MDU vs CAT vs DE vs VMC vs MLM

For growth investors, Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the stronger pick with 6.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Deere & Company (DE). MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) offers the better valuation at 24. 2x trailing P/E (22. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) is the cheapest at 24. 2x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 47. 6x. On forward P/E, MDU Resources Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Caterpillar Inc. wins at 1. 38x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 3. 00x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) delivered a total return of +282. 5%, compared to +54. 1% for Deere & Company (DE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1228% versus VMC's +162. 5%. 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), MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning CAT is approximately 302% more volatile than MDU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 2% for Deere & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is pulling ahead at 6.

9% versus -2. 2% for Deere & Company (DE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Vulcan Materials Company grew EPS 18. 5% year-over-year, compared to -42. 0% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CAT leads at 4. 4% 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.

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 4% net margin versus 10. 2% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MLM leads at 23. 3% versus 15. 5% for MDU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DE leads at 36. 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, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 38x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 3. 00x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) trades at 22. 9x forward P/E versus 38. 8x for Caterpillar Inc. — 15. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DE: 17. 3% to $680. 54.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 0. 5% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Deere & Company (DE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

56), 1. 1% yield, +671. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DE: +671. 0%, MLM: +242. 7%), 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 (MDU (Industrials) and CAT (Industrials) and DE (Industrials) and VMC (Basic Materials) and MLM (Basic Materials)), 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.