MTW vs MGRC

For growth investors, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is the stronger pick with 3.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 9% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW). McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) offers the better valuation at 18. 0x trailing P/E (18. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is the cheapest at 18.

0x versus The Manitowoc Company, Inc. at 68. 1x. On forward P/E, McGrath RentCorp is actually cheaper at 18. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) delivered a total return of +49.

0%, compared to -50. 0% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MGRC returned +402. 7% versus MTW's -44. 6%. 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), McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

83β versus The Manitowoc Company, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning MTW is approximately 120% more volatile than MGRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 43% versus 84% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is pulling ahead at 3.

7% versus 2. 9% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: McGrath RentCorp grew EPS -32. 7% year-over-year, compared to -87. 2% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MGRC leads at 14. 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.

McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

6% net margin versus 0. 3% for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MGRC leads at 25. 9% versus 2. 6% for MTW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MGRC leads at 46. 1%, 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, McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) trades at 18.

0x forward P/E versus 27. 5x for The Manitowoc Company, Inc. — 9. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MGRC: 22. 5% to $140. 00.

In this comparison, MGRC (1.

7% yield) pays a dividend. MTW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

83), 1. 7% yield, +402. 7% 10Y return). The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (MTW) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MGRC: +402. 7%, MTW: -44. 6%), 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.

MGRC pays a dividend while MTW does 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.