CTRI vs MTRX vs PRIM vs GLDD

For growth investors, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the stronger pick with 19.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 6% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) offers the better valuation at 15. 7x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Centuri Holdings, Inc. (CTRI) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the cheapest at 15.

7x versus Centuri Holdings, Inc. at 134. 2x. On forward P/E, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Primoris Services Corporation wins at 0. 98x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's 9. 93x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) delivered a total return of +234.

4%, compared to -12. 3% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PRIM returned +402. 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), Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

92β versus Primoris Services Corporation's 1. 83β — meaning PRIM is approximately 100% more volatile than GLDD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Matrix Service Company (MTRX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 89% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is pulling ahead at 19.

0% versus 5. 6% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Centuri Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 409. 8% year-over-year, compared to -16. 5% for Matrix Service Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, PRIM leads at 19. 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.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

3% net margin versus -3. 8% for Matrix Service Company — meaning it keeps 8. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GLDD leads at 14. 1% versus -4. 6% for MTRX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GLDD leads at 22. 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.

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, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 98x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's 9. 93x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) 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.

In this comparison, PRIM (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. CTRI, MTRX, GLDD do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

92), +276. 9% 10Y return). Matrix Service Company (MTRX) carries a higher beta of 1. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GLDD: +276. 9%, MTRX: -18. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CTRI (Utilities) and MTRX (Industrials) and PRIM (Industrials) and GLDD (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CTRI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MTRX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PRIM is a small-cap high-growth stock; GLDD 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.