AMSC vs MTRX

For growth investors, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) is the stronger pick with 53.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 6% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) offers the better valuation at 332. 6x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) a "Buy" — based on 15 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 forward P/E, American Superconductor Corporation is actually cheaper at 15.

4x.

Over the past 5 years, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) delivered a total return of +255.

0%, compared to -12. 3% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMSC returned +379. 0% versus MTRX's -18. 3%. 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), Matrix Service Company (MTRX) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

62β versus American Superconductor Corporation's 2. 90β — meaning AMSC is approximately 79% more volatile than MTRX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 15% for Matrix Service Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) is pulling ahead at 53.

0% versus 5. 6% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: American Superconductor Corporation grew EPS 143. 2% year-over-year, compared to -16. 5% for Matrix Service Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMSC leads at 27. 1% 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.

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

7% net margin versus -3. 8% for Matrix Service Company — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMSC leads at -0. 5% versus -4. 6% for MTRX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMSC leads at 27. 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.

On forward earnings alone, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) trades at 15.

4x forward P/E versus 143. 1x for Matrix Service Company — 127. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTRX: 97. 4% to $24. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Matrix Service Company (MTRX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding.

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) carries a higher beta of 2. 90 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTRX: -18. 3%, AMSC: +379. 0%), 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: AMSC is a small-cap high-growth stock; MTRX is a small-cap quality compounder 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.