WSC vs MGRC

For growth investors, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is the stronger pick with 3.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 8% for WillScot Holdings Corporation (WSC). McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) offers the better valuation at 17. 8x trailing P/E (17. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate WillScot Holdings Corporation (WSC) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 forward P/E, McGrath RentCorp is actually cheaper at 17.

5x.

Over the past 5 years, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) delivered a total return of +49.

2%, compared to -18. 6% for WillScot Holdings Corporation (WSC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MGRC returned +394. 1% versus WSC's +145. 9%. 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), McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

87β versus WillScot Holdings Corporation's 2. 06β — meaning WSC is approximately 138% more volatile than MGRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 43% versus 5% for WillScot Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is pulling ahead at 3.

7% versus -4. 8% for WillScot Holdings Corporation (WSC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: McGrath RentCorp grew EPS -32. 7% year-over-year, compared to -293. 3% for WillScot Holdings Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, MGRC leads at 14. 1% 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.

McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

6% net margin versus -2. 3% for WillScot Holdings Corporation — meaning it keeps 16. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MGRC leads at 25. 9% versus 21. 4% for WSC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WSC leads at 46. 8%, 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, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) trades at 17.

5x forward P/E versus 22. 2x for WillScot Holdings Corporation — 4. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MGRC: 23. 8% to $140. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 1. 2% for WillScot Holdings Corporation (WSC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

87), 1. 7% yield, +394. 1% 10Y return). WillScot Holdings Corporation (WSC) carries a higher beta of 2. 06 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MGRC: +394. 1%, WSC: +145. 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.

In terms of investment character: WSC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MGRC is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.