TNC vs CAT vs DE vs NDSN vs KO

For growth investors, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the stronger pick with 4. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 6% for Deere & Company (DE). The Coca-Cola Company (KO) offers the better valuation at 26. 6x trailing P/E (24. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Tennant Company (TNC) a "Buy" — 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, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the cheapest at 26.

6x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 49. 6x. On forward P/E, Tennant Company is actually cheaper at 16. 9x — 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: Caterpillar Inc. wins at 1. 35x versus Tennant Company's 3. 11x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) delivered a total return of +337. 5%, compared to +12. 6% for Tennant Company (TNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1203% versus TNC's +78. 4%. 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 Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

20β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 67β — meaning CAT is approximately -932% more volatile than KO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Tennant Company (TNC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 57% versus 2% for Deere & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -11. 6% for Deere & Company (DE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Coca-Cola Company grew EPS 23. 6% year-over-year, compared to -46. 1% for Tennant Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, CAT leads at 4. 4% 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 Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the more profitable company, earning 27.

3% net margin versus 3. 6% for Tennant Company — meaning it keeps 27. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KO leads at 28. 7% versus 6. 7% for TNC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KO leads at 61. 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, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 35x versus Tennant Company's 3. 11x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Tennant Company (TNC) trades at 16. 9x forward P/E versus 37. 9x for Caterpillar Inc. — 21. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TNC: 61. 7% to $140. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 0. 6% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

20), 2. 5% yield, +118. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KO: +118. 2%, TNC: +78. 4%), 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 (TNC (Industrials) and CAT (Industrials) and DE (Industrials) and NDSN (Industrials) and KO (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.