MTRX vs GLDD vs PRIM vs MYRG vs WLDN

For growth investors, Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 6% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) offers the better valuation at 15. 7x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Matrix Service Company (MTRX) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the cheapest at 15.

7x versus MYR Group Inc. at 56. 8x. On forward P/E, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Primoris Services Corporation wins at 0. 98x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's 9. 93x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, MYR Group Inc.

(MYRG) delivered a total return of +417. 6%, compared to -12. 3% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MYRG returned +1681% versus MTRX's -18. 3%. 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), Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

92β versus Willdan Group, Inc. 's 1. 96β — meaning WLDN is approximately 113% more volatile than GLDD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Matrix Service Company (MTRX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 89% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Willdan Group, Inc.

(WLDN) is pulling ahead at 20. 5% versus 5. 6% for Matrix Service Company (MTRX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MYR Group Inc. grew EPS 311. 5% year-over-year, compared to -16. 5% for Matrix Service Company. 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.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

3% net margin versus -3. 8% for Matrix Service Company — meaning it keeps 8. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GLDD leads at 14. 1% versus -4. 6% for MTRX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WLDN leads at 37. 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, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 98x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's 9. 93x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) trades at 15. 4x forward P/E versus 143. 1x for Matrix Service Company — 127. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTRX: 97. 4% to $24. 00.

In this comparison, PRIM (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. MTRX, GLDD, MYRG, WLDN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, MYR Group Inc.

(MYRG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1681% 10Y return). Matrix Service Company (MTRX) carries a higher beta of 1. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MYRG: +1681%, MTRX: -18. 3%), 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: MTRX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GLDD is a small-cap high-growth stock; PRIM is a small-cap high-growth stock; MYRG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; WLDN is a small-cap high-growth 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.