CMI vs. NDSN: Cummins vs. Nordson Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN) 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

Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN) both belong to the Machinery industry, though CMI is classified under Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment while NDSN falls under Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components.

Company profile comparison for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Profile Item	CMI	NDSN
Name	Cummins Inc.	Nordson Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	61.69 billion USD	17.26 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	March 18, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMI

NDSN

GSPC

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN), 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 Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	CMI	NDSN
Total Return (1Y)	-0.52%	40.90%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	31.79%	14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.12%	5.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMI

NDSN

GSPC

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN), 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 Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	CMI	NDSN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.83%	23.53%
Beta (5Y)	1.26	0.98
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-38.12%	-39.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.14M	381.48K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CMI and NDSN 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 Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	CMI	NDSN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.13	1.56
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.18	2.43

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 25.05% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CMI.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

25.05%

Max: 40.55%
CMI: 25.05%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

17.76%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
NDSN: 17.76%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Nordson (NDSN) at 18.63% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Cummins (CMI) at 9.26%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

9.26%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
CMI: 9.26%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

18.63%

Max: 27.47%
NDSN: 18.63%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Nordson (NDSN) at 27.40% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Cummins (CMI) at 13.95%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

13.95%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
CMI: 13.95%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

27.40%

Max: 36.60%
NDSN: 27.40%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	CMI	NDSN
ROE (TTM)	25.05%	17.76%
ROA (TTM)	7.60%	8.47%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.26%	18.63%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.95%	27.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.32%	55.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Cummins (CMI) at -1.27% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Cummins (CMI) at -27.74% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	CMI	NDSN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-1.27%	3.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.25%	2.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-27.74%	4.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.68%	-1.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 1.74 and Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.74

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
CMI: 1.74
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

1.82

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
NDSN: 1.82
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 0.52 and Nordson (NDSN) at 0.56 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

0.52

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
CMI: 0.52
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
NDSN: 0.56
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	CMI	NDSN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.74	1.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.52	0.56
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.62	1.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 1.83% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CMI the richer one.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.83%

Max: 2.66%
CMI: 1.83%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

1.06%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
NDSN: 1.06%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 34.21% and Nordson (NDSN) at 33.20% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

34.21%

Max: 67.39%
CMI: 34.21%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

33.20%

Max: 67.39%
NDSN: 33.20%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	CMI	NDSN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.83%	1.06%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	34.21%	33.20%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 18.78 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 31.36 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CMI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

18.78

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
CMI: 18.78
Min: 3.03

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

31.36

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
NDSN: 31.36
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 1.72 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Nordson (NDSN) at 5.79 sits in the pricier quartile — NDSN costs more per dollar of sales.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

1.72

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
CMI: 1.72
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

5.79

Max: 7.54
NDSN: 5.79
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cummins (CMI) at 4.63 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Nordson (NDSN) at 5.28 carries an above-peer premium to book — NDSN is pricier on assets.

CMI

Capital Goods industry group

4.63

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
CMI: 4.63
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

5.28

Max: 9.66
NDSN: 5.28
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Cummins (CMI) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	CMI	NDSN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	18.78	31.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.72	5.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.63	5.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.06%	3.56%