Electrical Equipment & Parts
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PPSI vs POWL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Electrical Equipment & Parts
PPSI vs POWL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Electrical Equipment & Parts | Electrical Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $44M | $11.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $27M | $1.13B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $32M | $187M |
| Gross Margin | 16.0% | 30.1% |
| Operating Margin | -35.4% | 19.8% |
| Forward P/E | 1.4x | 55.4x |
| Total Debt | $775K | $2M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $42M | $451M |
PPSI vs POWL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Power Solut… (PPSI) | 100 | 416.8 | +316.8% |
| Powell Industries, … (POWL) | 100 | 3449.0 | +3349.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PPSI vs POWL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PPSI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 105.8%, EPS growth 16.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 7.7%
- 105.8% revenue growth vs POWL's 9.1%
- Lower P/E (1.4x vs 55.4x)
POWL is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.95, yield 0.1%
- 26.5% 10Y total return vs PPSI's 21.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.95, Low D/E 0.3%, current ratio 2.09x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 105.8% revenue growth vs POWL's 9.1% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (1.4x vs 55.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 118.4% margin vs POWL's 16.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.95 vs PPSI's 2.00, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.1% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +425.5% vs PPSI's +62.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 85.9% ROA vs POWL's 16.9%, ROIC -122.4% vs 90.6% |
PPSI vs POWL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PPSI vs POWL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
POWL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
POWL is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.1B annually — 41.5x PPSI's $27M. PPSI is the more profitable business, keeping 118.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to POWL's 16.5%. On growth, POWL holds the edge at +6.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $27M | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$8M | $232M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $32M | $187M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$10M | $143M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +16.0% | +30.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -35.4% | +19.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +118.4% | +16.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -36.3% | +12.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -36.9% | +6.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -10.0% | -0.8% |
Valuation Metrics
PPSI leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 1.4x trailing earnings, PPSI trades at a 98% valuation discount to POWL's 61.8x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $44M | $11.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3M | $10.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 1.37x | 61.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 55.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.03x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 47.51x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.92x | 10.09x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.22x | 17.43x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 72.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — PPSI and POWL each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PPSI delivers a 105.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $105 in annual profit, vs $29 for POWL. POWL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PPSI's 0.02x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PPSI scores 6/9 vs POWL's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +105.1% | +28.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +85.9% | +16.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -122.4% | +90.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -20.7% | +37.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.02x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$41M | -$449M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $42M | $451M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $775,000 | $2M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
POWL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in POWL five years ago would be worth $252,824 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,801 for PPSI. Over the past 12 months, POWL leads with a +425.5% total return vs PPSI's +62.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors POWL at 161.5% vs PPSI's -2.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -15.6% | +160.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +62.3% | +425.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -6.7% | +1689.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +48.0% | +2428.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +21.9% | +2652.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -2.3% | +161.5% |
Risk & Volatility
POWL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
POWL is the less volatile stock with a 1.95 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PPSI's 2.00 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.00x | 1.95x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $5.70 | $434.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.31 | $54.75 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +69.5% | +70.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.4 | 83.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 159K | 691K |
Analyst Outlook
POWL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
POWL is the only dividend payer here at 0.12% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $213.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.35 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.1% |
POWL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). PPSI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
PPSI vs POWL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PPSI or POWL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc.
(PPSI) is the stronger pick with 105. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 1% for Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL). Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. (PPSI) offers the better valuation at 1. 4x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) a "Hold" — based on 9 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PPSI or POWL?
On trailing P/E, Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc.
(PPSI) is the cheapest at 1. 4x versus Powell Industries, Inc. at 61. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PPSI or POWL?
Over the past 5 years, Powell Industries, Inc.
(POWL) delivered a total return of +24. 3%, compared to +48. 0% for Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. (PPSI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: POWL returned +26. 5% versus PPSI's +21. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PPSI or POWL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Powell Industries, Inc.
(POWL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 95β versus Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. 's 2. 00β — meaning PPSI is approximately 2% more volatile than POWL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 2% for Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PPSI or POWL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc.
(PPSI) is pulling ahead at 105. 8% versus 9. 1% for Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. grew EPS 1626% year-over-year, compared to 20. 9% for Powell Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, POWL leads at 27. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PPSI or POWL?
Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc.
(PPSI) is the more profitable company, earning 139. 2% net margin versus 16. 4% for Powell Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 139. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: POWL leads at 19. 7% versus -22. 9% for PPSI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — POWL leads at 29. 4%, 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.
07Which pays a better dividend — PPSI or POWL?
In this comparison, POWL (0.
1% yield) pays a dividend. PPSI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is PPSI or POWL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Powell Industries, Inc.
(POWL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Pioneer Power Solutions, Inc. (PPSI) carries a higher beta of 2. 00 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (POWL: +26. 5%, PPSI: +21. 9%), 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.
09What are the main differences between PPSI and POWL?
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: PPSI is a small-cap high-growth stock; POWL is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.
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