Hyster-Yale (HY) 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 Hyster-Yale (HY) over the past year, gaining 31.2% versus a loss of 5.9%. Over five years, PLOW leads with a +3.7% price change compared with -31.6% for HY. Douglas Dynamics is the larger company by market cap ($917.1 million vs $591.2 million), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Douglas Dynamics trades at a lower forward P/E (12.3x vs 16.0x for Hyster-Yale). Hyster-Yale offers the higher dividend yield (4.38% vs 2.97%).
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 | HY | PLOW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $32.97 | $39.74 |
| Market cap | $591.16M | $917.08M |
| 1-day change | +2.61% | -2.31% |
| YTD return | +10.97% | +21.72% |
| 1-year return | -5.88% | +31.16% |
| 5-year return | -31.61% | +3.65% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 18.48 |
| Forward P/E | 16.00 | 12.31 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-6.75 | $2.15 |
| Dividend yield | 4.38% | 2.97% |
| Annual dividend | $1.45 | $1.18 |
| 52-week high | $41.30 | $55.00 |
| 52-week low | $26.41 | $28.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.17% | -27.75% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +51.65% | +35.88% |
| Average volume | 113.73K | 250.83K |
| Shares outstanding | 14.49M | 23.08M |
| Employees | 7,500 | 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 HY by 37.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Hyster-Yale offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.38% vs 2.97%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Hyster-Yale in Industrials and Douglas Dynamics in Consumer Cyclical.
About Hyster-Yale
HY stock →Hyster-Yale, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides lift trucks, attachments, parts, fleet management services, and technology and energy solutions worldwide. The company manufactures components, such as frames, masts, and transmissions; and assembles lift trucks.
Industrials · Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery · 7,500 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
HY vs PLOW FAQ
Which is bigger, Hyster-Yale or Douglas Dynamics?
Douglas Dynamics (PLOW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $917.08M compared with $591.16M for Hyster-Yale (HY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HY or PLOW?
PLOW returned +31.16% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.88% for HY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Hyster-Yale or Douglas Dynamics?
Hyster-Yale has the higher yield at 4.38%, compared with 2.97% for Douglas Dynamics.
Are Hyster-Yale and Douglas Dynamics in the same industry?
No. Hyster-Yale is in the Industrials sector, while Douglas Dynamics is in Consumer Cyclical.