PCT
PureCycle Technologies, Inc.
Industrial - Pollution & Treatment Controls
Market Cap$1.62B
5Y Perf.-9.5%
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Stock Comparison
PCT vs ASTE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ASTE
Astec Industries, Inc.
Agricultural - Machinery
Market Cap$1.21B
5Y Perf.+19.1%
PCT vs ASTE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PCT | ASTE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Pollution & Treatment Controls | Agricultural - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $1.62B | $1.21B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11M | $1.48B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-225M | $26M |
| Gross Margin | -10.4% | 26.1% |
| Operating Margin | -11.8% | 3.7% |
| Forward P/E | — | 14.2x |
| Total Debt | $776M | $320M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $157M | $72M |
PCT vs ASTE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PCT
ASTE
| Stock | Jul 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| PureCycle Technolog… (PCT) | 100 | 90.5 | -9.5% |
| Astec Industries, I… (ASTE) | 100 | 119.1 | +19.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PCT vs ASTE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ASTE leads in 5 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. PureCycle Technologies, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PCT
PureCycle Technologies, Inc.
The Growth Play
PCT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 5.9%, EPS growth 31.3%
- 5.9% revenue growth vs ASTE's 8.1%
Best for: growth exposure
ASTE
Astec Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
ASTE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.63, yield 1.0%
- 22.1% 10Y total return vs PCT's -12.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.63, Low D/E 46.9%, current ratio 2.49x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PCT | 5.9% revenue growth vs ASTE's 8.1% |
| Quality / Margins | ASTE | 1.7% margin vs PCT's -20.6% |
| Stability / Safety | ASTE | Beta 1.63 vs PCT's 2.45, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ASTE | 1.0% yield, vs PCT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ASTE | +40.5% vs PCT's +36.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ASTE | 2.0% ROA vs PCT's -23.4%, ROIC 6.2% vs -20.3% |
PCT vs ASTE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
PCT vs ASTE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLASTELAGGINGPCT
PCTPureCycle Technologie…
0leads
ASTEAstec Industries, Inc.
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PCTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ASTE5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ASTE2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ASTE8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ASTE6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ASTE2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ASTE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ASTE is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.5B annually — 135.5x PCT's $11M. ASTE is the more profitable business, keeping 1.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PCT's -20.6%. On growth, PCT holds the edge at +161.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PCTPureCycle Technol… | ASTEAstec Industries,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11M | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$105M | $84M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$225M | $26M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$176M | $44M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -10.4% | +26.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -11.8% | +3.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -20.6% | +1.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -16.1% | +3.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +161.2% | +20.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.2% | -90.3% |
ASTE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ASTE leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PCTPureCycle Technol… | ASTEAstec Industries,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $1.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.2B | $1.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.39x | 31.55x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 14.17x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 14.36x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 193.38x | 0.86x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 35.16x | 1.80x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 56.50x |
ASTE leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ASTE leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ASTE delivers a 3.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $4 in annual profit, vs $-4 for PCT. ASTE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.47x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PCT's 16.91x.
| Metric | PCTPureCycle Technol… | ASTEAstec Industries,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.1% | +3.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -23.4% | +2.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -20.3% | +6.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -21.6% | +7.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 16.91x | 0.47x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $619M | $248M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $157M | $72M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $776M | $320M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -2.18x | 5.48x |
ASTE leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ASTE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ASTE five years ago would be worth $7,958 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,889 for PCT. Over the past 12 months, ASTE leads with a +40.5% total return vs PCT's +36.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ASTE at 9.6% vs PCT's 6.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PCTPureCycle Technol… | ASTEAstec Industries,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.1% | +19.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.3% | +40.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +20.5% | +31.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -41.1% | -20.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -12.4% | +22.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.4% | +9.6% |
ASTE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ASTE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ASTE is the less volatile stock with a 1.63 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PCT's 2.45 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ASTE currently trades 80.7% from its 52-week high vs PCT's 51.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PCTPureCycle Technol… | ASTEAstec Industries,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.45x | 1.63x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.37 | $65.65 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.93 | $36.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +51.5% | +80.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.2 | 39.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.8M | 227K |
ASTE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PCT and ASTE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PCT as "Buy" and ASTE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 0.7% upside for PCT (target: $9) vs -32.1% for ASTE (target: $36). For income investors, ASTE offers the higher dividend yield at 0.97% vs PCT's 0.70%.
| Metric | PCTPureCycle Technol… | ASTEAstec Industries,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $9.00 | $36.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.06 | $0.51 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — PCT and ASTE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ASTE leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallAstec Industries, Inc. (ASTE)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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PCT vs ASTE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PCT or ASTE a better buy right now?
Astec Industries, Inc.
(ASTE) offers the better valuation at 31. 5x trailing P/E (14. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT) 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — PCT or ASTE?
Over the past 5 years, Astec Industries, Inc.
(ASTE) delivered a total return of -20. 4%, compared to -41. 1% for PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASTE returned +22. 1% versus PCT's -12. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — PCT or ASTE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Astec Industries, Inc.
(ASTE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 63β versus PureCycle Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 45β — meaning PCT is approximately 50% more volatile than ASTE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 17% for PureCycle Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — PCT or ASTE?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc.
grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to 31. 3% for PureCycle Technologies, 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.
05Which has better profit margins — PCT or ASTE?
Astec Industries, Inc.
(ASTE) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 8% net margin versus -21. 9% for PureCycle Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ASTE leads at 4. 6% versus -1991. 2% for PCT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASTE leads at 26. 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.
06Is PCT or ASTE more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PCT: 0.
7% to $9. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — PCT or ASTE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 7% for PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT).
08Is PCT or ASTE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Astec Industries, Inc.
(ASTE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 0% yield). PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT) carries a higher beta of 2. 45 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ASTE: +22. 1%, PCT: -12. 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.
09What are the main differences between PCT and ASTE?
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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