REVG vs ASTE vs CMI vs WNC

For growth investors, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is the stronger pick with 8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -20. 8% for Wabash National Corporation (WNC). Wabash National Corporation (WNC) offers the better valuation at 1. 5x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) 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, Wabash National Corporation (WNC) is the cheapest at 1.

5x versus REV Group, Inc. at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, Astec Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, REV Group, Inc.

(REVG) delivered a total return of +261. 2%, compared to -48. 5% for Wabash National Corporation (WNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CMI returned +557. 4% versus WNC's -22. 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), REV Group, Inc.

(REVG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 48β versus Wabash National Corporation's 1. 93β — meaning WNC is approximately 30% more volatile than REVG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, REV Group, Inc. (REVG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 120% for Wabash National Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) is pulling ahead at 8. 1% versus -20. 8% for Wabash National Corporation (WNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Astec Industries, Inc. grew EPS 784. 2% year-over-year, compared to -60. 0% for REV Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CMI leads at 6. 2% 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.

Wabash National Corporation (WNC) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

7% net margin versus 2. 8% for Astec Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WNC leads at 20. 8% versus 4. 6% for ASTE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASTE leads at 26. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Astec Industries, Inc.

(ASTE) trades at 14. 2x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for Cummins Inc. — 11. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WNC: 124. 4% to $17. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Wabash National Corporation (WNC) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 0. 4% for REV Group, Inc. (REVG).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cummins Inc.

(CMI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 1% yield, +557. 4% 10Y return). Wabash National Corporation (WNC) carries a higher beta of 1. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CMI: +557. 4%, WNC: -22. 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: REVG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ASTE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CMI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; WNC is a small-cap deep-value stock. ASTE, CMI, WNC pay a dividend while REVG 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.