SGC vs ALSN vs HBI vs ASTE vs CMI

For growth investors, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the stronger pick with 8. 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 Cummins Inc. at 33. 3x. On forward P/E, Hanesbrands Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 8x — 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: Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 60x versus Cummins Inc. 's 2. 30x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

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

(ALSN) delivered a total return of +183. 5%, compared to -66. 4% for Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CMI returned +557. 4% versus HBI's -62. 6%. 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 Hanesbrands Inc. 's 1. 72β — meaning HBI is approximately 55% more volatile than ALSN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 75% for Hanesbrands Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is pulling ahead at 8. 1% versus -6. 7% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to -1698. 4% for Hanesbrands Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CMI leads at 6. 2% 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 -9. 1% for Hanesbrands 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.

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, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 60x versus Cummins Inc. 's 2. 30x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) trades at 9. 8x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for Cummins Inc. — 16. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SGC: 75. 0% to $21. 00.

In this comparison, SGC (4.

8% yield), CMI (1. 1% yield), ASTE (1. 0% yield), ALSN (0. 9% yield) pay a dividend. HBI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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). Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) carries a higher beta of 1. 72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALSN: +373. 8%, HBI: -62. 6%), 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 (SGC (Consumer Cyclical) and ALSN (Consumer Cyclical) and HBI (Consumer Cyclical) and ASTE (Industrials) and CMI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SGC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ALSN is a mid-cap deep-value stock; HBI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ASTE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CMI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SGC, ALSN, ASTE, CMI pay a dividend while HBI does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.