CX vs VMC

For growth investors, Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the stronger pick with 6.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 1% for CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX). CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX) offers the better valuation at 2. 1x trailing P/E (16. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX) a "Buy" — based on 23 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, CEMEX, S.

A. B. de C. V. (CX) is the cheapest at 2. 1x versus Vulcan Materials Company at 36. 4x. On forward P/E, CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. is actually cheaper at 16. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, CEMEX, S.

A. B. de C. V. (CX) delivered a total return of +59. 7%, compared to +59. 2% for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VMC returned +171. 0% versus CX's +110. 4%. 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), Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

80β versus CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. 's 1. 17β — meaning CX is approximately 47% more volatile than VMC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 63% for Vulcan Materials Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is pulling ahead at 6.

9% versus -0. 1% for CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. grew EPS 982. 0% year-over-year, compared to 18. 5% for Vulcan Materials Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, CX leads at 3. 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.

Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

6% net margin versus 6. 0% for CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. — meaning it keeps 13. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VMC leads at 20. 1% versus 10. 0% for CX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CX leads at 31. 4%, 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, CEMEX, S.

A. B. de C. V. (CX) trades at 16. 8x forward P/E versus 32. 2x for Vulcan Materials Company — 15. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VMC: 10. 6% to $327. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX) offers the highest yield at 6. 5%, versus 0. 7% for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

80), 0. 7% yield, +171. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VMC: +171. 0%, CX: +110. 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: CX is a small-cap deep-value stock; VMC 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.