CPAC vs VMC vs MLM vs CRH

For growth investors, CRH plc (CRH) is the stronger pick with 9.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 1% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM). Cementos Pacasmayo S. A. A. (CPAC) offers the better valuation at 16. 0x trailing P/E (8. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) a "Buy" — based on 36 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, Cementos Pacasmayo S.

A. A. (CPAC) is the cheapest at 16. 0x versus Vulcan Materials Company at 35. 6x. On forward P/E, Cementos Pacasmayo S. A. A. is actually cheaper at 8. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CRH plc wins at 0. 61x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 3. 00x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CRH plc (CRH) delivered a total return of +136.

7%, compared to +55. 3% for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRH returned +331. 4% versus CPAC's +89. 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), Cementos Pacasmayo S.

A. A. (CPAC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 13β versus CRH plc's 1. 35β — meaning CRH is approximately 963% more volatile than CPAC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 124% for Cementos Pacasmayo S. A. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CRH plc (CRH) is pulling ahead at 9.

0% versus 0. 1% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Vulcan Materials Company grew EPS 18. 5% year-over-year, compared to -42. 0% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CRH leads at 7. 2% 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.

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 4% net margin versus 10. 0% for CRH plc — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MLM leads at 23. 3% versus 14. 2% for CRH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CPAC leads at 36. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, CRH plc (CRH) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 61x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 3. 00x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Cementos Pacasmayo S. A. A. (CPAC) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 31. 4x for Vulcan Materials Company — 23. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CRH: 20. 4% to $135. 60.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Cementos Pacasmayo S. A. A. (CPAC) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 0. 5% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cementos Pacasmayo S.

A. A. (CPAC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 13), 5. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CPAC: +89. 0%, CRH: +331. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CPAC is a small-cap deep-value stock; VMC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MLM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CRH is a mid-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.