ASTE vs MTW

For growth investors, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the stronger pick with 8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 9% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW). Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) offers the better valuation at 31. 5x trailing P/E (14. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the cheapest at 31. 5x versus The Manitowoc Company, Inc. at 68. 1x. On forward P/E, Astec Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) delivered a total return of -20. 4%, compared to -50. 0% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASTE returned +22. 1% versus MTW's -42. 6%. 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), Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 63β versus The Manitowoc Company, Inc. 's 1. 94β — meaning MTW is approximately 19% more volatile than ASTE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 84% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is pulling ahead at 8. 1% versus 2. 9% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to -87. 2% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASTE leads at 3. 4% 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.

Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 8% net margin versus 0. 3% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ASTE leads at 4. 6% versus 2. 6% for MTW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASTE leads at 26. 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, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) trades at 14. 2x forward P/E versus 19. 5x for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. — 5. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTW: -26. 6% to $10. 00.

In this comparison, ASTE (1.

0% yield) pays a dividend. MTW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 0% yield). The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW) carries a higher beta of 1. 94 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ASTE: +22. 1%, MTW: -42. 6%), 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.

ASTE pays a dividend while MTW does 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.