Dycom vs. Primoris: Which Specialty Contractor is the Better Buy?

Core Insights - Strong secular demand from broadband and network expansion is driving growth for utility and telecom infrastructure services in the United States, benefiting companies like Dycom Industries, Inc. and Primoris Services Corporation [1] Group 1: Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY) - Dycom is a specialty contracting firm in the telecom industry, gaining from increased capital spending by hyperscalers to support data-heavy applications and AI workloads [5][6] - As of October 2025, Dycom's total backlog grew 4.7% year over year to $8.22 billion, with the next 12-month backlog rising 11.4% [5] - The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program is expected to catalyze significant multi-year spending, with $29.5 billion anticipated for state and territory spending, directly aligning with Dycom's capabilities [6] - Dycom expects total contract revenues for fiscal 2026 to be in the range of $5.35-$5.425 billion, representing a 13.8-15.4% year-over-year increase [7] - Dycom's trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) is 22.2%, significantly exceeding Primoris, indicating strong efficiency in generating shareholder returns [24] Group 2: Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) - Primoris has been experiencing robust demand across various sectors, including power delivery, gas operations, communications, and renewable energy, supported by federal and state funding initiatives [9] - Adjusted EPS for the first nine months of 2025 rose 65.7% year over year to $4.54, with the 2025 adjusted EPS outlook raised to $5.35-$5.55, up from $4.90-$5.10 [11] - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides tax incentives and allocates about $150 billion for defense spending, benefiting Primoris by enabling a substantial volume of projects [12] - Despite strong demand, Primoris faces margin pressures, with third-quarter 2025 margins contracting 120 basis points to 10.8% due to various operational challenges [13] - Primoris' EPS estimates for 2025 indicate 41.9% year-over-year growth, but the 2026 estimates have seen downward revisions [20][22] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - Dycom offers higher growth potential through fiber exposure and BEAD funding but trades at a premium valuation, while Primoris benefits from diversified infrastructure demand but faces margin pressures [10][26] - Dycom's stock has outperformed Primoris in recent months, indicating stronger market performance [14] - Dycom is considered a better investment option due to clearer growth visibility and stronger execution metrics compared to Primoris, which has a weaker near-term outlook [28]