VMC vs MLM vs CRH vs USLM vs MDU

For growth investors, United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

(USLM) is the stronger pick with 17. 3% 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. 4x trailing P/E (22. 9x 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. 4x versus Vulcan Materials Company at 35. 9x. On forward P/E, CRH plc is actually cheaper at 18. 9x — 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: United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. wins at 0. 54x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 3. 03x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

(USLM) delivered a total return of +270. 7%, compared to +58. 4% for Vulcan Materials Company (VMC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: USLM returned +939. 0% versus VMC's +167. 2%. 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 CRH plc's 1. 35β — meaning CRH is approximately 252% more volatile than MDU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. (USLM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 85% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

(USLM) is pulling ahead at 17. 3% versus -2. 5% for MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. grew EPS 23. 2% year-over-year, compared to -42. 0% for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, USLM leads at 16. 4% 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.

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

(USLM) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 0% net margin versus 10. 0% for CRH plc — meaning it keeps 36. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: USLM leads at 42. 4% versus 14. 2% for CRH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — USLM leads at 48. 8%, 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, United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. (USLM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 54x versus Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 's 3. 03x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CRH plc (CRH) trades at 18. 9x forward P/E versus 31. 7x for Vulcan Materials Company — 12. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for USLM: 29. 6% to $138. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) offers the highest yield at 2. 2%, versus 0. 2% for United States Lime & Minerals, Inc. (USLM).

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. 2% yield, +231. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDU: +231. 9%, USLM: +939. 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 MLM (Basic Materials) and CRH (Basic Materials) and USLM (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; MLM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CRH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; USLM is a small-cap high-growth stock; MDU is a small-cap deep-value stock. VMC, MLM, CRH, MDU pay a dividend while USLM 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.