STN vs DY vs PRIM vs PWR vs J

For growth investors, Quanta Services, Inc.

(PWR) is the stronger pick with 19. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 6% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J). Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) offers the better valuation at 22. 6x trailing P/E (21. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY) a "Buy" — based on 21 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, Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) is the cheapest at 22.

6x versus Quanta Services, Inc. at 112. 6x. On forward P/E, Jacobs Solutions Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Dycom Industries, Inc. wins at 0. 88x versus Quanta Services, Inc. 's 3. 19x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Quanta Services, Inc.

(PWR) delivered a total return of +710. 7%, compared to -20. 8% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PWR returned +31. 8% versus J's -19. 1%. 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), Stantec Inc.

(STN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 01β versus Primoris Services Corporation's 1. 37β — meaning PRIM is approximately 35% more volatile than STN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 85% for Dycom Industries, Inc. — 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 4. 6% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Primoris Services Corporation grew EPS 51. 7% year-over-year, compared to -62. 3% for Jacobs Solutions 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.

Dycom Industries, Inc.

(DY) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 0% net margin versus 2. 4% for Jacobs Solutions Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STN leads at 7. 9% versus 5. 5% for PRIM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STN leads at 42. 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.

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, Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 88x versus Quanta Services, Inc. 's 3. 19x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J) trades at 15. 8x forward P/E versus 55. 0x for Quanta Services, Inc. — 39. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRIM: 45. 3% to $164. 63.

In this comparison, J (1.

1% yield), STN (0. 7% yield), PRIM (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. DY, PWR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Stantec Inc.

(STN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 01), 0. 7% yield, +255. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (STN: +255. 7%, PWR: +31. 8%), 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: STN is a small-cap high-growth stock; DY is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PRIM is a small-cap high-growth stock; PWR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; J is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. STN, J pay a dividend while DY, PRIM, PWR do 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.