TTAM vs CX vs MLM vs EXP

For growth investors, Titan America S.

A. (TTAM) is the stronger pick with 1. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 1% for CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX). CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX) offers the better valuation at 2. 0x trailing P/E (16. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX) a "Buy" — based on 23 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, CEMEX, S.

A. B. de C. V. (CX) is the cheapest at 2. 0x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. at 31. 9x. On forward P/E, Titan America S. A. is actually cheaper at 15. 1x — 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: Eagle Materials Inc. wins at 0. 31x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 3. 00x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) delivered a total return of +62. 5%, compared to +1. 3% for Titan America S. A. (TTAM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MLM returned +242. 7% versus TTAM's +1. 3%. 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), Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Titan America S. A. 's 1. 62β — meaning TTAM is approximately 85% more volatile than MLM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Titan America S. A. (TTAM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 88% for Eagle Materials Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Titan America S.

A. (TTAM) is pulling ahead at 1. 8% versus -0. 1% for CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. grew EPS 982. 0% year-over-year, compared to -42. 0% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TTAM leads at 6. 9% 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.

Eagle Materials Inc.

(EXP) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 5% net margin versus 6. 0% for CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. — meaning it keeps 20. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXP leads at 26. 5% versus 10. 0% for CX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CX leads at 31. 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.

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, Eagle Materials Inc. (EXP) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 3. 00x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Titan America S. A. (TTAM) trades at 15. 1x forward P/E versus 30. 8x for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. — 15. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TTAM: 19. 6% to $20. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CEMEX, S. A. B. de C. V. (CX) offers the highest yield at 6. 7%, versus 0. 5% for Eagle Materials Inc. (EXP).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

(MLM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87), 0. 5% yield, +242. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MLM: +242. 7%, EXP: +194. 5%), 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 Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: TTAM is a small-cap deep-value stock; CX is a small-cap deep-value stock; MLM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; EXP is a small-cap deep-value stock. TTAM, CX, MLM pay a dividend while EXP 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.