MANH vs WMS

For growth investors, Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is the stronger pick with 3. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS). Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS) offers the better valuation at 24. 8x trailing P/E (24. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

(WMS) is the cheapest at 24. 8x versus Manhattan Associates, Inc. at 39. 2x. On forward P/E, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. is actually cheaper at 24. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

(WMS) delivered a total return of +30. 8%, compared to +5. 4% for Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMS returned +567. 5% versus MANH's +135. 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), Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. 's 1. 32β — meaning WMS is approximately 21% more volatile than MANH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 88% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is pulling ahead at 3. 7% versus 1. 0% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Manhattan Associates, Inc. grew EPS 2. 6% year-over-year, compared to -10. 7% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MANH leads at 12. 1% 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.

Manhattan Associates, Inc.

(MANH) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 3% net margin versus 15. 5% for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MANH leads at 26. 1% versus 22. 6% for WMS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MANH leads at 55. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

(WMS) trades at 24. 5x forward P/E versus 25. 7x for Manhattan Associates, Inc. — 1. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WMS: 42. 1% to $202. 67.

In this comparison, WMS (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. MANH does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

(WMS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+567. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMS: +567. 5%, MANH: +135. 2%), 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 (MANH (Technology) and WMS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.