WillScot (NASDAQ:WSC – Get Free Report) and Matrix Service (NASDAQ:MTRX – Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.
Profitability
This table compares WillScot and Matrix Service’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| WillScot | -3.00% | 21.62% | 3.39% |
| Matrix Service | -0.30% | 5.32% | 1.20% |
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares WillScot and Matrix Service”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| WillScot | $2.28 billion | 1.43 | -$52.99 million | ($0.38) | -47.53 |
| Matrix Service | $873.63 million | 0.32 | -$2.58 million | ($0.09) | -110.22 |
Matrix Service has lower revenue, but higher earnings than WillScot. Matrix Service is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than WillScot, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
95.8% of WillScot shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 78.4% of Matrix Service shares are held by institutional investors. 3.4% of WillScot shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 4.4% of Matrix Service shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Risk & Volatility
WillScot has a beta of 1.31, meaning that its share price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Matrix Service has a beta of 0.98, meaning that its share price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for WillScot and Matrix Service, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| WillScot | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2.18 |
| Matrix Service | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2.67 |
WillScot presently has a consensus target price of $26.50, indicating a potential upside of 46.73%. Matrix Service has a consensus target price of $16.50, indicating a potential upside of 66.33%. Given Matrix Service’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Matrix Service is more favorable than WillScot.
Summary
WillScot beats Matrix Service on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About WillScot
WillScot Holdings Corporation provides workspace and portable storage solutions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It operates in two segments, Modular Solutions and Storage Solutions. Its modular solutions include panelized and stackable offices, single-wide modular space units, section modulars and redi-plex, classrooms, ground level offices, blast-resistant modules, clearspan structures, and other modular space; and portable storage solutions, such as portable and cold storage containers, as well as trailers. The company leases modular space and portable storage units to customers in the construction, commercial and industrial, retail and wholesale trade, energy and natural resources, education, government and institutions, and healthcare markets. The company offers its solutions primarily under the WillScot and Mobile Mini brand names. The company was formerly known as WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. and changed its name to WillScot Holdings Corporation in July 2024. WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.
About Matrix Service
Matrix Service Company provides engineering, fabrication, construction, and maintenance services to support critical energy infrastructure and industrial markets in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Utility and Power Infrastructure; Process and Industrial Facilities; and Storage and Terminal Solutions. The Utility and Power Infrastructure segment offers power delivery services, including construction of new substations, upgrades of existing substations, transmission and distribution line installations, and upgrades and maintenance, and emergency and storm restoration services. This segment also provides engineering, fabrication, and construction services for LNG utility peak shaving facilities; and construction and maintenance services to power generation facilities, including natural gas fired facilities. The Process and Industrial Facilities segment engages in the refining and processing of crude oil; fractionating and marketing of natural, gas and natural gas liquids; and offers plant maintenance, turnarounds, engineering, industrial cleaning services, and capital construction services. The Storage and Terminal Solutions segment undertakes work related to aboveground crude oil and refined product storage tanks and terminals; engineering, procurement, fabrication, and construction services related to cryogenic and other specialty tanks and terminals for LNG, NGLs, hydrogen, ammonia, propane, butane, liquid nitrogen/liquid oxygen, and liquid petroleum; and provides plant work, truck and rail loading/offloading facilities, and marine structures, as well as storage tank and terminal maintenance and repair. This segment also manufactures and sells precision engineered specialty tank products, including geodesic domes, aluminum internal floating roofs, floating suction and skimmer systems, roof drain systems, and floating roof seals. Matrix Service Company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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