AMRZ vs VMC

For growth investors, Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the stronger pick with 6.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 9% for Amrize Ltd (AMRZ). Amrize Ltd (AMRZ) offers the better valuation at 25. 7x trailing P/E (19. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Amrize Ltd (AMRZ) 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, Amrize Ltd (AMRZ) is the cheapest at 25.

7x versus Vulcan Materials Company at 36. 4x. On forward P/E, Amrize Ltd is actually cheaper at 19. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) delivered a total return of +59.

2%, compared to +6. 5% for Amrize Ltd (AMRZ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VMC returned +171. 0% versus AMRZ's +6. 5%. 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), Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

80β versus Amrize Ltd's 1. 32β — meaning AMRZ is approximately 65% more volatile than VMC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Amrize Ltd (AMRZ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 63% for Vulcan Materials Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is pulling ahead at 6.

9% versus 0. 9% for Amrize Ltd (AMRZ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Vulcan Materials Company grew EPS 18. 5% year-over-year, compared to -7. 0% for Amrize Ltd. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMRZ leads at 3. 3% 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.

Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

6% net margin versus 10. 0% for Amrize Ltd — meaning it keeps 13. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VMC leads at 20. 1% versus 16. 1% for AMRZ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VMC leads at 27. 3%, 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, Amrize Ltd (AMRZ) trades at 19.

6x forward P/E versus 32. 2x for Vulcan Materials Company — 12. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMRZ: 20. 3% to $66. 11.

In this comparison, VMC (0.

7% yield) pays a dividend. AMRZ does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

80), 0. 7% yield, +171. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VMC: +171. 0%, AMRZ: +6. 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 Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

VMC pays a dividend while AMRZ 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.