ALLE vs HON: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

Last updated August 2026

Short answer

HON is the larger of the two ($77.03B market cap): the incumbent the market prices for continued execution (24.27x forward earnings, beta 0.93). ALLE is the smaller challenger ($13.38B), cheaper on forward earnings (16.20x): more room to run, but more to prove. The real question is which set of drivers you believe, and whether owning one (or both) leaves you over-concentrated.

ALLE vs HON: the tie-breaker metrics

Same yardstick, side by side (as of August 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.

MetricALLEHONWhat it tells you
Market cap$13.38B$77.03BSize. The larger name is the incumbent; the smaller has more room to grow and more to prove.
Forward P/E16.2024.27Valuation on next year's expected earnings, the same yardstick for both. Lower is cheaper for that growth; higher means the market is paying up.
Trailing P/E20.669.34Valuation on the last 12 months. A big drop from trailing to forward means the market expects earnings to jump, so more growth is already in the price.
Beta0.860.93Volatility vs the market. Above 1 swings harder than the index; below 1 is steadier. Higher beta means bigger drawdowns to hold through.
Price vs 52-week range56% of range73% of rangeWhere today's price sits between the 52-week low and high. Near the high is momentum with less margin of safety; near the low is out of favor or a discount, depending on why.
Price / book6.324.16How much you pay over book value. Very high can signal an asset-light, high-return business or a rich price.

Reading it: ALLE is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.

Before you buy: how ALLE and HON affect your concentration

The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. ALLE and HON share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.

This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined ALLE and HON exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.

What does Allegion plc (ALLE) do?

Allegion plc is a leading manufacturer of mechanical and electronic security products, operating through two segments: Allegion Americas (its largest, roughly two-thirds of revenue) and Allegion International. Its portfolio spans door locks and locksets, key systems, door closers, exit devices, automatic entrances, and a growing layer of electronic access control, mobile credentials, and cloud software. Core brands include Schlage, LCN, Von Duprin, and Stanley Access Technologies, sold into institutional, commercial, and residential markets such as education, healthcare, government, hospitality, and multi-family housing.

Full ALLE guide

What does Honeywell International (HON) do?

Honeywell International is a diversified industrial technology conglomerate that makes a broad range of products and software across aerospace, building automation, energy and sustainability, and industrial automation. Its Aerospace segment supplies engines, avionics, and systems for commercial and defense aircraft and earns recurring aftermarket revenue servicing them. Its Building Automation business sells controls, sensors, fire and security systems for commercial buildings. Energy and Sustainability Solutions includes specialty chemicals, materials, and process technologies, while Industrial Automation covers warehouse and process control, sensing, and the productivity (barcode scanning) business. Honeywell makes money from a mix of equipment sales, long-cycle projects, recurring aftermarket service, and growing software offerings. The company has been reshaping its portfolio, spinning off and acquiring businesses to focus on aerospace, automation, and energy transition. Founded in its modern form through a 1999 merger and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Honeywell is a large, broadly held industrial blue chip.

Full HON guide

ALLE vs HON: how do they differ?

Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.

  • ALLE drivers: Pricing power and spec-driven demand; Electronics, access control, and software mix shift.
  • HON drivers: Aerospace aftermarket strength; Portfolio reshaping and software.

Which fits which kind of investor

A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: Organic volume growth has been weak, so growth has depended on price and acquisitions, which is harder to sustain if pricing normalizes. For HON, as a diversified industrial, Honeywell is exposed to the broad economic cycle, with several segments sensitive to construction, manufacturing capex, and energy markets.

ALLE or HON: which should you pick?

Growth-minded investors who believe the theme has years to run tend to accept the richer multiple for more upside; value-minded investors lean toward the cheaper forward earnings and steadier profile. Pick ALLE if you believe its drivers more; HON if you believe its. Many investors hold both, but since they share themes, that is a concentrated bet, not diversification. Decide deliberately and check overlap. For the full detail, see the ALLE and HON guides.

