ACM vs MTZ

For growth investors, MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) is the stronger pick with 16. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 2% for Aecom (ACM). Aecom (ACM) offers the better valuation at 19. 9x trailing P/E (14. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Aecom (ACM) a "Buy" — based on 25 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, Aecom (ACM) is the cheapest at 19.

9x versus MasTec, Inc. at 85. 5x. On forward P/E, Aecom is actually cheaper at 14. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) delivered a total return of +296. 2%, compared to +27. 3% for Aecom (ACM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MTZ returned +1840% versus ACM's +172. 9%. 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), Aecom (ACM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

92β versus MasTec, Inc. 's 1. 64β — meaning MTZ is approximately 78% more volatile than ACM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 84% versus 125% for Aecom — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(MTZ) is pulling ahead at 16. 2% versus 0. 2% for Aecom (ACM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MasTec, Inc. grew EPS 146. 1% year-over-year, compared to 42. 7% for Aecom. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTZ leads at 13. 5% 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.

Aecom (ACM) is the more profitable company, earning 3.

5% net margin versus 2. 8% for MasTec, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACM leads at 6. 4% versus 4. 6% for MTZ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MTZ leads at 9. 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, Aecom (ACM) trades at 14.

2x forward P/E versus 51. 1x for MasTec, Inc. — 36. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACM: 49. 7% to $125. 63.

In this comparison, ACM (1.

2% yield) pays a dividend. MTZ does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Aecom (ACM) 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. 2% yield, +172. 9% 10Y return). MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) carries a higher beta of 1. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACM: +172. 9%, MTZ: +1840%), 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: ACM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MTZ is a mid-cap high-growth stock. ACM pays a dividend while MTZ 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.