AVY vs. WAB: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AVY and WAB, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
WAB’s market capitalization of 36.68 billion USD is significantly greater than AVY’s 14.32 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
With betas of 0.89 for AVY and 1.13 for WAB, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | AVY | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Avery Dennison Corporation | Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Business Equipment & Supplies | Railroads |
| CEO | Deon M. Stander | Rafael Ottoni Santana |
| Price | 183.24 USD | 214.37 USD |
| Market Cap | 14.32 billion USD | 36.68 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.89 | 1.13 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | April 4, 1977 | June 16, 1995 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AVY and WAB by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
AVY
30.48%
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 16.56%
- Q3
- 16.56%
- Median
- 12.99%
- Q1
- 11.92%
- Min
- 11.92%
AVY’s Return on Equity of 30.48% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
WAB
10.73%
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 40.80%
- Q3
- 24.36%
- Median
- 18.32%
- Q1
- 11.84%
- Min
- 8.37%
WAB’s Return on Equity of 10.73% is in the lower quartile for the Railroads industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
Return on Invested Capital
AVY
13.21%
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 13.21%
- Q3
- 11.67%
- Median
- 10.45%
- Q1
- 8.54%
- Min
- 6.64%
In the upper quartile for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry, AVY’s Return on Invested Capital of 13.21% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
WAB
8.17%
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 11.47%
- Q3
- 9.66%
- Median
- 9.08%
- Q1
- 7.36%
- Min
- 4.32%
WAB’s Return on Invested Capital of 8.17% is in line with the norm for the Railroads industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
AVY
7.98%
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 13.49%
- Q3
- 7.98%
- Median
- 5.35%
- Q1
- 3.84%
- Min
- 3.84%
AVY’s Net Profit Margin of 7.98% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
WAB
10.53%
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 27.77%
- Q3
- 26.50%
- Median
- 24.33%
- Q1
- 9.34%
- Min
- 4.79%
WAB’s Net Profit Margin of 10.53% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Railroads industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
AVY
12.83%
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 17.67%
- Q3
- 12.83%
- Median
- 8.01%
- Q1
- 7.07%
- Min
- 5.16%
AVY’s Operating Profit Margin of 12.83% is around the midpoint for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
WAB
16.09%
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 41.08%
- Q3
- 37.86%
- Median
- 35.40%
- Q1
- 15.99%
- Min
- 10.85%
WAB’s Operating Profit Margin of 16.09% is around the midpoint for the Railroads industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AVY | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 30.48% | 10.73% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 8.36% | 5.79% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 13.21% | 8.17% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 7.98% | 10.53% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.83% | 16.09% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 28.79% | 31.55% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
AVY
1.03
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.76
- Q3
- 1.76
- Median
- 1.65
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 1.03
AVY’s Current Ratio of 1.03 falls into the lower quartile for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
WAB
1.34
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 1.97
- Q3
- 1.41
- Median
- 0.85
- Q1
- 0.77
- Min
- 0.62
WAB’s Current Ratio of 1.34 aligns with the median group of the Railroads industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
AVY
1.59
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 0.69
- Q3
- 0.69
- Median
- 0.61
- Q1
- 0.21
- Min
- 0.01
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.59, AVY operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Business Equipment & Supplies industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
WAB
0.39
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 2.11
- Q3
- 1.44
- Median
- 1.19
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.39
Falling into the lower quartile for the Railroads industry, WAB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.39 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio
AVY
9.41
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 12.58
- Q3
- 10.20
- Median
- 8.76
- Q1
- 6.65
- Min
- 2.29
AVY’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.41 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
WAB
8.45
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 8.45
- Q3
- 7.16
- Median
- 6.40
- Q1
- 5.53
- Min
- 4.30
WAB’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 8.45 is in the upper quartile for the Railroads industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AVY | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.03 | 1.34 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.68 | 0.73 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 1.59 | 0.39 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.41 | 0.21 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 2.32 | 1.64 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 9.41 | 8.45 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for AVY and WAB. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
AVY
1.95%
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 19.11%
- Q3
- 8.38%
- Median
- 3.82%
- Q1
- 2.68%
- Min
- 2.04%
AVY’s Dividend Yield of 1.95% is below the typical range for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates that shareholder returns are likely driven more by potential capital appreciation than by dividend income.
WAB
0.42%
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 4.30%
- Q3
- 2.64%
- Median
- 2.21%
- Q1
- 1.33%
- Min
- 0.43%
WAB’s Dividend Yield of 0.42% is below the typical range for the Railroads industry. This indicates that shareholder returns are likely driven more by potential capital appreciation than by dividend income.
Dividend Payout Ratio
AVY
40.30%
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 233.86%
- Q3
- 93.40%
- Median
- 43.44%
- Q1
- 39.85%
- Min
- 38.49%
AVY’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 40.30% is within the typical range for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
WAB
13.29%
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 69.30%
- Q3
- 47.83%
- Median
- 32.93%
- Q1
- 18.85%
- Min
- 13.29%
WAB’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 13.29% is in the lower quartile for the Railroads industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | AVY | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.95% | 0.42% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 40.30% | 13.29% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
AVY
20.71
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 19.85
- Q3
- 17.85
- Median
- 14.65
- Q1
- 11.60
- Min
- 10.05
At 20.71, AVY’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
WAB
33.05
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 26.01
- Q3
- 22.00
- Median
- 19.48
- Q1
- 17.09
- Min
- 16.09
At 33.05, WAB’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Railroads industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
AVY
2.17
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 2.08
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.08
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.55
AVY’s Forward PEG Ratio of 2.17 is exceptionally high for the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.
WAB
3.48
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 1.85
- Q3
- 1.84
- Median
- 1.79
- Q1
- 1.59
- Min
- 1.52
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Railroads industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
AVY
1.64
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.62
- Q3
- 1.57
- Median
- 0.91
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.20
With a P/S Ratio of 1.64, AVY trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
WAB
3.49
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 6.74
- Q3
- 5.30
- Median
- 4.55
- Q1
- 2.73
- Min
- 0.42
WAB’s P/S Ratio of 3.49 aligns with the market consensus for the Railroads industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio
AVY
6.67
Business Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 2.90
- Q3
- 2.90
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- 0.55
At 6.67, AVY’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Business Equipment & Supplies industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
WAB
3.53
Railroads Industry
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 4.36
- Median
- 3.70
- Q1
- 1.98
- Min
- 1.00
WAB’s P/B Ratio of 3.53 is within the conventional range for the Railroads industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AVY | WAB |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 20.71 | 33.05 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.17 | 3.48 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 1.64 | 3.49 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 6.67 | 3.53 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 24.22 | 24.94 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 12.49 | 19.80 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 2.01 | 3.81 |