ZWS vs RXO vs CHRW vs FELE

For growth investors, RXO, Inc.

(RXO) is the stronger pick with 26. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 4% for C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW). Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE) offers the better valuation at 30. 8x trailing P/E (21. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (ZWS) a "Hold" — based on 8 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, Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is the cheapest at 30. 8x versus Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation at 45. 6x. On forward P/E, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation wins at 0. 91x versus C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. 's 5. 20x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (ZWS) delivered a total return of +108.

0%, compared to +10. 2% for RXO, Inc. (RXO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ZWS returned +435. 0% versus RXO's +10. 2%. 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), Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 92β versus RXO, Inc. 's 2. 74β — meaning RXO is approximately 199% more volatile than FELE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 88% for C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), RXO, Inc.

(RXO) is pulling ahead at 26. 2% versus -8. 4% for C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RXO, Inc. grew EPS 72. 8% year-over-year, compared to -15. 8% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ZWS leads at 9. 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.

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (ZWS) is the more profitable company, earning 11.

7% net margin versus -1. 7% for RXO, Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ZWS leads at 17. 0% versus -0. 1% for RXO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ZWS leads at 41. 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.

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, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (ZWS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 91x versus C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. 's 5. 20x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE) trades at 21. 8x forward P/E versus 29. 0x for Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation — 7. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CHRW: 9. 3% to $187. 38.

In this comparison, CHRW (1.

4% yield), FELE (1. 1% yield), ZWS (0. 7% yield) pay a dividend. RXO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Franklin Electric Co.

, Inc. (FELE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 92), 1. 1% yield, +231. 4% 10Y return). RXO, Inc. (RXO) carries a higher beta of 2. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FELE: +231. 4%, RXO: +10. 2%), 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.

In terms of investment character: ZWS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RXO is a small-cap high-growth stock; CHRW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; FELE is a small-cap quality compounder stock. ZWS, CHRW, FELE pay a dividend while RXO 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.