RS vs LIN vs APD vs SSD

For growth investors, Simpson Manufacturing Co.

, Inc. (SSD) is the stronger pick with 4. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 5% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. (SSD) offers the better valuation at 23. 6x trailing P/E (21. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Linde plc (LIN) a "Buy" — based on 28 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, Simpson Manufacturing Co.

, Inc. (SSD) is the cheapest at 23. 6x versus Linde plc at 34. 4x. On forward P/E, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. is actually cheaper at 19. 3x — 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: Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. wins at 0. 97x versus Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. 's 1. 52x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) delivered a total return of +126. 6%, compared to +13. 8% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RS returned +454. 9% versus APD's +166. 7%. 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), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

24β versus Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. 's 0. 94β — meaning SSD is approximately 289% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. (SSD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 106% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Simpson Manufacturing Co.

, Inc. (SSD) is pulling ahead at 4. 5% versus -0. 5% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. grew EPS 8. 4% year-over-year, compared to -110. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SSD leads at 3. 3% 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.

Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

3% net margin versus -3. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LIN leads at 26. 3% versus -7. 3% for APD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SSD leads at 45. 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.

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, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 97x versus Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. 's 1. 52x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) trades at 19. 3x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 8. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SSD: 10. 5% to $214. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 0. 6% for Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. (SSD).

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

24), 1. 2% yield, +376. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +376. 9%, SSD: +434. 2%), 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 (RS (Basic Materials) and LIN (Basic Materials) and APD (Basic Materials) and SSD (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.