Mercury Systems (MRCY) vs Powell Industries (POWL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Powell Industries (POWL) has outperformed Mercury Systems (MRCY) over the past year, gaining 80.0% versus a loss of 6.4%. Over five years, POWL leads with a +2021.9% price change compared with +56.8% for MRCY. Powell Industries is the larger company by market cap ($6.99 billion vs $4.76 billion), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, Powell Industries trades at a lower forward P/E (27.4x vs 35.1x for Mercury Systems). Powell Industries pays a dividend yielding 0.19%, while Mercury Systems does not currently pay one. Powell Industries converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.4% versus -3.0%.
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 | MRCY | POWL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $78.27 | $191.73 |
| Market cap | $4.76B | $6.99B |
| 1-day change | -0.32% | +1.30% |
| YTD return | +7.55% | +78.12% |
| 1-year return | -6.43% | +80.03% |
| 5-year return | +56.76% | +2021.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 36.73 |
| Forward P/E | 35.10 | 27.43 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.50 | $5.22 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.19% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.358 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $983.62M | $1.10B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.85% | +9.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-29.67M | $180.75M |
| Gross margin | 28.58% | 29.37% |
| Operating margin | 0.03% | 19.73% |
| Net margin | -3.02% | 16.37% |
| 52-week high | $128.45 | $328.00 |
| 52-week low | $65.04 | $92.59 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -39.07% | -41.55% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +47.82% | +46.04% |
| Average volume | 695.80K | 635.97K |
| Shares outstanding | 60.86M | 36.43M |
| Employees | 2,102 | 3,143 |
| Sector | Technology | Energy |
| Industry | Electrical Products | Electrical Products |
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
- POWL has outperformed MRCY by 86.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Powell Industries is more profitable, keeping 16.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -3.0 cents for Mercury Systems.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Mercury Systems in Technology and Powell Industries in Energy.
About Mercury Systems
MRCY stock →Mercury Systems, Inc., engages in the aerospace and defense electronics industry. The company manufactures and sells components, products, modules, and subsystems for defense prime contractors, original equipment manufacturers, government, and commercial aerospace companies.
Technology · Electrical Products · 2,102 employees
About Powell Industries
POWL stock →Powell Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services custom-engineered equipment and systems. The company's products portfolio includes integrated power control room substations, custom-engineered modules, and electrical houses; and traditional and arc-resistant distribution switchgears and control gears, medium-voltage circuit breakers, monitoring and control communications systems, motor control centers, switches, and bus duct systems.
Energy · Electrical Products · 3,143 employees
MRCY vs POWL FAQ
Which is bigger, Mercury Systems or Powell Industries?
Powell Industries (POWL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $6.99B compared with $4.76B for Mercury Systems (MRCY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MRCY or POWL?
POWL returned +80.03% over the past 12 months, compared with -6.43% for MRCY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Mercury Systems or Powell Industries?
Powell Industries pays a dividend yielding 0.19%, while Mercury Systems does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Mercury Systems and Powell Industries in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Electrical Products industry within the Technology sector.