GLDD vs GVA

For growth investors, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the stronger pick with 16.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 4% for Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA). Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) offers the better valuation at 15. 7x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) 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, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the cheapest at 15.

7x versus Granite Construction Incorporated at 38. 9x. On forward P/E, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA) delivered a total return of +270.

4%, compared to +19. 7% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GLDD returned +276. 9% versus GVA's +238. 3%. 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), Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

92β versus Granite Construction Incorporated's 0. 98β — meaning GVA is approximately 7% more volatile than GLDD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 89% versus 133% for Granite Construction Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is pulling ahead at 16.

5% versus 10. 4% for Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Granite Construction Incorporated grew EPS 38. 5% year-over-year, compared to 28. 6% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, GLDD leads at 11. 0% 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.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

3% net margin versus 4. 4% for Granite Construction Incorporated — meaning it keeps 8. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GLDD leads at 14. 1% versus 5. 9% for GVA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GLDD leads at 22. 9%, 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, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) trades at 15.

4x forward P/E versus 26. 0x for Granite Construction Incorporated — 10. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, GVA (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. GLDD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

92), +276. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GLDD: +276. 9%, GVA: +238. 3%), 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: GLDD is a small-cap high-growth stock; GVA is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.