IESC vs MYRG vs POWL vs WLDN vs PRIM

For growth investors, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 8% for MYR Group Inc. (MYRG). 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 IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) 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, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the cheapest at 21. 3x versus Powell Industries, Inc. at 61. 8x. On forward P/E, Primoris Services Corporation is actually cheaper at 18. 1x — 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: IES Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 76x versus MYR Group Inc. 's 2. 64x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Powell Industries, Inc.

(POWL) delivered a total return of +24. 3%, compared to +97. 0% for Willdan Group, Inc. (WLDN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IESC returned +51. 1% versus PRIM's +402. 0%. 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), MYR Group Inc.

(MYRG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 70β versus IES Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 73β — meaning IESC is approximately 61% more volatile than MYRG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 76% for Primoris Services 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 8. 8% for MYR Group Inc. (MYRG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MYR Group Inc. grew EPS 311. 5% year-over-year, compared to 20. 9% for Powell Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, POWL leads at 27. 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.

Powell Industries, Inc.

(POWL) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 4% net margin versus 3. 2% for MYR Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: POWL leads at 19. 7% versus 4. 4% for MYRG. 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.

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, IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 76x versus MYR Group Inc. 's 2. 64x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) trades at 18. 1x forward P/E versus 55. 4x for Powell Industries, Inc. — 37. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WLDN: 57. 8% to $117. 50.

In this comparison, PRIM (0.

3% yield), POWL (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. IESC, MYRG, WLDN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, MYR Group Inc.

(MYRG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1681% 10Y return). IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) carries a higher beta of 2. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MYRG: +1681%, IESC: +51. 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.

In terms of investment character: IESC is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MYRG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; POWL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; WLDN is a small-cap high-growth stock; PRIM is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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.