WPRT vs ALSN vs HYLN vs CMI

For growth investors, Hyliion Holdings Corp.

(HYLN) is the stronger pick with 130. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 9% for Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (WPRT). Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN) offers the better valuation at 16. 8x trailing P/E (13. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cummins Inc. (CMI) a "Buy" — based on 51 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, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the cheapest at 16. 8x versus Cummins Inc. at 33. 3x. On forward P/E, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 60x versus Cummins Inc. 's 2. 30x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) delivered a total return of +183. 5%, compared to -96. 9% for Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (WPRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CMI returned +557. 4% versus WPRT's -91. 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), Westport Fuel Systems Inc.

(WPRT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 88β versus Hyliion Holdings Corp. 's 2. 39β — meaning HYLN is approximately 171% more volatile than WPRT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hyliion Holdings Corp. (HYLN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 156% for Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hyliion Holdings Corp.

(HYLN) is pulling ahead at 130. 3% versus -8. 9% for Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (WPRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Westport Fuel Systems Inc. grew EPS 56. 9% year-over-year, compared to -27. 7% for Cummins Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HYLN leads at 18. 2% 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.

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 7% net margin versus -1645. 7% for Hyliion Holdings Corp. — meaning it keeps 20. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALSN leads at 32. 3% versus -1886. 4% for HYLN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALSN leads at 48. 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, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 60x versus Cummins Inc. 's 2. 30x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN) trades at 13. 6x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for Cummins Inc. — 12. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HYLN: 26. 7% to $3. 13.

In this comparison, CMI (1.

1% yield), ALSN (0. 9% yield) pay a dividend. WPRT, HYLN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

(ALSN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 11), 0. 9% yield, +373. 8% 10Y return). Hyliion Holdings Corp. (HYLN) carries a higher beta of 2. 39 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALSN: +373. 8%, HYLN: -74. 5%), 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 (WPRT (Consumer Cyclical) and ALSN (Consumer Cyclical) and HYLN (Consumer Cyclical) and CMI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: WPRT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ALSN is a mid-cap deep-value stock; HYLN is a small-cap high-growth stock; CMI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. ALSN, CMI pay a dividend while WPRT, HYLN 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.