SCSC vs HWM

For growth investors, Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) is the stronger pick with 11. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 7% for ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC). ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC) offers the better valuation at 14. 5x trailing P/E (11. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) a "Buy" — based on 23 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 14. 5x versus Howmet Aerospace Inc. at 73. 5x. On forward P/E, ScanSource, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) delivered a total return of +715. 2%, compared to +34. 3% for ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HWM returned +1240% versus SCSC's +9. 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), Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 93β versus ScanSource, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning SCSC is approximately 58% more volatile than HWM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 57% for Howmet Aerospace Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) is pulling ahead at 11. 1% versus -6. 7% for ScanSource, Inc. (SCSC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Howmet Aerospace Inc. grew EPS 32. 0% year-over-year, compared to -2. 0% for ScanSource, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HWM leads at 13. 4% 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.

Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 3% net margin versus 2. 4% for ScanSource, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HWM leads at 25. 8% versus 2. 8% for SCSC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HWM leads at 30. 7%, 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 11. 0x forward P/E versus 58. 7x for Howmet Aerospace Inc. — 47. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HWM: 0. 8% to $274. 67.

In this comparison, HWM (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. SCSC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), +1240% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HWM: +1240%, SCSC: +9. 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 (SCSC (Technology) and HWM (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SCSC is a small-cap deep-value stock; HWM is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.