TTC vs ASTE

For growth investors, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the stronger pick with 8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for The Toro Company (TTC). The Toro Company (TTC) offers the better valuation at 30. 1x trailing P/E (21. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, The Toro Company (TTC) is the cheapest at 30.

1x versus Astec Industries, Inc. at 31. 5x. On forward P/E, Astec Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The Toro Company (TTC) delivered a total return of -12.

3%, compared to -20. 4% for Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TTC returned +145. 1% versus ASTE's +22. 9%. 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), The Toro Company (TTC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

67β versus Astec Industries, Inc. 's 1. 52β — meaning ASTE is approximately 127% more volatile than TTC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 70% for The Toro Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is pulling ahead at 8. 1% versus -1. 6% for The Toro Company (TTC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to -20. 9% for The Toro Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASTE leads at 3. 4% 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.

The Toro Company (TTC) is the more profitable company, earning 7.

0% net margin versus 2. 8% for Astec Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TTC leads at 10. 9% versus 4. 6% for ASTE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TTC leads at 33. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) trades at 14. 9x forward P/E versus 21. 0x for The Toro Company — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TTC: -9. 8% to $86. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Toro Company (TTC) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 1. 0% for Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Toro Company (TTC) 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. 6% yield, +145. 1% 10Y return). Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TTC: +145. 1%, ASTE: +22. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.