SSD vs MAS vs AAON vs TREX vs IBP

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). Masco Corporation (MAS) offers the better valuation at 18. 2x trailing P/E (16. 5x 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, Masco Corporation (MAS) is the cheapest at 18.

2x versus AAON, Inc. at 72. 6x. On forward P/E, Masco Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Installed Building Products, Inc. wins at 1. 11x versus AAON, Inc. 's 9. 13x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, AAON, Inc.

(AAON) delivered a total return of +124. 4%, compared to -65. 1% for Trex Company, Inc. (TREX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IBP returned +894. 2% versus MAS's +153. 1%. 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), Simpson Manufacturing Co.

, Inc. (SSD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus AAON, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning AAON is approximately 95% more volatile than SSD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Trex Company, Inc. (TREX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% 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: Simpson Manufacturing Co. , Inc. grew EPS 8. 4% 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.

Trex Company, Inc.

(TREX) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 2% net margin versus 7. 5% for AAON, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TREX leads at 22. 0% 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, Installed Building Products, Inc. (IBP) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 11x versus AAON, Inc. 's 9. 13x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Masco Corporation (MAS) trades at 16. 5x forward P/E versus 49. 6x for AAON, Inc. — 33. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAON: 27. 1% to $119. 00.

In this comparison, MAS (1.

8% yield), IBP (1. 1% yield), SSD (0. 6% yield), AAON (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. TREX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Installed Building Products, Inc.

(IBP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 19), 1. 1% yield, +894. 2% 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 (IBP: +894. 2%, AAON: +440. 9%), 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 (SSD (Industrials) and MAS (Industrials) and AAON (Industrials) and TREX (Industrials) and IBP (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SSD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MAS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AAON is a small-cap high-growth stock; TREX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IBP is a small-cap quality compounder stock. SSD, MAS, IBP pay a dividend while AAON, TREX do 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.