HURC vs ASTE

For growth investors, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the stronger pick with 8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 3% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) offers the better valuation at 31. 5x trailing P/E (14. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC) a "Buy" — based on 1 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 forward P/E, Hurco Companies, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 7. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) delivered a total return of -20. 4%, compared to -46. 0% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASTE returned +22. 1% versus HURC's -36. 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), Hurco Companies, Inc.

(HURC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 86β versus Astec Industries, Inc. 's 1. 63β — meaning ASTE is approximately 89% more volatile than HURC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 47% for Astec Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is pulling ahead at 8. 1% versus -4. 3% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to 8. 6% for Hurco Companies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASTE leads at 3. 4% 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.

Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 8% net margin versus -8. 5% for Hurco Companies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ASTE leads at 4. 6% versus -5. 8% for HURC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASTE leads at 26. 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, Hurco Companies, Inc.

(HURC) trades at 7. 6x forward P/E versus 14. 2x for Astec Industries, Inc. — 6. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, ASTE (1.

0% yield) pays a dividend. HURC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hurco Companies, Inc.

(HURC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 86)). Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) carries a higher beta of 1. 63 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HURC: -36. 3%, ASTE: +22. 1%), 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.

ASTE pays a dividend while HURC 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.