CMI vs. XYL: Cummins vs. Xylem Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Cummins (CMI) and Xylem (XYL)
Profile Item	CMI	XYL
Name	Cummins Inc.	Xylem Inc.
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	22.44 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	October 13, 2011
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMI

XYL

GSPC

Cummins (CMI) vs. Xylem (XYL), 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 Xylem (XYL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	CMI	XYL
Total Return (1Y)	-0.52%	-33.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	31.79%	2.29%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.12%	-4.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMI

XYL

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	CMI	XYL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.83%	30.74%
Beta (5Y)	1.26	0.96
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-38.12%	-44.89%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.14M	2.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CMI and XYL 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 Xylem (XYL)
Metric	CMI	XYL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.13	-1.22
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.18	-1.48

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 25.05% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Xylem (XYL) at 9.76% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

9.76%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
XYL: 9.76%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 9.26% and Xylem (XYL) at 11.94% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

11.94%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
XYL: 11.94%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 13.95% and Xylem (XYL) at 15.95% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

15.95%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
XYL: 15.95%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	CMI	XYL
ROE (TTM)	25.05%	9.76%
ROA (TTM)	7.60%	5.07%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.26%	11.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.95%	15.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.32%	39.32%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Xylem (XYL) at 5.52% 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. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Xylem (XYL) at 7.40% 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. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	CMI	XYL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-1.27%	5.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.25%	17.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-27.74%	7.40%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.68%	25.99%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cummins (CMI) at 1.74 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Xylem (XYL) at 1.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for XYL.

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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

1.39

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
XYL: 1.39
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 0.52 and Xylem (XYL) at 0.29 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

0.29

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
XYL: 0.29
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Cummins (CMI) vs. Xylem (XYL): 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 Xylem (XYL)
Metric	CMI	XYL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.74	1.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.52	0.29
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.62	1.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 1.83% and Xylem (XYL) at 1.69% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

1.69%

Max: 2.66%
XYL: 1.69%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Cummins (CMI) at 34.21% and Xylem (XYL) at 37.47% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

37.47%

Max: 67.39%
XYL: 37.47%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	CMI	XYL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.83%	1.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	34.21%	37.47%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cummins (CMI) at 18.78 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Xylem (XYL) at 21.69 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

21.69

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
XYL: 21.69
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Cummins (CMI) at 1.72 and Xylem (XYL) at 2.48 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

2.48

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
XYL: 2.48
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Cummins (CMI) at 4.63 and Xylem (XYL) at 2.19 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

2.19

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
XYL: 2.19
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cummins (CMI) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	CMI	XYL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	18.78	21.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.72	2.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.63	2.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.06%	5.39%