IESC vs WLDN

For growth investors, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 9% for IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC). Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) offers the better valuation at 21. 7x trailing P/E (18. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the cheapest at 21. 7x versus IES Holdings, Inc. at 44. 9x. On forward P/E, Willdan Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) delivered a total return of +1201%, compared to +99. 2% for Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IESC returned +52. 9% versus WLDN's +595. 2%. 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), Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 96β versus IES Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 73β — meaning IESC is approximately 39% more volatile than WLDN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 23% for Willdan Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is pulling ahead at 20. 5% versus 16. 9% for IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Willdan Group, Inc. grew EPS 120. 9% year-over-year, compared to 51. 9% for IES Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WLDN leads at 16. 7% 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.

IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 1% net margin versus 7. 7% for Willdan Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IESC leads at 11. 4% versus 6. 5% for WLDN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WLDN leads at 37. 5%, 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, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) trades at 18. 4x forward P/E versus 38. 4x for IES Holdings, Inc. — 20. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WLDN: 55. 2% to $117. 50.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+595. 2% 10Y return). IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) carries a higher beta of 2. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (WLDN: +595. 2%, IESC: +52. 9%), 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.

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.