XYL vs GFF vs PNR vs ALLE vs MAS

For growth investors, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the stronger pick with 7.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for Griffon Corporation (GFF). Allegion plc (ALLE) offers the better valuation at 18. 1x trailing P/E (15. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Griffon Corporation (GFF) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the cheapest at 18.

1x versus Griffon Corporation at 80. 8x. On forward P/E, Pentair plc is actually cheaper at 14. 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: Xylem Inc. wins at 0. 90x versus Masco Corporation's 3. 38x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Griffon Corporation (GFF) delivered a total return of +261.

0%, compared to +0. 6% for Allegion plc (ALLE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GFF returned +540. 7% versus PNR's +121. 3%. 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), Allegion plc (ALLE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

66β versus Griffon Corporation's 1. 35β — meaning GFF is approximately 104% more volatile than ALLE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Xylem Inc. (XYL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 46% for Masco Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Allegion plc (ALLE) is pulling ahead at 7.

8% versus -3. 9% for Griffon Corporation (GFF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Allegion plc grew EPS 9. 1% year-over-year, compared to -74. 2% for Griffon Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, XYL leads at 17. 8% 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.

Allegion plc (ALLE) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

8% net margin versus 2. 0% for Griffon Corporation — meaning it keeps 15. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALLE leads at 21. 1% versus 8. 2% for GFF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALLE leads at 45. 2%, 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, Xylem Inc. (XYL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 90x versus Masco Corporation's 3. 38x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Pentair plc (PNR) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 20. 6x for Xylem Inc. — 6. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PNR: 47. 8% to $113. 56.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Masco Corporation (MAS) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 1. 0% for Griffon Corporation (GFF).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Allegion plc (ALLE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

66), 1. 5% yield, +123. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALLE: +123. 6%, MAS: +151. 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.

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.