AGX vs CAT vs DE vs MYRG vs PWR

For growth investors, Argan, Inc.

(AGX) is the stronger pick with 52. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Deere & Company (DE). Deere & Company (DE) offers the better valuation at 31. 4x trailing P/E (32. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Argan, Inc. (AGX) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Deere & Company (DE) is the cheapest at 31.

4x versus Argan, Inc. at 112. 2x. On forward P/E, Deere & Company is actually cheaper at 32. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Caterpillar Inc. wins at 1. 38x versus Quanta Services, Inc. 's 3. 33x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Argan, Inc.

(AGX) delivered a total return of +1285%, compared to +54. 1% for Deere & Company (DE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PWR returned +31. 4% versus DE's +671. 0%. 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), Deere & Company (DE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

56β versus MYR Group Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning MYRG is approximately 201% more volatile than DE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Argan, Inc. (AGX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for Deere & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(AGX) is pulling ahead at 52. 5% versus -2. 2% for Deere & Company (DE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MYR Group Inc. grew EPS 311. 5% year-over-year, compared to -14. 6% for Caterpillar Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AGX leads at 19. 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.

Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus 3. 2% for MYR Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DE leads at 18. 8% versus 4. 4% for MYRG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DE leads at 36. 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.

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, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 38x versus Quanta Services, Inc. 's 3. 33x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Deere & Company (DE) trades at 32. 5x forward P/E versus 62. 5x for Argan, Inc. — 30. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DE: 17. 3% to $680. 54.

In this comparison, DE (1.

1% yield), CAT (0. 7% yield), AGX (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. MYRG, PWR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

56), 1. 1% yield, +671. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DE: +671. 0%, PWR: +31. 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.

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: AGX is a small-cap high-growth stock; CAT is a large-cap quality compounder stock; DE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MYRG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PWR is a mid-cap high-growth stock. CAT, DE pay a dividend while AGX, MYRG, PWR do 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.