SGC vs ALSN

For growth investors, Superior Group of Companies, Inc.

(SGC) is the stronger pick with 0. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 7% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN). Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN) offers the better valuation at 16. 8x trailing P/E (13. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (SGC) 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.

On trailing P/E, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the cheapest at 16. 8x versus Superior Group of Companies, Inc. at 26. 1x. On forward P/E, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) delivered a total return of +183. 5%, compared to -43. 1% for Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (SGC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALSN returned +373. 8% versus SGC's -10. 2%. 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), Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 11β versus Superior Group of Companies, Inc. 's 1. 15β — meaning SGC is approximately 4% more volatile than ALSN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (SGC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 156% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Superior Group of Companies, Inc.

(SGC) is pulling ahead at 0. 1% versus -6. 7% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. grew EPS -11. 8% year-over-year, compared to -37. 0% for Superior Group of Companies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALSN leads at 2. 8% 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.

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 7% net margin versus 1. 2% for Superior Group of Companies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALSN leads at 32. 3% versus 2. 4% for SGC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALSN leads at 48. 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, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) trades at 13. 6x forward P/E versus 20. 4x for Superior Group of Companies, Inc. — 6. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SGC: 75. 0% to $21. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (SGC) offers the highest yield at 4. 8%, versus 0. 9% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 11), 0. 9% yield, +373. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALSN: +373. 8%, SGC: -10. 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.

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

In terms of investment character: SGC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ALSN is a mid-cap deep-value 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.