HURC vs ASTE vs MLM vs FAST

For growth investors, Fastenal Company (FAST) is the stronger pick with 8.

7% 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 trailing P/E, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the cheapest at 31. 5x versus Fastenal Company at 40. 7x. On forward P/E, Hurco Companies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. wins at 3. 00x versus Fastenal Company's 4. 62x.

Over the past 5 years, Fastenal Company (FAST) delivered a total return of +81.

3%, compared to -46. 0% for Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FAST returned +338. 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), Fastenal Company (FAST) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

69β versus Astec Industries, Inc. 's 1. 63β — meaning ASTE is approximately 135% more volatile than FAST relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 53% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fastenal Company (FAST) is pulling ahead at 8.

7% 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 -42. 0% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FAST leads at 5. 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.

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 4% net margin versus -8. 5% for Hurco Companies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MLM leads at 23. 3% versus -5. 8% for HURC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FAST leads at 45. 0%, 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, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 00x versus Fastenal Company's 4. 62x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC) trades at 7. 6x forward P/E versus 35. 9x for Fastenal Company — 28. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MLM: 15. 8% to $695. 30.

In this comparison, FAST (2.

0% yield), ASTE (1. 0% yield), MLM (0. 5% yield) pay a dividend. HURC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

69), 2. 0% yield, +338. 1% 10Y return). 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 (FAST: +338. 1%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (HURC (Industrials) and ASTE (Industrials) and MLM (Basic Materials) and FAST (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

ASTE, MLM, FAST pay 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.