ESOA vs WLDN

For growth investors, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 8% for Energy Services of America Corporation (ESOA). 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 Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) a "Buy" — based on 7 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 Energy Services of America Corporation at 755. 7x. On forward P/E, Willdan Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Energy Services of America Corporation (ESOA) delivered a total return of +758.

8%, compared to +97. 0% for Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ESOA returned +1078% versus WLDN's +581. 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), Energy Services of America Corporation (ESOA) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

52β versus Willdan Group, Inc. 's 1. 96β — meaning WLDN is approximately 28% more volatile than ESOA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 122% for Energy Services of America Corporation — 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 16. 8% for Energy Services of America Corporation (ESOA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Willdan Group, Inc. grew EPS 120. 9% year-over-year, compared to -98. 5% for Energy Services of America Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ESOA leads at 27. 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. 1% for Energy Services of America Corporation — 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 1. 0% for ESOA. 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 30. 2x for Energy Services of America Corporation — 12. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, ESOA (0.

5% yield) pays a dividend. WLDN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Energy Services of America Corporation (ESOA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.

5% yield, +1078% 10Y return). 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 (ESOA: +1078%, 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.

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

ESOA pays a dividend while WLDN does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.