GNRC
Generac Holdings Inc.
Industrial - Machinery
Market Cap$15.69B
5Y Perf.+140.3%
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Stock Comparison
GNRC vs POWL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
POWL
Powell Industries, Inc.
Electrical Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$11.67B
5Y Perf.+3511.0%
GNRC vs POWL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | GNRC | POWL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Machinery | Electrical Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $15.69B | $11.67B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.33B | $1.13B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $189M | $187M |
| Gross Margin | 38.1% | 30.1% |
| Operating Margin | 7.5% | 19.8% |
| Forward P/E | 31.0x | 58.0x |
| Total Debt | $1.33B | $2M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $341M | $451M |
GNRC vs POWL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
GNRC
POWL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generac Holdings In… (GNRC) | 100 | 240.3 | +140.3% |
| Powell Industries, … (POWL) | 100 | 3611.0 | +3511.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GNRC vs POWL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: POWL leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Generac Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
GNRC
Generac Holdings Inc.
The Defensive Pick
GNRC is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.69, Low D/E 50.5%, current ratio 2.03x
- Lower P/E (31.0x vs 58.0x)
- Beta 1.69 vs POWL's 1.95
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
POWL
Powell Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
POWL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.95, yield 0.1%
- Rev growth 9.1%, EPS growth 20.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 27.5%
- 28.4% 10Y total return vs GNRC's 6.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | POWL | 9.1% revenue growth vs GNRC's -2.0% |
| Value | GNRC | Lower P/E (31.0x vs 58.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | POWL | 16.5% margin vs GNRC's 4.4% |
| Stability / Safety | GNRC | Beta 1.69 vs POWL's 1.95 |
| Dividends | POWL | 0.1% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | POWL | +405.8% vs GNRC's +135.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | POWL | 16.9% ROA vs GNRC's 3.4%, ROIC 90.6% vs 5.9% |
GNRC vs POWL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
GNRC vs POWL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPOWLLAGGINGGNRC
GNRCGenerac Holdings Inc.
2leads
POWLPowell Industries, In…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs GNRCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
GNRC5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
POWL7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
POWL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
GNRC2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
POWL2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — GNRC and POWL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GNRC is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.3B annually — 3.8x POWL's $1.1B. POWL is the more profitable business, keeping 16.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GNRC's 4.4%. On growth, GNRC holds the edge at +12.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GNRCGenerac Holdings … | POWLPowell Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.3B | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $472M | $232M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $189M | $187M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $419M | $143M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.1% | +30.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.5% | +19.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.4% | +16.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.7% | +12.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.4% | +6.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +69.9% | -0.8% |
Evenly matched — GNRC and POWL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
GNRC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 64.7x trailing earnings, POWL trades at a 35% valuation discount to GNRC's 99.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, GNRC's 34.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than POWL's 49.8x.
| Metric | GNRCGenerac Holdings … | POWLPowell Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $15.7B | $11.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $16.7B | $11.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 99.41x | 64.66x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 30.99x | 57.98x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.08x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 34.47x | 49.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.73x | 10.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.01x | 18.25x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 58.52x | 75.38x |
GNRC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
POWL leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
POWL delivers a 28.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $29 in annual profit, vs $7 for GNRC. POWL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GNRC's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GNRC scores 6/9 vs POWL's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | GNRCGenerac Holdings … | POWLPowell Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.2% | +28.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.4% | +16.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.9% | +90.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.9% | +37.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.51x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $992M | -$449M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $341M | $451M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.3B | $2M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.54x | — |
POWL leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
POWL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in POWL five years ago would be worth $266,163 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,405 for GNRC. Over the past 12 months, POWL leads with a +405.8% total return vs GNRC's +135.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors POWL at 165.6% vs GNRC's 34.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GNRCGenerac Holdings … | POWLPowell Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +89.5% | +172.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +135.1% | +405.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +142.1% | +1772.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.9% | +2561.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +668.7% | +2843.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +34.3% | +165.6% |
POWL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GNRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GNRC is the less volatile stock with a 1.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than POWL's 1.95 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GNRC currently trades 99.3% from its 52-week high vs POWL's 73.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GNRCGenerac Holdings … | POWLPowell Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.69x | 1.95x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $269.25 | $434.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $113.50 | $54.75 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.3% | +73.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 76.7 | 78.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 902K | 686K |
GNRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
POWL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GNRC as "Buy" and POWL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 1.4% upside for GNRC (target: $271) vs -33.3% for POWL (target: $214). POWL is the only dividend payer here at 0.11% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | GNRCGenerac Holdings … | POWLPowell Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $271.22 | $213.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.0% | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.00 | $0.35 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.9% | +0.1% |
POWL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
POWL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). GNRC leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallPowell Industries, Inc. (POWL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
GNRC vs POWL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GNRC or POWL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Powell Industries, Inc.
(POWL) is the stronger pick with 9. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) offers the better valuation at 64. 7x trailing P/E (58. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC) a "Buy" — based on 39 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.
02Which has the better valuation — GNRC or POWL?
On trailing P/E, Powell Industries, Inc.
(POWL) is the cheapest at 64. 7x versus Generac Holdings Inc. at 99. 4x. On forward P/E, Generac Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 31. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GNRC or POWL?
Over the past 5 years, Powell Industries, Inc.
(POWL) delivered a total return of +25. 6%, compared to -15. 9% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: POWL returned +28. 4% versus GNRC's +668. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GNRC or POWL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Generac Holdings Inc.
(GNRC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 69β versus Powell Industries, Inc. 's 1. 95β — meaning POWL is approximately 15% more volatile than GNRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 51% for Generac Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GNRC or POWL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Powell Industries, Inc.
(POWL) is pulling ahead at 9. 1% versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Powell Industries, Inc. grew EPS 20. 9% year-over-year, compared to -50. 1% for Generac Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, POWL leads at 27. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — GNRC or POWL?
Powell Industries, Inc.
(POWL) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 4% net margin versus 3. 8% for Generac Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: POWL leads at 19. 7% versus 6. 9% for GNRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GNRC leads at 38. 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.
07Is GNRC or POWL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Generac Holdings Inc.
(GNRC) trades at 31. 0x forward P/E versus 58. 0x for Powell Industries, Inc. — 27. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GNRC: 1. 4% to $271. 22.
08Which pays a better dividend — GNRC or POWL?
In this comparison, POWL (0.
1% yield) pays a dividend. GNRC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is GNRC or POWL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Generac Holdings Inc.
(GNRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+668. 7% 10Y return). Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) carries a higher beta of 1. 95 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GNRC: +668. 7%, POWL: +28. 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.
10What are the main differences between GNRC and POWL?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(GNRC: 12.4% · POWL: 6.5%)Net Margin>
%
(GNRC: 4.4% · POWL: 16.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
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