XPOF vs MNRO vs PLNT vs SAH vs AN

For growth investors, Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the stronger pick with 12. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 4% for Monro, Inc. (MNRO). AutoNation, Inc. (AN) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (9. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Xponential Fitness, Inc. (XPOF) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, AutoNation, Inc.

(AN) is the cheapest at 12. 1x versus Sonic Automotive, Inc. at 23. 7x. On forward P/E, Xponential Fitness, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AutoNation, Inc.

(AN) delivered a total return of +96. 9%, compared to -66. 4% for Monro, Inc. (MNRO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAH returned +398. 5% versus MNRO's -62. 0%. 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), Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 41β versus Xponential Fitness, Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning XPOF is approximately 338% more volatile than PLNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Monro, Inc. (MNRO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 85% versus 4% for AutoNation, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is pulling ahead at 12. 1% versus -6. 4% for Monro, Inc. (MNRO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Xponential Fitness, Inc. grew EPS 35. 2% year-over-year, compared to -119. 3% for Monro, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLNT leads at 12. 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.

Planet Fitness, Inc.

(PLNT) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 5% net margin versus -10. 7% for Xponential Fitness, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLNT leads at 29. 8% versus 3. 4% for MNRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLNT leads at 82. 6%, 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, Xponential Fitness, Inc.

(XPOF) trades at 9. 4x forward P/E versus 32. 9x for Monro, Inc. — 23. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MNRO: 125. 7% to $40. 00.

In this comparison, MNRO (6.

3% yield), XPOF (2. 9% yield), SAH (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. PLNT, AN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Sonic Automotive, Inc.

(SAH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 05), 1. 7% yield, +398. 5% 10Y return). Xponential Fitness, Inc. (XPOF) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAH: +398. 5%, XPOF: -54. 3%), 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: XPOF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MNRO is a small-cap income-oriented stock; PLNT is a small-cap deep-value stock; SAH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AN is a small-cap deep-value stock. XPOF, MNRO, SAH pay a dividend while PLNT, AN 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.