Engineering & Construction
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ROAD vs PRIM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Engineering & Construction
ROAD vs PRIM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Engineering & Construction | Engineering & Construction |
| Market Cap | $7.47B | $5.50B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.06B | $7.49B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $122M | $248M |
| Gross Margin | 15.8% | 10.4% |
| Operating Margin | 8.7% | 4.9% |
| Forward P/E | 47.9x | 16.9x |
| Total Debt | $1.69B | $1.28B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $156M | $541M |
ROAD vs PRIM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Partne… (ROAD) | 100 | 762.4 | +662.4% |
| Primoris Services C… (PRIM) | 100 | 607.3 | +507.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ROAD vs PRIM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ROAD is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.50
- Rev growth 54.2%, EPS growth 40.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 29.3%
- 10.2% 10Y total return vs PRIM's 359.9%
PRIM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for valuation efficiency.
- PEG 0.92 vs ROAD's 2.56
- Lower P/E (16.9x vs 47.9x), PEG 0.92 vs 2.56
- 0.3% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 54.2% revenue growth vs PRIM's 19.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (16.9x vs 47.9x), PEG 0.92 vs 2.56 | |
| Quality / Margins | 4.0% margin vs PRIM's 3.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.50 vs PRIM's 1.83 | |
| Dividends | 0.3% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +56.2% vs ROAD's +48.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 5.6% ROA vs ROAD's 3.6%, ROIC 13.6% vs 10.3% |
ROAD vs PRIM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
ROAD vs PRIM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ROAD leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PRIM is the larger business by revenue, generating $7.5B annually — 2.4x ROAD's $3.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 4.0% (ROAD) to 3.3% (PRIM). On growth, ROAD holds the edge at +44.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.1B | $7.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $430M | $437M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $122M | $248M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $187M | $165M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | +10.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +4.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.1% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +44.1% | -5.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.5% | -60.5% |
Valuation Metrics
PRIM leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 20.2x trailing earnings, PRIM trades at a 72% valuation discount to ROAD's 73.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), PRIM offers better value at 1.10x vs ROAD's 3.92x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.5B | $5.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $9.0B | $6.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 73.34x | 20.19x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 47.88x | 16.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.92x | 1.10x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.21x | 12.32x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.66x | 0.73x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 8.19x | 3.30x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 48.72x | 16.14x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PRIM leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PRIM delivers a 15.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $13 for ROAD. PRIM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.76x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ROAD's 1.85x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.6% | +15.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.6% | +5.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.3% | +13.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.6% | +16.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.85x | 0.76x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.5B | $735M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $156M | $541M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.7B | $1.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.56x | 21.02x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ROAD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ROAD five years ago would be worth $41,549 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $31,527 for PRIM. Over the past 12 months, PRIM leads with a +56.2% total return vs ROAD's +48.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ROAD at 69.1% vs PRIM's 61.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +20.3% | -22.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +48.0% | +56.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +383.2% | +319.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +315.5% | +215.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1015.3% | +359.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +69.1% | +61.2% |
Risk & Volatility
ROAD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ROAD is the less volatile stock with a 1.50 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PRIM's 1.83 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ROAD currently trades 95.1% from its 52-week high vs PRIM's 49.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.50x | 1.83x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $141.90 | $205.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $87.79 | $63.36 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.1% | +49.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.9 | 77.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 475K | 1.0M |
Analyst Outlook
PRIM leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ROAD as "Buy" and PRIM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 58.5% upside for PRIM (target: $161) vs 1.8% for ROAD (target: $137). PRIM is the only dividend payer here at 0.31% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $137.33 | $160.63 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.32 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | +0.2% |
ROAD leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). PRIM leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
ROAD vs PRIM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ROAD or PRIM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Construction Partners, Inc.
(ROAD) is the stronger pick with 54. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 19. 0% for Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM). Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) offers the better valuation at 20. 2x trailing P/E (16. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Construction Partners, Inc. (ROAD) a "Buy" — 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 — ROAD or PRIM?
On trailing P/E, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the cheapest at 20.
2x versus Construction Partners, Inc. at 73. 3x. On forward P/E, Primoris Services Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Primoris Services Corporation wins at 0. 92x versus Construction Partners, Inc. 's 2. 56x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ROAD or PRIM?
Over the past 5 years, Construction Partners, Inc.
(ROAD) delivered a total return of +315. 5%, compared to +215. 3% for Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ROAD returned +1015% versus PRIM's +359. 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 — ROAD or PRIM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Construction Partners, Inc.
(ROAD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 50β versus Primoris Services Corporation's 1. 83β — meaning PRIM is approximately 22% more volatile than ROAD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 76% versus 185% for Construction Partners, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ROAD or PRIM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Construction Partners, Inc.
(ROAD) is pulling ahead at 54. 2% versus 19. 0% for Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Primoris Services Corporation grew EPS 51. 7% year-over-year, compared to 40. 5% for Construction Partners, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ROAD leads at 29. 3% 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 — ROAD or PRIM?
Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the more profitable company, earning 3.
6% net margin versus 3. 6% for Construction Partners, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ROAD leads at 8. 5% versus 5. 5% for PRIM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ROAD leads at 15. 6%, 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.
07Is ROAD or PRIM more undervalued right now?
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. 92x versus Construction Partners, Inc. 's 2. 56x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) trades at 16. 9x forward P/E versus 47. 9x for Construction Partners, Inc. — 30. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRIM: 58. 5% to $160. 63.
08Which pays a better dividend — ROAD or PRIM?
In this comparison, PRIM (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. ROAD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ROAD or PRIM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Construction Partners, Inc.
(ROAD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1015% 10Y return). Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) 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 (ROAD: +1015%, PRIM: +359. 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.
10What are the main differences between ROAD and PRIM?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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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