ORN vs PRIM vs PWR vs GLDD

For growth investors, Quanta Services, Inc.

(PWR) is the stronger pick with 19. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 0% for Orion Group Holdings, Inc. (ORN). 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 Orion Group Holdings, Inc. (ORN) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 Orion Group Holdings, Inc. at 234. 9x. 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 1. 10x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's 9. 93x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Quanta Services, Inc.

(PWR) delivered a total return of +651. 1%, compared to +19. 7% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PWR returned +31. 2% versus ORN's +198. 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), Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

92β versus Orion Group Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 88β — meaning ORN is approximately 104% more volatile than GLDD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 89% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Quanta Services, Inc.

(PWR) is pulling ahead at 19. 8% versus 7. 0% for Orion Group Holdings, Inc. (ORN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Orion Group Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 232. 8% year-over-year, compared to 12. 8% for Quanta Services, Inc.. 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 0. 3% for Orion Group Holdings, Inc. — 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 1. 4% for ORN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GLDD leads at 22. 9%, 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 1. 10x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's 9. 93x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) trades at 15. 4x forward P/E versus 53. 5x for Quanta Services, Inc. — 38. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRIM: 52. 4% to $164. 63.

In this comparison, PRIM (0.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

92), +276. 9% 10Y return). Orion Group Holdings, Inc. (ORN) carries a higher beta of 1. 88 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GLDD: +276. 9%, ORN: +198. 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.

In terms of investment character: ORN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PRIM is a small-cap high-growth stock; PWR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; GLDD 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.