SMHI vs CODI vs KKR vs TDW

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). Tidewater Inc. (TDW) offers the better valuation at 11. 7x trailing P/E (22. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR) a "Buy" — based on 27 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, Tidewater Inc.

(TDW) is the cheapest at 11. 7x versus KKR & Co. Inc. at 42. 9x. On forward P/E, KKR & Co. Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Tidewater Inc.

(TDW) delivered a total return of +456. 1%, compared to -35. 5% for Compass Diversified (CODI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KKR returned +732. 3% versus TDW's -66. 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), Tidewater Inc.

(TDW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus KKR & Co. Inc. 's 1. 66β — meaning KKR is approximately 129% more volatile than TDW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Tidewater Inc. (TDW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 48% 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: Tidewater Inc. grew EPS 95. 3% year-over-year, compared to -1426. 1% for Compass Diversified. Over a 3-year CAGR, TDW leads at 27. 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.

Tidewater Inc.

(TDW) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 7% net margin versus -12. 2% for Compass Diversified — meaning it keeps 24. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TDW leads at 21. 4% versus 2. 3% for CODI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KKR leads at 41. 8%, 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, KKR & Co.

Inc. (KKR) trades at 16. 9x forward P/E versus 97. 9x for Compass Diversified — 81. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KKR: 40. 7% to $141. 14.

In this comparison, CODI (4.

2% yield), SMHI (1. 5% yield), KKR (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. TDW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 83), 1. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SMHI: -63. 9%, TDW: -66. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SMHI (Industrials) and CODI (Industrials) and KKR (Financial Services) and TDW (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SMHI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CODI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KKR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; TDW is a small-cap deep-value stock. SMHI, CODI, KKR pay a dividend while TDW 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.