BWXT vs. PNR: BWX Technologies vs. Pentair Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR) 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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but BWXT is classified in Aerospace & Defense while PNR is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Profile Item	BWXT	PNR
Name	BWX Technologies, Inc.	Pentair plc
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	10.95 billion USD	10.88 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	August 2, 2010	May 3, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BWXT

PNR

GSPC

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR), 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 BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	BWXT	PNR
Total Return (1Y)	-33.33%	-33.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.43%	6.19%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	20.57%	0.13%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BWXT

PNR

GSPC

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR), 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 BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	BWXT	PNR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	45.97%	36.79%
Beta (5Y)	0.73	0.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.64%	-53.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.19M	3.26M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BWXT and PNR 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 BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	BWXT	PNR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.82	-1.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.11	-1.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 28.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Pentair (PNR) at 15.61% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BWXT.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

28.27%

Max: 40.55%
BWXT: 28.27%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

15.61%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
PNR: 15.61%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 15.44% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 10.41%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

10.41%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
BWXT: 10.41%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

15.44%

Max: 27.47%
PNR: 15.44%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 21.90% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 11.55%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

11.55%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
BWXT: 11.55%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

21.90%

Max: 36.60%
PNR: 21.90%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	BWXT	PNR
ROE (TTM)	28.27%	15.61%
ROA (TTM)	5.49%	7.91%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.41%	15.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.55%	21.90%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.61%	40.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 18.30% and Pentair (PNR) at 2.28% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 16.61% and Pentair (PNR) at 5.88% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	BWXT	PNR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	18.30%	2.28%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	12.73%	0.44%
EPS Growth (YoY)	16.61%	5.88%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.25%	10.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 1.88 and Pentair (PNR) at 1.47 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.88

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
BWXT: 1.88
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

1.47

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
PNR: 1.47
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Pentair (PNR) at 0.42 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 1.43 uses more debt funding than most peers.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.43

Max: 2.33
BWXT: 1.43
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

0.42

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
PNR: 0.42
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	BWXT	PNR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.88	1.47
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.43	0.42
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.92	1.61

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 1.52% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 0.92% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PNR the richer one.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.92%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
BWXT: 0.92%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

1.52%

Max: 2.66%
PNR: 1.52%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 26.04% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Pentair (PNR) at 28.88% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

26.04%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
BWXT: 26.04%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

28.88%

Max: 67.39%
PNR: 28.88%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	BWXT	PNR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.92%	1.52%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	26.04%	28.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 18.56 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 29.37 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for PNR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

29.37

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
BWXT: 29.37
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

18.56

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
PNR: 18.56
Min: 3.03

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 3.04 and Pentair (PNR) at 2.74 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

3.04

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
BWXT: 3.04
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

2.74

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
PNR: 2.74
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pentair (PNR) at 2.82 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 7.72 carries an above-peer premium to book — BWXT is pricier on assets.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

7.72

Max: 9.66
BWXT: 7.72
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

2.82

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
PNR: 2.82
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	BWXT	PNR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	29.37	18.56
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.04	2.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.72	2.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.64%	4.77%