CTRI vs WLDN

For growth investors, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 4% for Centuri Holdings, Inc. (CTRI). 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, Willdan Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) delivered a total return of +97. 0%, compared to +45. 1% for Centuri Holdings, Inc. (CTRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WLDN returned +581. 3% 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), Centuri Holdings, Inc.

(CTRI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 29β versus Willdan Group, Inc. 's 1. 96β — meaning WLDN is approximately 51% more volatile than CTRI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 37% for Centuri Holdings, 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 9. 4% for Centuri Holdings, Inc. (CTRI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Centuri Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 409. 8% year-over-year, compared to 120. 9% for Willdan Group, Inc.. 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 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: WLDN leads at 6. 5% 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.

On forward earnings alone, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) 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.

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, Centuri Holdings, Inc.

(CTRI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 29)). Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) carries a higher beta of 1. 96 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTRI: +45. 1%, WLDN: +581. 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 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; 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.