WHR vs MHK vs HD vs LOW

For growth investors, The Home Depot, Inc.

(HD) is the stronger pick with 3. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 5% for Whirlpool Corporation (WHR). Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) offers the better valuation at 8. 5x trailing P/E (9. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) a "Buy" — based on 62 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, Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) is the cheapest at 8.

5x versus The Home Depot, Inc. at 22. 7x. On forward P/E, Whirlpool Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Lowe's Companies, Inc. wins at 2. 07x versus The Home Depot, Inc. 's 6. 01x.

Over the past 5 years, Lowe's Companies, Inc.

(LOW) delivered a total return of +21. 0%, compared to -68. 5% for Whirlpool Corporation (WHR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LOW returned +244. 9% versus MHK's -47. 6%. 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 Home Depot, Inc.

(HD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 84β versus Mohawk Industries, Inc. 's 1. 34β — meaning MHK is approximately 60% more volatile than HD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 33% versus 3% for Whirlpool Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Home Depot, Inc.

(HD) is pulling ahead at 3. 2% versus -6. 5% for Whirlpool Corporation (WHR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Whirlpool Corporation grew EPS 196. 4% year-over-year, compared to -27. 1% for Mohawk Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HD leads at 1. 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.

The Home Depot, Inc.

(HD) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 6% net margin versus 2. 0% for Whirlpool Corporation — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HD leads at 12. 7% versus 4. 7% for WHR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LOW leads at 33. 5%, 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, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 07x versus The Home Depot, Inc. 's 6. 01x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) trades at 9. 5x forward P/E versus 21. 5x for The Home Depot, Inc. — 11. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WHR: 27. 6% to $61. 50.

In this comparison, WHR (11.

0% yield), HD (2. 8% yield), LOW (2. 0% yield) pay a dividend. MHK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lowe's Companies, Inc.

(LOW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 86), 2. 0% yield, +244. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LOW: +244. 9%, MHK: -47. 6%), 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 Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: WHR is a small-cap deep-value stock; MHK is a small-cap deep-value stock; HD is a large-cap quality compounder stock; LOW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. WHR, HD, LOW pay a dividend while MHK 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.