SMHI vs CODI

For growth investors, Compass Diversified (CODI) is the stronger pick with 4.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 0% for SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. (SMHI). Analysts rate SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. (SMHI) a "Hold" — based on 1 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.

Over the past 5 years, SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc.

(SMHI) delivered a total return of +92. 6%, compared to -35. 5% for Compass Diversified (CODI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CODI returned +53. 7% versus SMHI's -63. 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), SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc.

(SMHI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 96β versus Compass Diversified's 1. 09β — meaning CODI is approximately 14% more volatile than SMHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. (SMHI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 127% versus 3% for Compass Diversified — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Compass Diversified (CODI) is pulling ahead at 4.

8% versus -16. 0% for SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. (SMHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. grew EPS 62. 4% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. Over a 3-year CAGR, CODI leads at 2. 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.

SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc.

(SMHI) is the more profitable company, earning -12. 2% net margin versus -12. 2% for Compass Diversified — meaning it keeps -12. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SMHI leads at 6. 0% versus 2. 3% for CODI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CODI leads at 38. 5%, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Compass Diversified (CODI) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 1. 5% for SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. (SMHI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc.

(SMHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 96), 1. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SMHI: -63. 3%, CODI: +53. 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.

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: SMHI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CODI 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.