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AME vs. LECO: AMETEK vs. Lincoln Electric Stock Comparison

How do AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but AME is classified in Electrical Equipment while LECO is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
Profile ItemAMELECO
NameAMETEK, Inc.Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryElectrical EquipmentMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryElectrical Components & EquipmentIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization52.44 billion USD14.91 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJuly 19, 1984April 7, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AME
LECO
GSPC
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricAMELECO
Total Return (1Y)22.79%27.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.31%17.31%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.17%16.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AME
LECO
GSPC
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricAMELECO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.96%31.13%
Beta (5Y)0.961.17
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.06%-34.29%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.45M409.99K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AME and LECO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricAMELECO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.740.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.061.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 38.75% sits in the top ROE quartile, while AMETEK (AME) at 14.68% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LECO.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

14.68%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
AME
14.68%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

38.75%

Max
40.55%
LECO
38.75%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both AMETEK (AME) at 19.91% and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 12.40% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

19.91%

Max
27.47%
AME
19.91%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

12.40%

Max
27.47%
LECO
12.40%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

AMETEK (AME) at 26.38% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 18.29%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

26.38%

Max
36.60%
AME
26.38%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

18.29%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
LECO
18.29%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricAMELECO
ROE (TTM)14.68%38.75%
ROA (TTM)7.06%13.32%
Net Margin (TTM)19.91%12.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)26.38%18.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)36.97%35.54%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AMETEK (AME) at 6.63% and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 5.60% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both AMETEK (AME) at 7.93% and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 14.36% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricAMELECO
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.63%5.60%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.36%4.02%
EPS Growth (YoY)7.93%14.36%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.50%5.05%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AMETEK (AME) at 1.43 and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.91 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

1.43

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
AME
1.43
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

1.91

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
LECO
1.91
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AMETEK (AME) at 0.60 and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 0.78 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

0.60

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
AME
0.60
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

0.78

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
LECO
0.78
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricAMELECO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.431.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.600.78
Net Debt / EBITDA2.411.00

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.16% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while AMETEK (AME) at 0.60% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, LECO the richer one.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

0.60%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
AME
0.60%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

1.16%

Max
2.66%
LECO
1.16%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AMETEK (AME) at 18.76% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 30.30% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

18.76%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
AME
18.76%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

30.30%

Max
67.39%
LECO
30.30%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricAMELECO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.60%1.16%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)18.76%30.30%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both AMETEK (AME) at 32.25 and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 26.40 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

32.25

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
AME
32.25
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

26.40

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
LECO
26.40
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 3.21 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while AMETEK (AME) at 6.40 sits in the pricier quartile — AME costs more per dollar of sales.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

6.40

Max
7.54
AME
6.40
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

3.21

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
LECO
3.21
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AMETEK (AME) at 4.48 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 9.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — LECO is pricier on assets.

AME

Capital Goods industry group

4.48

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
AME
4.48
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

9.59

Max
9.66
LECO
9.59
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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AMETEK (AME) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AMETEK (AME) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricAMELECO
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.2526.40
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.403.21
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.489.59
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.89%2.68%