GLDD vs CIVI vs GVA vs PRIM vs STRL

For growth investors, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the stronger pick with 49. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 4% for Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA). Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI) offers the better valuation at 3. 2x trailing P/E (6. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) 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, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the cheapest at 3. 2x versus Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. at 86. 5x. On forward P/E, Civitas Resources, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Civitas Resources, Inc. wins at 0. 32x 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, Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.

(STRL) delivered a total return of +34. 0%, compared to +19. 7% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STRL returned +176. 9% versus CIVI's -86. 2%. 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 Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. 's 2. 54β — meaning STRL is approximately 177% more volatile than GLDD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 133% for Granite Construction Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is pulling ahead at 49. 8% versus 10. 4% for Granite Construction Incorporated (GVA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Primoris Services Corporation grew EPS 51. 7% year-over-year, compared to -6. 2% for Civitas Resources, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CIVI leads at 77. 5% 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.

Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 1% net margin versus 3. 6% for Primoris Services Corporation — meaning it keeps 16. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CIVI leads at 29. 0% versus 5. 5% for PRIM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CIVI leads at 41. 2%, 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, Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 32x 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, Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI) trades at 6. 8x forward P/E versus 59. 1x for Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. — 52. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRIM: 48. 7% to $160. 63.

In this comparison, CIVI (18.

2% yield), GVA (0. 3% yield), PRIM (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. GLDD, STRL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 10), 18. 2% yield). Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) carries a higher beta of 2. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CIVI: -86. 2%, STRL: +176. 9%), 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 (GLDD (Industrials) and CIVI (Energy) and GVA (Industrials) and PRIM (Industrials) and STRL (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GLDD is a small-cap high-growth stock; CIVI is a small-cap high-growth stock; GVA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PRIM is a small-cap high-growth stock; STRL is a mid-cap high-growth stock. CIVI pays a dividend while GLDD, GVA, PRIM, STRL do 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.