Aecom (ACM) vs Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL)
POWL leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics, though ACM is the cheaper stock.
A side-by-side comparison of Aecom and Powell Industries, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 16, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
Total return — ACM vs POWL
growth of $100 · last 19yACM +229.8%POWL +2733.0%POWL compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
ACM POWL
ACM vs POWL: by the numbers
- •POWL is the larger company ($10.85B vs $8.94B market cap).
- •ACM trades at the lower earnings multiple (16.73 vs 57.61 P/E).
- •POWL converts more revenue to profit (16.51% vs 3.16% net margin).
- •POWL grew revenue faster over the past five years (19.84% vs 3.69% CAGR).
- •ACM pays the higher dividend yield (1.64% vs 0.12%).
Which is better, ACM or POWL?
Metric tally: ACM 8 · POWL 9It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueACM(lower P/E)
GrowthPOWL(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeACM(higher dividend yield)
QualityPOWL(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | ACM | POWL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 16.73● | 57.61 |
| Forward P/E | 11.63● | 44.88 |
| P/S ratio | 0.56● | 9.51 |
| P/B ratio | 3.96● | 15.19 |
| PEG ratio | 0.72● | 1.03 |
| EV / EBITDA | 9.05● | 41.17 |
| FCF yield | 4.56%● | 1.79% |
Profitability
| Metric | ACM | POWL |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 7.73% | 30.10%● |
| Operating margin | 6.38% | 19.76%● |
| Net margin | 3.16% | 16.51%● |
| ROE | 22.27% | 26.36%● |
| ROIC | 12.33% | 25.41%● |
Dividends
| Metric | ACM | POWL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 1.64%● | 0.12% |
| Payout ratio | 26.89% | 7.18% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | ACM | POWL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 3.69% | 19.84%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 25.59% | 59.98%● |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -11.26% | 34.56%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 2.74% | 100.44%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, ACM or POWL?
- It depends on your goal. value: ACM (lower P/E); growth: POWL (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: ACM (higher dividend yield); quality: POWL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, POWL leads 9 to 8.
- Is ACM or POWL cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, ACM is cheaper: ACM trades at a 16.73 P/E and POWL at 57.61.
- Which has grown faster, ACM or POWL?
- Over the past five years, POWL grew revenue faster — ACM at a 3.69% CAGR versus POWL at 19.84%.
- Does ACM or POWL pay a bigger dividend?
- ACM yields 1.64% and POWL yields 0.12% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is ACM or POWL more profitable?
- POWL runs the higher net margin — ACM at 3.16% versus POWL at 16.51%.
- Which has been the better investment, ACM or POWL?
- Over the past 10-year, POWL delivered the higher annualized total return — ACM at 8.64% versus POWL at 47.19%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Aecom P/E ratioPowell Industries P/E ratioAecom dividend yieldPowell Industries dividend yieldAecom ROEPowell Industries ROEAecom operating marginPowell Industries operating marginAecom revenue growthPowell Industries revenue growthAecom free cash flowPowell Industries free cash flow
Aecom & Powell Industries appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 16, 2026.