LGN vs TTEK vs MYRG vs IESC vs EME

For growth investors, Legence Corp.

Class A Common stock (LGN) is the stronger pick with 29. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 7% for Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK). Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK) offers the better valuation at 30. 9x trailing P/E (18. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Legence Corp. Class A Common stock (LGN) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Tetra Tech, Inc.

(TTEK) is the cheapest at 30. 9x versus Legence Corp. Class A Common stock at 1022. 6x. On forward P/E, Tetra Tech, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: EMCOR Group, Inc. wins at 0. 50x versus MYR Group Inc. 's 2. 51x — 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 +1316%, compared to +26. 4% for Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IESC returned +50. 0% versus LGN's +220. 2%. 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), Tetra Tech, Inc.

(TTEK) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 47β versus IES Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 66β — meaning IESC is approximately 471% more volatile than TTEK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MYR Group Inc. (MYRG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 55% for Tetra Tech, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Legence Corp.

Class A Common stock (LGN) is pulling ahead at 29. 9% versus 4. 7% for Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MYR Group Inc. grew EPS 311. 5% year-over-year, compared to -24. 4% for Tetra Tech, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TTEK leads at 24. 3% 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 0. 5% for Legence Corp. Class A Common stock — 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 2. 8% for LGN. 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, EMCOR Group, Inc. (EME) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 50x versus MYR Group Inc. 's 2. 51x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK) trades at 18. 6x forward P/E versus 97. 9x for Legence Corp. Class A Common stock — 79. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TTEK: 44. 5% to $41. 50.

In this comparison, LGN (3.

0% yield), TTEK (0. 8% yield), EME (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. MYRG, IESC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Tetra Tech, Inc.

(TTEK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 47), 0. 8% yield, +416. 0% 10Y return). IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) carries a higher beta of 2. 66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TTEK: +416. 0%, IESC: +50. 0%), 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: LGN is a small-cap high-growth stock; TTEK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MYRG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IESC is a mid-cap high-growth stock; EME is a mid-cap high-growth stock. LGN, TTEK pay a dividend while MYRG, IESC, EME do 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.