GLDD
IndustrialsGreat Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation · Engineering & Construction · $1B
What is Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation?
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, serving government agencies and private clients across a wide range of marine construction and coastal projects. Founded in 1890 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company has operated under its current name since 1905.
The company generates revenue by deploying a specialized fleet of dredges and support vessels to move sediment, sand, and other materials in and around waterways. Its work spans port deepening for larger cargo ships, coastal restoration to protect eroding shorelines, maintenance dredging to keep harbors navigable, and marine construction such as breakwaters and jetties. Clients include federal, state, and local governments as well as private energy and utility companies.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
- Capital dredging for port expansion and marine infrastructure
- Coastal protection and shoreline restoration projects
- Maintenance dredging of harbors and waterways
- Environmental restoration and habitat improvement
- Inland river, lake, and levee construction dredging
Is GLDD a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates GLDD as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile with meaningful strengths and one area of notable concern.
The Quality and Growth pillars both register as Good, suggesting the business generates reasonable returns relative to its asset base and has demonstrated expansion in its core markets. Valuation is rated Attractive, which may interest investors looking for exposure to infrastructure spending without paying a premium price.
The Risk pillar is rated Weak, pointing to elevated financial or operational risk factors that investors should weigh carefully before committing capital. The Moat pillar sits at Neutral, indicating competitive advantages exist but are not dominant.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does GLDD pay dividends?
No — Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation does not currently pay a dividend.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock does not currently pay a dividend. For a capital-intensive marine construction business, retaining cash to fund fleet maintenance, vessel upgrades, and project bidding is a common strategic choice. Investors seeking income should factor this into their assessment, while growth-oriented investors may view reinvestment as a positive signal.
When does GLDD report earnings?
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Results tend to reflect the cyclical nature of dredging contracts, with revenue recognition tied to project milestones and fleet utilization. Backlog levels and contract awards are closely watched indicators of near-term revenue visibility.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Great Lakes Dredge & Dock's investor relations page directly.
GLDD Price History
+16.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation?
Based on Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
GLDD Long-term Outlook
The Good Growth pillar suggests the company is positioned to benefit from ongoing federal investment in port infrastructure, coastal resilience programs, and waterway maintenance. However, the Weak Risk pillar signals that execution, leverage, or market conditions could weigh on outcomes. The Attractive Valuation label indicates the market may not be fully pricing in the growth opportunity, though risk factors temper the outlook.
Growth drivers
- Federal infrastructure spending on port deepening and coastal protection
- Growing demand for shoreline restoration driven by climate-related erosion
- Expanding energy sector marine construction requirements
Key risks
- Elevated financial or operational risk reflected in the Weak Risk pillar
- Contract concentration and project timing variability
- Fleet maintenance costs and capital requirements for vessel upgrades
GLDD vs Peers
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock operates in the broader industrials and infrastructure services space alongside several other specialized service providers.
Willdan focuses on engineering and energy efficiency consulting for government clients rather than marine construction and dredging.
Limbach specializes in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for buildings, serving a different end market than waterway infrastructure.
Ameresco concentrates on renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions, with a project-based model that parallels GLDD's contract structure but in a different sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Great Lakes Dredge & Dock do?
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock provides dredging and marine construction services across the United States. The company deepens ports, restores coastlines, maintains navigable waterways, and builds marine structures like jetties and breakwaters. It serves federal and state governments as well as private energy and utility companies using a fleet of specialized dredges and support vessels.
Does GLDD pay dividends?
GLDD does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains capital to fund its fleet operations, vessel maintenance, and project bidding — a common approach for capital-intensive marine infrastructure businesses. Investors focused on income should note this, while those prioritizing reinvestment may see it differently.
When does GLDD report earnings?
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. Specific dates are not covered by our data source. For the latest scheduled release, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.
Is GLDD a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates GLDD as Good overall. The Quality and Growth pillars are both rated Good, and Valuation is Attractive. However, the Risk pillar is rated Weak, which is a meaningful consideration. Whether GLDD fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals — view the full pillar breakdown on UQS Pro.
Is GLDD overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for GLDD is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock may be priced favorably relative to its fundamentals compared to sector peers. This does not guarantee price appreciation, but it indicates the market may not be fully reflecting the company's growth profile at current levels.
How does GLDD compare to its competitors?
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock is the dominant US dredging specialist, which sets it apart from broader industrials peers like Willdan Group, Limbach Holdings, and Ameresco. Those companies operate in engineering consulting, building systems, and energy efficiency — adjacent but distinct markets. GLDD's niche focus on marine construction gives it a specialized position within the sector.
What is GLDD's market cap bracket?
GLDD is classified as a small-cap stock. This means it carries the potential for above-average growth but also greater volatility and liquidity risk compared to large- or mega-cap peers. Small-cap industrials can be sensitive to contract cycles and broader economic conditions.
Who founded Great Lakes Dredge & Dock?
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock traces its origins to 1890, originally operating as the Lydon & Drews Partnership before adopting its current name in 1905. Detailed founding history is widely available through the company's official corporate materials and public records.
Is GLDD a long-term quality stock?
As a long-term quality indicator, GLDD's Good UQS Score reflects a business with reasonable fundamentals and growth characteristics. The Weak Risk pillar is the primary flag for long-term holders to monitor. Investors with a multi-year horizon should weigh the Attractive Valuation and Good Growth against the elevated risk profile before committing.
What is the main competitive advantage of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock?
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock holds a leading position in the US dredging market, supported by a large specialized fleet and decades of project experience. Barriers to entry are meaningful — dredging equipment is expensive and expertise is scarce. The UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Neutral, reflecting real but not insurmountable competitive positioning.
What sector does GLDD belong to?
GLDD is classified in the Industrials sector, specifically within marine construction and infrastructure services. The company's revenue is closely tied to government infrastructure spending, coastal management programs, and energy sector marine projects — making it sensitive to public budget cycles and federal policy priorities.
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Pro Analysis
GLDD — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2026 | 59.5 | 62.7 | 42.0 | 73.4 | 37.0 | 87.1 | -0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 59.6 | 62.7 | 42.0 | 73.4 | 37.0 | 87.9 | +0.3 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 59.3 | 62.7 | 42.0 | 73.4 | 37.0 | 86.1 | — |
GLDD — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 62.7/100 (25%)Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 73.4/100 (20%)Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 37.0/100 (15%)Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 86.9/100 (15%)Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 42/100 (25%)Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for GLDD.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the GLDD UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.