SXI vs RBC vs NN vs ITT vs GTLS

For growth investors, Standex International Corporation (SXI) is the stronger pick with 9.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -19. 3% for NextNav Inc. (NN). ITT Inc. (ITT) offers the better valuation at 34. 0x trailing P/E (27. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Standex International Corporation (SXI) 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.

On trailing P/E, ITT Inc.

(ITT) is the cheapest at 34. 0x versus Chart Industries, Inc. at 628. 5x. On forward P/E, Chart Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ITT Inc. wins at 0. 55x versus RBC Bearings Incorporated's 5. 74x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, RBC Bearings Incorporated (RBC) delivered a total return of +307.

0%, compared to +29. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RBC returned +867. 2% versus NN's +100. 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), Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 56β versus Standex International Corporation's 1. 40β — meaning SXI is approximately 152% more volatile than GTLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ITT Inc. (ITT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 111% for Chart Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Standex International Corporation (SXI) is pulling ahead at 9.

6% versus -19. 3% for NextNav Inc. (NN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RBC Bearings Incorporated grew EPS 20. 3% year-over-year, compared to -92. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GTLS leads at 38. 3% 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.

RBC Bearings Incorporated (RBC) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

0% net margin versus -41. 4% for NextNav Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RBC leads at 22. 6% versus -1535. 8% for NN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RBC leads at 44. 4%, 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, ITT Inc. (ITT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 55x versus RBC Bearings Incorporated's 5. 74x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 50. 3x for RBC Bearings Incorporated — 33. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NN: 35. 0% to $26. 33.

In this comparison, ITT (0.

7% yield), SXI (0. 5% yield), GTLS (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. RBC, NN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

(GTLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 56), +772. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GTLS: +772. 5%, NN: +100. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SXI (Industrials) and RBC (Industrials) and NN (Communication Services) and ITT (Industrials) and GTLS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

ITT pays a dividend while SXI, RBC, NN, GTLS 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.