SWIM vs PATK vs UFPI vs TREX

For growth investors, Latham Group, Inc.

(SWIM) is the stronger pick with 7. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 0% for UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI). UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI) offers the better valuation at 16. 8x trailing P/E (18. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Latham Group, Inc. (SWIM) 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, UFP Industries, Inc.

(UFPI) is the cheapest at 16. 8x versus Latham Group, Inc. at 62. 0x. On forward P/E, UFP Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: UFP Industries, Inc. wins at 3. 95x versus Trex Company, Inc. 's 7. 25x.

Over the past 5 years, Patrick Industries, Inc.

(PATK) delivered a total return of +56. 6%, compared to -80. 1% for Latham Group, Inc. (SWIM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PATK returned +394. 3% versus SWIM's -79. 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), UFP Industries, Inc.

(UFPI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus Latham Group, Inc. 's 2. 06β — meaning SWIM is approximately 119% more volatile than UFPI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 139% for Patrick Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Latham Group, Inc.

(SWIM) is pulling ahead at 7. 4% versus -5. 0% for UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Latham Group, Inc. grew EPS 161. 9% year-over-year, compared to -26. 1% for UFP Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TREX leads at 2. 0% 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 2. 0% for Latham Group, 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 5. 8% for UFPI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TREX leads at 39. 2%, 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, UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 95x versus Trex Company, Inc. 's 7. 25x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI) trades at 18. 0x forward P/E versus 28. 8x for Latham Group, Inc. — 10. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SWIM: 43. 5% to $8. 25.

In this comparison, PATK (1.

7% yield), UFPI (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. SWIM, TREX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Patrick Industries, Inc.

(PATK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 00), 1. 7% yield, +394. 3% 10Y return). Latham Group, Inc. (SWIM) carries a higher beta of 2. 06 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PATK: +394. 3%, SWIM: -79. 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 (SWIM (Industrials) and PATK (Consumer Cyclical) and UFPI (Basic Materials) and TREX (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SWIM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PATK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; UFPI is a small-cap deep-value stock; TREX is a small-cap quality compounder stock. PATK, UFPI pay a dividend while SWIM, 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.