Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) vs Douglas Dynamics (PLOW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Douglas Dynamics (PLOW) has outperformed Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) over the past year, gaining 31.2% versus a gain of 9.7%. Over five years, PLOW leads with a +3.7% price change compared with -67.9% for CMCO. Douglas Dynamics is the larger company by market cap ($917.1 million vs $466.4 million), about 2.0 times the size.
On valuation, Columbus McKinnon trades at a lower forward P/E (6.1x vs 12.3x for Douglas Dynamics). Douglas Dynamics offers the higher dividend yield (2.97% vs 1.73%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CMCO | PLOW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $16.16 | $39.74 |
| Market cap | $466.45M | $917.08M |
| 1-day change | -5.05% | -2.31% |
| YTD return | -6.32% | +21.72% |
| 1-year return | +9.71% | +31.16% |
| 5-year return | -67.85% | +3.65% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 18.06 |
| Forward P/E | 6.11 | 12.31 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-9.38 | $2.20 |
| Dividend yield | 1.73% | 2.97% |
| Annual dividend | $0.28 | $1.18 |
| 52-week high | $24.40 | $55.00 |
| 52-week low | $11.99 | $28.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -33.77% | -27.75% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +60.89% | +35.88% |
| Average volume | 543.72K | 250.83K |
| Shares outstanding | 28.86M | 23.08M |
| Employees | 7,300 | 1,764 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery | Auto Parts |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- PLOW has outperformed CMCO by 21.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Douglas Dynamics offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.97% vs 1.73%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Columbus McKinnon in Industrials and Douglas Dynamics in Consumer Cyclical.
About Columbus McKinnon
CMCO stock →Columbus McKinnon Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets motion solutions for moving, lifting, positioning, and securing materials. It offers powered chain hoists, electric wire rope hoists, hand-operated hoists, winches, lever tools, and air-powered hoists, as well as explosion-protected and custom engineered hoists, such as wire rope and manual hoists; precision conveyer products which includes low profile, flexible chain, large scale, sanitary, and vertical elevation conveyor systems, as well as pallet system conveyors and accumulation systems; and power control and delivery systems and solutions.
Industrials · Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery · 7,300 employees
About Douglas Dynamics
PLOW stock →Douglas Dynamics, Inc. operates as a manufacturer and upfitter of commercial vehicle attachments and equipment in North America.
Consumer Cyclical · Auto Parts · 1,764 employees
CMCO vs PLOW FAQ
Which is bigger, Columbus McKinnon or Douglas Dynamics?
Douglas Dynamics (PLOW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $917.08M compared with $466.45M for Columbus McKinnon (CMCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CMCO or PLOW?
PLOW returned +31.16% over the past 12 months, compared with +9.71% for CMCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Columbus McKinnon or Douglas Dynamics?
Douglas Dynamics has the higher yield at 2.97%, compared with 1.73% for Columbus McKinnon.
Are Columbus McKinnon and Douglas Dynamics in the same industry?
No. Columbus McKinnon is in the Industrials sector, while Douglas Dynamics is in Consumer Cyclical.