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CR vs. WSO.B: Crane vs. Watsco Stock Comparison

How do Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B) 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

Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CR is classified in Machinery while WSO.B is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Watsco (WSO.B) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, whereas Crane (CR) listed on March 29, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Profile ItemCRWSO.B
NameCrane CompanyWatsco Inc. Class B Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization11.63 billion USD12.92 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 29, 2023March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CR
WSO.B
GSPC
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B), 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 Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricCRWSO.B
Total Return (1Y)11.24%-11.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)28.26%-3.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--4.30%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CR
WSO.B
GSPC
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B), 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 Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricCRWSO.B
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.10%40.28%
Beta (5Y)0.980.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.02%-43.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)401.91K74

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CR and WSO.B 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 Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricCRWSO.B
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.20-0.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.28-0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Crane (CR) at 16.14% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 16.21% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

16.14%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
CR
16.14%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

16.21%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
WSO.B
16.21%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Crane (CR) at 12.41% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Watsco (WSO.B) at 6.31%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

12.41%

Max
27.47%
CR
12.41%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

6.31%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
WSO.B
6.31%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Crane (CR) at 18.77% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Watsco (WSO.B) at 10.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

18.77%

Max
36.60%
CR
18.77%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

10.14%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
WSO.B
10.14%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricCRWSO.B
ROE (TTM)16.14%16.21%
ROA (TTM)9.33%8.27%
Net Margin (TTM)12.41%6.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.77%10.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)42.27%27.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Crane (CR) at 8.16% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Watsco (WSO.B) at -4.98% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Crane (CR) at 23.96% and Watsco (WSO.B) at -7.47% 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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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricCRWSO.B
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.16%-4.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.07%-0.16%
EPS Growth (YoY)23.96%-7.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-4.47%-6.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Crane (CR) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.15 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

2.61

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
CR
2.61
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

3.15

Max
5.22
WSO.B
3.15
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Watsco (WSO.B) at 0.16 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Crane (CR) at 0.42 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

0.42

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
CR
0.42
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

0.16

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
WSO.B
0.16
Min
0.00
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricCRWSO.B
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.613.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.420.16
Net Debt / EBITDA1.08-0.14

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Crane (CR) at 0.50% pays an industry-typical yield; Watsco (WSO.B) at 4.02% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

0.50%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
CR
0.50%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

4.02%

WSO.B
4.02%
Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Watsco (WSO.B) reports payout ratio above 100% at 109.66%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Crane (CR) reports 17.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

17.10%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
CR
17.10%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

109.66%

WSO.B
109.66%
Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricCRWSO.B
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.50%4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)17.10%109.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Crane (CR) at 34.55 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 27.26 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

34.55

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
CR
34.55
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

27.26

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
WSO.B
27.26
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Watsco (WSO.B) at 1.74 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Crane (CR) at 4.22 sits in the pricier quartile — CR costs more per dollar of sales.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

4.22

Max
7.54
CR
4.22
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

1.74

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
WSO.B
1.74
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.99 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Crane (CR) at 5.13 carries an above-peer premium to book — CR is pricier on assets.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

5.13

Max
9.66
CR
5.13
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

3.99

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
WSO.B
3.99
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Crane (CR) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Crane (CR) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricCRWSO.B
P/E Ratio (TTM)34.5527.26
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.221.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.133.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.88%3.50%