IDA vs NWPX vs POR vs UFPI vs AVA

For growth investors, NWPX Infrastructure, Inc.

(NWPX) is the stronger pick with 6. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 0% for UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI). UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI) offers the better valuation at 16. 8x trailing P/E (15. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, UFP Industries, Inc.

(UFPI) is the cheapest at 16. 8x versus NWPX Infrastructure, Inc. at 30. 8x. On forward P/E, Portland General Electric Company is actually cheaper at 14. 3x — 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: Portland General Electric Company wins at 1. 44x versus IDACORP, Inc. 's 4. 79x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, NWPX Infrastructure, Inc.

(NWPX) delivered a total return of +238. 0%, compared to +1. 5% for UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NWPX returned +1040% versus AVA's +40. 1%. 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), Avista Corporation (AVA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

00β versus NWPX Infrastructure, Inc. 's 1. 29β — meaning NWPX is approximately -43207% more volatile than AVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 134% for Portland General Electric Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NWPX Infrastructure, Inc.

(NWPX) is pulling ahead at 6. 8% versus -5. 0% for UFP Industries, Inc. (UFPI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IDACORP, Inc. grew EPS 7. 3% year-over-year, compared to -26. 1% for UFP Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, POR leads at 8. 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.

IDACORP, Inc.

(IDA) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 8% net margin versus 4. 7% for UFP Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IDA leads at 21. 9% versus 5. 8% for UFPI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — POR leads at 33. 6%, 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, Portland General Electric Company (POR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 44x versus IDACORP, Inc. 's 4. 79x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Portland General Electric Company (POR) trades at 14. 3x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for NWPX Infrastructure, Inc. — 11. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UFPI: 22. 8% to $103. 00.

In this comparison, AVA (4.

8% yield), POR (4. 2% yield), IDA (2. 4% yield), UFPI (1. 7% yield) pay a dividend. NWPX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

00), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVA: +40. 1%, NWPX: +1040%), 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 (IDA (Utilities) and NWPX (Industrials) and POR (Utilities) and UFPI (Basic Materials) and AVA (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: IDA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NWPX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; POR is a small-cap deep-value stock; UFPI is a small-cap deep-value stock; AVA is a small-cap deep-value stock. IDA, POR, UFPI, AVA pay a dividend while NWPX 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.