AGX vs MTZ

For growth investors, Argan, Inc.

(AGX) is the stronger pick with 52. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 2% for MasTec, Inc. (MTZ). MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) offers the better valuation at 81. 3x trailing P/E (48. 6x 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, MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) is the cheapest at 81. 3x versus Argan, Inc. at 112. 2x. On forward P/E, MasTec, Inc. is actually cheaper at 48. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Argan, Inc.

(AGX) delivered a total return of +1285%, compared to +270. 5% for MasTec, Inc. (MTZ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AGX returned +1987% versus MTZ's +1753%. 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), Argan, Inc.

(AGX) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 40β versus MasTec, Inc. 's 1. 64β — meaning MTZ is approximately 17% more volatile than AGX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Argan, Inc. (AGX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 84% for MasTec, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(AGX) is pulling ahead at 52. 5% versus 16. 2% for MasTec, Inc. (MTZ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Argan, Inc. grew EPS 157. 3% year-over-year, compared to 146. 1% for MasTec, 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.

Argan, Inc.

(AGX) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 8% net margin versus 2. 8% for MasTec, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AGX leads at 10. 1% versus 4. 6% for MTZ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGX leads at 16. 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.

On forward earnings alone, MasTec, Inc.

(MTZ) trades at 48. 6x forward P/E versus 62. 5x for Argan, Inc. — 13. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTZ: -19. 9% to $330. 25.

In this comparison, AGX (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. MTZ does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Argan, Inc.

(AGX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1987% 10Y return). MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) carries a higher beta of 1. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AGX: +1987%, MTZ: +1753%), 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.

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.