SCSC vs ARW

For growth investors, Arrow Electronics, Inc.

(ARW) is the stronger pick with 10. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 7% for ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC). ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC) offers the better valuation at 13. 6x trailing P/E (10. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC) a "Hold" — based on 5 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, ScanSource, Inc.

(SCSC) is the cheapest at 13. 6x versus Arrow Electronics, Inc. at 17. 6x. On forward P/E, ScanSource, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Arrow Electronics, Inc.

(ARW) delivered a total return of +67. 8%, compared to +29. 7% for ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARW returned +222. 3% versus SCSC's +2. 3%. 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), Arrow Electronics, Inc.

(ARW) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 32β versus ScanSource, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning SCSC is approximately 12% more volatile than ARW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 46% for Arrow Electronics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arrow Electronics, Inc.

(ARW) is pulling ahead at 10. 5% versus -6. 7% for ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Arrow Electronics, Inc. grew EPS 49. 9% year-over-year, compared to -2. 0% for ScanSource, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SCSC leads at -4. 9% 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.

ScanSource, Inc.

(SCSC) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 4% net margin versus 1. 9% for Arrow Electronics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ARW leads at 3. 0% versus 2. 8% for SCSC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SCSC leads at 13. 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.

On forward earnings alone, ScanSource, Inc.

(SCSC) trades at 10. 4x forward P/E versus 13. 6x for Arrow Electronics, Inc. — 3. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SCSC: 5. 1% to $43. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Arrow Electronics, Inc.

(ARW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+222. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ARW: +222. 3%, SCSC: +2. 3%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.