SSD vs AAON vs LII vs MAS vs ALLE

For growth investors, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is the stronger pick with 20. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). Allegion plc (ALLE) offers the better valuation at 18. 4x trailing P/E (15. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. (SSD) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the cheapest at 18.

4x versus AAON, Inc. at 100. 2x. On forward P/E, Allegion plc is actually cheaper at 15. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Allegion plc wins at 0. 92x versus AAON, Inc. 's 12. 01x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) delivered a total return of +196. 3%, compared to +3. 2% for Allegion plc (ALLE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAON returned +612. 1% versus ALLE's +127. 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), Allegion plc (ALLE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

67β versus AAON, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning AAON is approximately 174% more volatile than ALLE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. (SSD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 46% for Masco Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AAON, Inc.

(AAON) is pulling ahead at 20. 1% versus -3. 4% for Masco Corporation (MAS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Allegion plc grew EPS 9. 1% year-over-year, compared to -36. 1% for AAON, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AAON leads at 17. 5% 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.

Allegion plc (ALLE) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

8% net margin versus 7. 5% for AAON, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALLE leads at 21. 1% versus 10. 1% for AAON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SSD leads at 45. 9%, 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, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 92x versus AAON, Inc. 's 12. 01x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Allegion plc (ALLE) trades at 15. 6x forward P/E versus 65. 3x for AAON, Inc. — 49. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALLE: 26. 1% to $172. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Masco Corporation (MAS) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 0. 3% for AAON, Inc. (AAON).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

67), 1. 5% yield, +127. 3% 10Y return). AAON, Inc. (AAON) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALLE: +127. 3%, AAON: +612. 1%), 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: SSD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AAON is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LII is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MAS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ALLE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SSD, LII, MAS, ALLE pay a dividend while AAON 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.