275. 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), Rollins, Inc.

(ROL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 23β versus Watsco, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning WSO is approximately 385% more volatile than ROL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Watsco, Inc. (WSO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 97% for Rollins, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(ROL) is pulling ahead at 11. 0% versus -5. 0% for Watsco, Inc. (WSO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Rollins, Inc. grew EPS 13. 5% year-over-year, compared to -7. 9% for Watsco, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ROL leads at 11. 7% 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.

Rollins, Inc.

(ROL) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 0% net margin versus 6. 9% for Watsco, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ROL leads at 19. 4% versus 9. 6% for WSO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ROL leads at 49. 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.

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, Watsco, Inc. (WSO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 82x versus Rollins, Inc. 's 2. 93x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Watsco, Inc. (WSO) trades at 33. 3x forward P/E versus 44. 2x for Rollins, Inc. — 10. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ROL: 17. 3% to $63. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Watsco, Inc. (WSO) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 1. 2% for Rollins, Inc. (ROL).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Rollins, Inc.

(ROL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 23), 1. 2% yield, +378. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ROL: +378. 0%, WSO: +275. 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 (ROL (Consumer Cyclical) and WSO (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.