SMRT vs ARLO

For growth investors, Arlo Technologies, Inc.

(ARLO) is the stronger pick with 3. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -12. 9% for SmartRent, Inc. (SMRT). Arlo Technologies, Inc. (ARLO) offers the better valuation at 106. 4x trailing P/E (18. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Arlo Technologies, Inc. (ARLO) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, Arlo Technologies, Inc.

(ARLO) delivered a total return of +123. 1%, compared to -89. 5% for SmartRent, Inc. (SMRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARLO returned -32. 6% versus SMRT's -86. 8%. 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), Arlo Technologies, Inc.

(ARLO) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 48β versus SmartRent, Inc. 's 1. 78β — meaning SMRT is approximately 21% more volatile than ARLO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SmartRent, Inc. (SMRT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 5% for Arlo Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arlo Technologies, Inc.

(ARLO) is pulling ahead at 3. 6% versus -12. 9% for SmartRent, Inc. (SMRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Arlo Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 145. 2% year-over-year, compared to -88. 2% for SmartRent, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ARLO leads at 2. 6% 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.

Arlo Technologies, Inc.

(ARLO) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 8% net margin versus -39. 8% for SmartRent, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ARLO leads at 1. 1% versus -24. 7% for SMRT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ARLO leads at 44. 0%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SMRT: 250.

9% to $4. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Arlo Technologies, Inc.

(ARLO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. SmartRent, Inc. (SMRT) carries a higher beta of 1. 78 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ARLO: -32. 6%, SMRT: -86. 8%), 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 (SMRT (Technology) and ARLO (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.