IESC vs POWL

For growth investors, IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) is the stronger pick with 16. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 1% for Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL). IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) offers the better valuation at 44. 9x trailing P/E (38. 4x 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, IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) is the cheapest at 44. 9x versus Powell Industries, Inc. at 64. 7x. On forward P/E, IES Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 38. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: IES Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 77x versus Powell Industries, Inc. 's 0. 97x — 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 +25. 6%, compared to +1201% for IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IESC returned +52. 9% versus POWL's +28. 4%. 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), Powell Industries, Inc.

(POWL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 95β versus IES Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 73β — meaning IESC is approximately 40% more volatile than POWL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 18% for IES Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) is pulling ahead at 16. 9% versus 9. 1% for Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IES Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 51. 9% 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 9. 1% for IES Holdings, 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 11. 4% for IESC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — POWL leads at 29. 4%, 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. 77x versus Powell Industries, Inc. 's 0. 97x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) trades at 38. 4x forward P/E versus 58. 0x for Powell Industries, Inc. — 19. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IESC: -32. 0% to $458. 00.

In this comparison, POWL (0.

1% yield) pays a dividend. IESC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Powell Industries, Inc.

(POWL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. 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 (POWL: +28. 4%, IESC: +52. 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.

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; POWL is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.