LGN vs IESC

For growth investors, Legence Corp.

Class A Common stock (LGN) is the stronger pick with 29. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 9% for IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC). IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) offers the better valuation at 44. 9x trailing P/E (38. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Legence Corp. Class A Common stock (LGN) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) is the cheapest at 44. 9x versus Legence Corp. Class A Common stock at 1070. 8x. On forward P/E, IES Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 38. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) delivered a total return of +1201%, compared to +235. 3% for Legence Corp. Class A Common stock (LGN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IESC returned +52. 9% versus LGN's +235. 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), Legence Corp.

Class A Common stock (LGN) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 49β versus IES Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 73β — meaning IESC is approximately 9% more volatile than LGN relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Legence Corp.

Class A Common stock (LGN) is pulling ahead at 29. 9% versus 16. 9% for IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Legence Corp. Class A Common stock grew EPS 121. 2% year-over-year, compared to 51. 9% for IES Holdings, Inc.. 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 0. 5% for Legence Corp. Class A Common stock — 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 2. 8% for LGN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IESC leads at 25. 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, IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) trades at 38. 4x forward P/E versus 102. 6x for Legence Corp. Class A Common stock — 64. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LGN: -27. 9% to $73. 75.

In this comparison, LGN (2.

9% yield) pays a dividend. IESC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Legence Corp.

Class A Common stock (LGN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2. 9% yield, +235. 3% 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 (LGN: +235. 3%, 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.

LGN pays a dividend while IESC 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.