Industrial - Infrastructure Operations
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ACA vs SPIR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Business Services
ACA vs SPIR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Infrastructure Operations | Specialty Business Services |
| Market Cap | $6.10B | $665.73B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.82B | $64M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $223M | $49M |
| Gross Margin | 22.8% | 42.1% |
| Operating Margin | 10.1% | -122.0% |
| Forward P/E | 29.1x | 13.4x |
| Total Debt | $1.52B | $13M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $215M | $25M |
ACA vs SPIR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Nov 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcosa, Inc. (ACA) | 100 | 239.2 | +139.2% |
| Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) | 100 | 25.4 | -74.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ACA vs SPIR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ACA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.42, yield 0.2%
- Rev growth 12.2%, EPS growth 122.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.7%
- 5.1% 10Y total return vs SPIR's -73.7%
SPIR is the clearest fit if your priority is value and quality.
- Lower P/E (13.4x vs 29.1x)
- 76.4% margin vs ACA's 7.9%
- +70.6% vs ACA's +40.8%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 12.2% revenue growth vs SPIR's -35.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (13.4x vs 29.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 76.4% margin vs ACA's 7.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.42 vs SPIR's 3.29 | |
| Dividends | 0.2% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +70.6% vs ACA's +40.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.5% ROA vs SPIR's 0.1%, ROIC 6.4% vs -71.6% |
ACA vs SPIR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
ACA vs SPIR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ACA and SPIR each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACA is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.8B annually — 44.5x SPIR's $64M. SPIR is the more profitable business, keeping 76.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACA's 7.9%. On growth, ACA holds the edge at -9.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.8B | $64M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $456M | -$63M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $223M | $49M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $225M | -$119M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +22.8% | +42.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.1% | -122.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +76.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | -186.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.5% | -33.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -37.5% | -1.3% |
Valuation Metrics
ACA leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.4x trailing earnings, SPIR trades at a 54% valuation discount to ACA's 29.3x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.1B | $665.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.4B | $665.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 29.28x | 13.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.15x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.06x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.15x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.11x | 9303.95x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.32x | 5662.14x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 34.73x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
ACA leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACA delivers a 8.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $0 for SPIR. SPIR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACA's 0.58x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACA scores 8/9 vs SPIR's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.6% | +0.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | +0.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.4% | -71.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.8% | -96.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.58x | 0.12x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | -$11M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $215M | $25M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $13M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.76x | 37.30x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SPIR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACA five years ago would be worth $20,090 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,532 for SPIR. Over the past 12 months, SPIR leads with a +70.6% total return vs ACA's +40.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPIR at 51.4% vs ACA's 22.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +16.3% | +156.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.8% | +70.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +81.8% | +247.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.9% | -74.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +509.7% | -73.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.0% | +51.4% |
Risk & Volatility
ACA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ACA is the less volatile stock with a 1.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPIR's 3.29 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ACA currently trades 91.6% from its 52-week high vs SPIR's 84.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.42x | 3.29x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $135.58 | $23.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $81.91 | $6.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.6% | +84.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.3 | 53.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 286K | 1.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACA as "Buy" and SPIR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 12.8% upside for ACA (target: $140) vs -1.9% for SPIR (target: $20). ACA is the only dividend payer here at 0.16% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $140.00 | $19.63 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.2% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.20 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ACA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SPIR leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
ACA vs SPIR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACA or SPIR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Arcosa, Inc.
(ACA) is the stronger pick with 12. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E, 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ACA or SPIR?
On trailing P/E, Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the cheapest at 13. 4x versus Arcosa, Inc. at 29. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACA or SPIR?
Over the past 5 years, Arcosa, Inc.
(ACA) delivered a total return of +100. 9%, compared to -74. 7% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACA returned +509. 7% versus SPIR's -73. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ACA or SPIR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Arcosa, Inc.
(ACA) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 42β versus Spire Global, Inc. 's 3. 29β — meaning SPIR is approximately 131% more volatile than ACA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 58% for Arcosa, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ACA or SPIR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arcosa, Inc.
(ACA) is pulling ahead at 12. 2% versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Spire Global, Inc. grew EPS 135. 0% year-over-year, compared to 122. 0% for Arcosa, 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ACA or SPIR?
Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the more profitable company, earning 71. 7% net margin versus 7. 2% for Arcosa, Inc. — meaning it keeps 71. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACA leads at 11. 8% versus -121. 4% for SPIR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SPIR leads at 40. 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.
07Is ACA or SPIR more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACA: 12.
8% to $140. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ACA or SPIR?
In this comparison, ACA (0.
2% yield) pays a dividend. SPIR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ACA or SPIR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Arcosa, Inc.
(ACA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+509. 7% 10Y return). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a higher beta of 3. 29 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACA: +509. 7%, SPIR: -73. 7%), 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.
10What are the main differences between ACA and SPIR?
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: ACA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SPIR is a large-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.
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