APG vs WLDN

For growth investors, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 7% for APi Group Corporation (APG). Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) offers the better valuation at 27. 6x trailing P/E (23. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate APi Group Corporation (APG) 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.

On forward P/E, Willdan Group, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 23. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, APi Group Corporation (APG) delivered a total return of +187.

4%, compared to +140. 5% for Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WLDN returned +798. 3% versus APG's +511. 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), APi Group Corporation (APG) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

26β versus Willdan Group, Inc. 's 1. 99β — meaning WLDN is approximately 58% more volatile than APG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 96% for APi Group Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(WLDN) is pulling ahead at 20. 5% versus 12. 7% for APi Group Corporation (APG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Willdan Group, Inc. grew EPS 120. 9% year-over-year, compared to -23. 2% for APi Group Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, WLDN leads at 16. 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.

Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 7% net margin versus 3. 8% for APi Group Corporation — meaning it keeps 7. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APG leads at 7. 0% versus 6. 5% for WLDN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WLDN leads at 37. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) trades at 23. 4x forward P/E versus 25. 0x for APi Group Corporation — 1. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APG: 24. 0% to $52. 50.

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, APi Group Corporation (APG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

26), +511. 0% 10Y return). Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) carries a higher beta of 1. 99 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (APG: +511. 0%, WLDN: +798. 3%), 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: APG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; WLDN is a small-cap high-growth 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.