VMC vs MDU

For growth investors, Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is the stronger pick with 6.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 5% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU). MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) offers the better valuation at 16. 3x trailing P/E (22. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) a "Buy" — based on 36 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, MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) is the cheapest at 16. 3x versus Vulcan Materials Company at 36. 4x. On forward P/E, MDU Resources Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) delivered a total return of +87. 7%, compared to +59. 2% for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MDU returned +224. 6% versus VMC's +171. 0%. 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), MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Vulcan Materials Company's 0. 80β — meaning VMC is approximately 109% more volatile than MDU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 63% versus 85% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) is pulling ahead at 6.

9% versus -2. 5% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Vulcan Materials Company grew EPS 18. 5% year-over-year, compared to -32. 5% for MDU Resources Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, VMC leads at 2. 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.

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 0% net margin versus 13. 6% for Vulcan Materials Company — meaning it keeps 16. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VMC leads at 20. 1% versus 15. 1% for MDU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MDU leads at 32. 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, MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) trades at 22. 8x forward P/E versus 32. 2x for Vulcan Materials Company — 9. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VMC: 10. 6% to $327. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 0. 7% for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(MDU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 38), 2. 3% yield, +224. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDU: +224. 6%, VMC: +171. 0%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (VMC (Basic Materials) and MDU (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: VMC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MDU is a small-cap deep-value 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.