ALLE vs HON: the full fundamentals

ALLE. Allegion trades at a premium valuation, roughly 24 times trailing and 21 times forward earnings, consistent with its high-margin, cash-generative profile. Recent revenue growth was boosted by acquisitions and currency, while organic growth and adjusted EPS were softer, reflecting price-led gains against volume declines. Analyst consensus has generally clustered around a hold-type stance near recent price levels.

HON. Honeywell trades at a valuation typical of a high-quality diversified industrial, reflecting solid margins, strong cash generation, a durable aerospace aftermarket, and a reliable dividend, balanced against modest organic growth and cyclical exposure. The market values its quality and stability while watching whether portfolio reshaping and software can lift growth above the broad industrial average.

Headline figures (approximate, July 2026): ALLE shows revenue (ttm) ~$4.0 billion, q1 2026 revenue ~$1.03 billion (up ~9.7%, ~2.6% organic), q1 2026 adjusted eps ~$1.80 (down ~3%), market cap ~$11.5 billion; HON shows revenue (ttm) ~$39 billion, operating margin ~20%, net income (ttm) ~$5.5 billion, p/e (ttm) ~22x.

The bottom line: ALLE vs HON

ALLE and HON are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined ALLE and HON exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.

Wondering how ALLE or HON fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.

Investing in Allegion plc with AI

Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how ALLE fits what you actually hold: whether you own it already through a fund, what it would do to your concentration, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.

FAQ

What is the difference between ALLE and HON?

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Allegion plc is a leading manufacturer of mechanical and electronic security products, operating through two segments: Allegion Americas (its largest, roughly two-thirds of revenue) and Allegion International. Honeywell International is a diversified industrial technology conglomerate that makes a broad range of products and software across aerospace, building automation, energy and sustainability, and industrial automation. They show up together because they share investment themes, but they are different businesses, so the better fit depends on which thesis you are expressing.

Is ALLE or HON the better stock?

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Neither is universally better. HON is the larger incumbent; ALLE is the smaller challenger and looks cheaper on forward earnings. Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Compare what each does, the tie-breaker metrics above, and the risks, then decide which fits your thesis and what you already own.

Which is cheaper, ALLE or HON?

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On forward P/E (as of August 2026), ALLE trades at 16.20x and HON at 24.27x, so ALLE is the cheaper of the two on next year's expected earnings. A lower multiple is not automatically the better buy: a richer valuation can be justified by faster growth, and a lower one can reflect real risk. Weigh the multiple against how fast each business is compounding.

Should you own both ALLE and HON?

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Because they share themes, owning both concentrates you in that theme. That can be intentional (a focused bet) or accidental (less diversification than it looks). Walnut can show your combined exposure across both, and whether adding either over-concentrates you, before you buy.

What are the risks of ALLE vs HON?

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ALLE: Organic volume growth has been weak, so growth has depended on price and acquisitions, which is harder to sustain if pricing normalizes. The business is exposed to non-residential and residential construction cycles, interest rates, and input-cost and tariff pressures on hardware. Integration risk from frequent M&A and premium purchase multiples can weigh on returns. Competition from larger and better-capitalized rivals like ASSA ABLOY, plus electronics-native and big-tech entrants, could pressure share in the fast-growing electronic access segment. The premium valuation leaves limited cushion if margins or demand disappoint, and adjusted EPS has recently dipped even as revenue grew. HON: As a diversified industrial, Honeywell is exposed to the broad economic cycle, with several segments sensitive to construction, manufacturing capex, and energy markets. Aerospace is cyclical and vulnerable to airline downturns and travel shocks. The company's breadth can make it harder to grow faster than the overall economy, and portfolio reshaping carries execution and integration risk. Input cost inflation, supply chain constraints, and currency swings affect margins. The productivity solutions (warehouse and barcode) business has shown cyclical softness. The stock has at times traded at a premium that requires consistent execution to justify.

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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. This page is descriptive and not a recommendation to buy or sell ALLE or HON; figures are approximate and dated (as of August 2026). Verify current data before investing.

    ALLE vs HON: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026? - Walnut AI Investing App