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DOV vs. NDSN: Dover vs. Nordson Stock Comparison

How do Dover (DOV) 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

Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN) are both classified in the Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components sub-industry within the broader Machinery industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
Profile ItemDOVNDSN
NameDover CorporationNordson Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization27.11 billion USD17.26 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 18, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DOV
NDSN
GSPC
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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricDOVNDSN
Total Return (1Y)18.59%40.90%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.73%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.12%5.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DOV
NDSN
GSPC
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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricDOVNDSN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.76%23.53%
Beta (5Y)1.080.98
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.56%-39.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.21M381.48K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DOV 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 Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricDOVNDSN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.561.56
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.812.43

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Dover (DOV) at 15.20% and Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

15.20%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
DOV
15.20%
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%
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Dover (DOV) at 13.60% and Nordson (NDSN) at 18.63% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

13.60%

Max
27.47%
DOV
13.60%
Q3
12.10%
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%
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Dover (DOV) at 19.66% and Nordson (NDSN) at 27.40% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

19.66%

Max
36.60%
DOV
19.66%
Q3
18.33%
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%
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricDOVNDSN
ROE (TTM)15.20%17.76%
ROA (TTM)7.23%8.47%
Net Margin (TTM)13.60%18.63%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.66%27.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.23%55.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Dover (DOV) at 4.48% and Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) at -59.18% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricDOVNDSN
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.48%3.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.04%2.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)-59.18%4.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.28%-1.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Dover (DOV) at 1.95 and Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

1.95

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
DOV
1.95
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
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Dover (DOV) at 0.43 and Nordson (NDSN) at 0.56 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

0.43

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
DOV
0.43
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
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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricDOVNDSN
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.951.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.430.56
Net Debt / EBITDA0.801.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Dover (DOV) at 1.03% and Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

1.03%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
DOV
1.03%
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%
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Dover (DOV) at 24.33% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Nordson (NDSN) at 33.20% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

24.33%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
DOV
24.33%
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%
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricDOVNDSN
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.03%1.06%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)24.33%33.20%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Dover (DOV) at 23.79 and Nordson (NDSN) at 31.36 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

23.79

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
DOV
23.79
Q1
19.47
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
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dover (DOV) at 3.16 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.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

3.16

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
DOV
3.16
Median
2.15
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
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Dover (DOV) at 3.55 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.

DOV

Capital Goods industry group

3.55

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
DOV
3.55
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
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Dover (DOV) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Dover (DOV) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricDOVNDSN
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.7931.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.165.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.555.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.18%3.56%