GVA vs CRH

For growth investors, Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA) is the stronger pick with 10.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 0% for CRH plc (CRH). CRH plc (CRH) offers the better valuation at 20. 4x trailing P/E (18. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, CRH plc (CRH) is the cheapest at 20.

4x versus Granite Construction Incorporated at 38. 9x. On forward P/E, CRH plc is actually cheaper at 18. 9x.

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

4%, compared to +136. 7% for CRH plc (CRH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRH returned +331. 4% 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), Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

98β versus CRH plc's 1. 35β — meaning CRH is approximately 38% more volatile than GVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CRH plc (CRH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 133% for Granite Construction Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA) is pulling ahead at 10.

4% versus 9. 0% for CRH plc (CRH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Granite Construction Incorporated grew EPS 38. 5% year-over-year, compared to 9. 8% for CRH plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, GVA leads at 10. 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.

CRH plc (CRH) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

0% net margin versus 4. 4% for Granite Construction Incorporated — meaning it keeps 10. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRH leads at 14. 2% versus 5. 9% for GVA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRH leads at 36. 1%, 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, CRH plc (CRH) trades at 18.

9x forward P/E versus 26. 0x for Granite Construction Incorporated — 7. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CRH: 20. 4% to $135. 60.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CRH plc (CRH) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 0. 3% for Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, CRH plc (CRH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

1% yield, +331. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRH: +331. 4%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (GVA (Industrials) and CRH (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

CRH pays a dividend while GVA 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.