CTRI vs PRIM vs MYRG vs DY vs WLDN

For growth investors, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 8% for MYR Group Inc. (MYRG). Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) offers the better valuation at 21. 3x trailing P/E (18. 1x 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, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the cheapest at 21. 3x versus Centuri Holdings, Inc. at 134. 2x. On forward P/E, Primoris Services Corporation is actually cheaper at 18. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Dycom Industries, Inc. wins at 0. 88x versus MYR Group Inc. 's 2. 64x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, MYR Group Inc.

(MYRG) delivered a total return of +417. 6%, compared to +45. 1% for Centuri Holdings, Inc. (CTRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MYRG returned +1681% versus CTRI's +45. 1%. 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), Dycom Industries, Inc.

(DY) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 22β versus Willdan Group, Inc. 's 1. 96β — meaning WLDN is approximately 60% more volatile than DY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MYR Group Inc. (MYRG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 85% for Dycom Industries, Inc. — 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 8. 8% for MYR Group Inc. (MYRG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Centuri Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 409. 8% year-over-year, compared to 7. 5% for Dycom Industries, Inc.. 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.

Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 7% net margin versus 0. 8% for Centuri Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DY leads at 7. 2% versus 3. 2% for CTRI. 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.

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, Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 88x versus MYR Group Inc. 's 2. 64x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) trades at 18. 1x forward P/E versus 49. 8x for Centuri Holdings, Inc. — 31. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WLDN: 57. 8% to $117. 50.

In this comparison, PRIM (0.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, MYR Group Inc.

(MYRG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1681% 10Y return). Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MYRG: +1681%, PRIM: +402. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CTRI (Utilities) and PRIM (Industrials) and MYRG (Industrials) and DY (Industrials) and WLDN (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; PRIM is a small-cap high-growth stock; MYRG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DY 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.