IESC vs PRIM

For growth investors, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the stronger pick with 19.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 9% for IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC). Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) offers the better valuation at 20. 2x trailing P/E (16. 9x 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, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the cheapest at 20.

2x versus IES Holdings, Inc. at 44. 9x. On forward P/E, Primoris Services Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 9x. 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 Primoris Services Corporation's 0. 92x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) delivered a total return of +1201%, compared to +215. 3% for Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IESC returned +52. 9% versus PRIM's +359. 9%. 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), Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

83β versus IES Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 73β — meaning IESC is approximately 49% more volatile than PRIM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 76% for Primoris Services Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is pulling ahead at 19.

0% versus 16. 9% for IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IES Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 51. 9% year-over-year, compared to 51. 7% for Primoris Services Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PRIM leads at 19. 7% 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.

IES Holdings, Inc.

(IESC) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 1% net margin versus 3. 6% for Primoris Services Corporation — meaning it keeps 9. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IESC leads at 11. 4% versus 5. 5% for PRIM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IESC leads at 25. 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. 77x versus Primoris Services Corporation's 0. 92x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) trades at 16. 9x forward P/E versus 38. 4x for IES Holdings, Inc. — 21. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRIM: 58. 5% to $160. 63.

In this comparison, PRIM (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. IESC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+359.

9% 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 (PRIM: +359. 9%, 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.

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.