ACA vs CRH vs VMC vs MLM vs MDU

For growth investors, Arcosa, Inc.

(ACA) is the stronger pick with 12. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 1% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM). CRH plc (CRH) offers the better valuation at 18. 8x trailing P/E (17. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Arcosa, Inc. (ACA) a "Buy" — based on 8 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 18.

8x versus Vulcan Materials Company at 34. 4x. On forward P/E, CRH plc is actually cheaper at 17. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CRH plc wins at 0. 56x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 2. 92x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CRH plc (CRH) delivered a total return of +116.

1%, compared to +61. 2% for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACA returned +525. 2% versus VMC's +151. 4%. 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), MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Arcosa, Inc. 's 1. 40β — meaning ACA is approximately 261% more volatile than MDU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 99% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arcosa, Inc.

(ACA) is pulling ahead at 12. 2% versus 0. 1% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Arcosa, Inc. grew EPS 122. 0% year-over-year, compared to -42. 0% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACA leads at 8. 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.

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 4% net margin versus 7. 2% for Arcosa, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MLM leads at 23. 3% versus 11. 8% for ACA. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, CRH plc (CRH) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 56x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 2. 92x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CRH plc (CRH) trades at 17. 4x forward P/E versus 30. 3x for Vulcan Materials Company — 12. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CRH: 30. 8% to $135. 60.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 0. 2% for Arcosa, Inc. (ACA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 2. 5% yield, +171. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDU: +171. 9%, ACA: +525. 2%), 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 (ACA (Industrials) and CRH (Basic Materials) and VMC (Basic Materials) and MLM (Basic Materials) and MDU (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

CRH, VMC, MLM, MDU pay a dividend while ACA 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.