SCS
Steelcase Inc.
Business Equipment & Supplies
Market Cap$1.85B
5Y Perf.+39.4%
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Stock Comparison
SCS vs HNI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HNI
HNI Corporation
Business Equipment & Supplies
Market Cap$1.58B
5Y Perf.+63.0%
SCS vs HNI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SCS | HNI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Business Equipment & Supplies | Business Equipment & Supplies |
| Market Cap | $1.85B | $1.58B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.26B | $3.59B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $95M | $-15M |
| Gross Margin | 33.5% | 39.9% |
| Operating Margin | 4.0% | 4.6% |
| Forward P/E | 14.1x | 8.4x |
| Total Debt | $601M | $1.63B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $346M | $209M |
SCS vs HNI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SCS
HNI
| Stock | May 20 | Dec 25 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelcase Inc. (SCS) | 100 | 139.4 | +39.4% |
| HNI Corporation (HNI) | 100 | 163.0 | +63.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SCS vs HNI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HNI leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Steelcase Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SCS
Steelcase Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
SCS is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 38.1% 10Y total return vs HNI's 6.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 2.02, Low D/E 63.1%, current ratio 1.54x
- 2.9% margin vs HNI's -0.4%
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
HNI
HNI Corporation
The Income Pick
HNI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.94, yield 3.8%
- Rev growth 12.4%, EPS growth -61.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.3%
- Beta 0.94, yield 3.8%, current ratio 1.24x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HNI | 12.4% revenue growth vs SCS's 0.2% |
| Value | HNI | Lower P/E (8.4x vs 14.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | SCS | 2.9% margin vs HNI's -0.4% |
| Stability / Safety | HNI | Beta 0.94 vs SCS's 2.02 |
| Dividends | HNI | 3.8% yield, vs SCS's 2.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SCS | +55.9% vs HNI's -24.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SCS | 4.1% ROA vs HNI's -0.5%, ROIC 9.9% vs 7.8% |
SCS vs HNI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2021
FY 2025
SCS vs HNI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLHNILAGGINGSCS
SCSSteelcase Inc.
2leads
HNIHNI Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SCSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HNI4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HNI5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SCS9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SCS5/5
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
HNI1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HNI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HNI and SCS operate at a comparable scale, with $3.6B and $3.3B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.9% (SCS) to -0.4% (HNI). On growth, HNI holds the edge at +124.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SCSSteelcase Inc. | HNIHNI Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.3B | $3.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $207M | $323M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $95M | -$15M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$37M | $8M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.5% | +39.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +4.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.9% | -0.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -1.1% | +0.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.8% | +124.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -43.1% | -5.1% |
HNI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HNI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.8x trailing earnings, SCS trades at a 48% valuation discount to HNI's 30.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HNI's 8.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SCS's 8.8x.
| Metric | SCSSteelcase Inc. | HNIHNI Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $1.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $3.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.82x | 30.28x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.12x | 8.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 12.00x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.82x | 8.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.59x | 0.56x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.95x | 0.90x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.28x | 7.52x |
HNI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SCS leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SCS delivers a 9.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-1 for HNI. SCS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.63x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HNI's 0.89x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SCS scores 6/9 vs HNI's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SCSSteelcase Inc. | HNIHNI Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.4% | -1.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.1% | -0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.9% | +7.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.6% | +9.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.63x | 0.89x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $254M | $1.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $346M | $209M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $601M | $1.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.09x | 2.01x |
SCS leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SCS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SCS five years ago would be worth $12,408 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,003 for HNI. Over the past 12 months, SCS leads with a +55.9% total return vs HNI's -24.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SCS at 30.0% vs HNI's 11.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SCSSteelcase Inc. | HNIHNI Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | — | -20.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +55.9% | -24.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +119.7% | +38.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.1% | -10.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +38.1% | +6.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.0% | +11.5% |
SCS leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SCS and HNI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HNI is the less volatile stock with a 0.94 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SCS's 2.02 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SCS currently trades 92.8% from its 52-week high vs HNI's 63.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SCSSteelcase Inc. | HNIHNI Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.02x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.40 | $53.29 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.70 | $31.41 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.8% | +63.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.2 | 42.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 745K |
Evenly matched — SCS and HNI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
HNI leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SCS as "Hold" and HNI as "Buy". For income investors, HNI offers the higher dividend yield at 3.84% vs SCS's 2.56%.
| Metric | SCSSteelcase Inc. | HNIHNI Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $95.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 3 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +3.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.41 | $1.29 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +5.3% |
HNI leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
HNI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). SCS leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallHNI Corporation (HNI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SCS vs HNI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SCS or HNI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, HNI Corporation (HNI) is the stronger pick with 12.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 2% for Steelcase Inc. (SCS). Steelcase Inc. (SCS) offers the better valuation at 15. 8x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HNI Corporation (HNI) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — SCS or HNI?
On trailing P/E, Steelcase Inc.
(SCS) is the cheapest at 15. 8x versus HNI Corporation at 30. 3x. On forward P/E, HNI Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SCS or HNI?
Over the past 5 years, Steelcase Inc.
(SCS) delivered a total return of +24. 1%, compared to -10. 0% for HNI Corporation (HNI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCS returned +38. 1% versus HNI's +6. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SCS or HNI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), HNI Corporation (HNI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
94β versus Steelcase Inc. 's 2. 02β — meaning SCS is approximately 114% more volatile than HNI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Steelcase Inc. (SCS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 63% versus 89% for HNI Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SCS or HNI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), HNI Corporation (HNI) is pulling ahead at 12.
4% versus 0. 2% for Steelcase Inc. (SCS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Steelcase Inc. grew EPS 50. 0% year-over-year, compared to -61. 5% for HNI Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HNI leads at 6. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — SCS or HNI?
Steelcase Inc.
(SCS) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 8% net margin versus 1. 9% for HNI Corporation — meaning it keeps 3. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HNI leads at 8. 4% versus 5. 0% for SCS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HNI leads at 41. 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.
07Is SCS or HNI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, HNI Corporation (HNI) trades at 8.
4x forward P/E versus 14. 1x for Steelcase Inc. — 5. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — SCS or HNI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
HNI Corporation (HNI) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 2. 6% for Steelcase Inc. (SCS).
09Is SCS or HNI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, HNI Corporation (HNI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
94), 3. 8% yield). Steelcase Inc. (SCS) carries a higher beta of 2. 02 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HNI: +6. 8%, SCS: +38. 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.
10What are the main differences between SCS and HNI?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: SCS is a small-cap deep-value stock; HNI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SCS: 4.8% · HNI: 124.7%)P/E Ratio<
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