ALTG vs RUSHA

For growth investors, Alta Equipment Group Inc.

(ALTG) is the stronger pick with -2. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 7% for Rush Enterprises, Inc. (RUSHA). Rush Enterprises, Inc. (RUSHA) offers the better valuation at 22. 0x trailing P/E (19. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG) a "Buy" — based on 5 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.

Over the past 5 years, Rush Enterprises, Inc.

(RUSHA) delivered a total return of +125. 0%, compared to -31. 7% for Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RUSHA returned +803. 1% versus ALTG's -7. 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), Rush Enterprises, Inc.

(RUSHA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 98β versus Alta Equipment Group Inc. 's 2. 30β — meaning ALTG is approximately 135% more volatile than RUSHA relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alta Equipment Group Inc.

(ALTG) is pulling ahead at -2. 2% versus -4. 7% for Rush Enterprises, Inc. (RUSHA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Rush Enterprises, Inc. grew EPS -12. 1% year-over-year, compared to -30. 1% for Alta Equipment Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALTG leads at 5. 3% 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.

Rush Enterprises, Inc.

(RUSHA) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 5% net margin versus -4. 4% for Alta Equipment Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RUSHA leads at 5. 3% versus 1. 3% for ALTG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALTG leads at 25. 9%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RUSHA: 13.

9% to $82. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 1. 0% for Rush Enterprises, Inc. (RUSHA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Rush Enterprises, Inc.

(RUSHA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 98), 1. 0% yield, +803. 1% 10Y return). Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG) carries a higher beta of 2. 30 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RUSHA: +803. 1%, ALTG: -7. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ALTG (Industrials) and RUSHA (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.