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DOV vs. WSO.B: Dover vs. Watsco Stock Comparison

How do Dover (DOV) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Profile ItemDOVWSO.B
NameDover CorporationWatsco 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 Capitalization27.11 billion USD12.92 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DOV
WSO.B
GSPC
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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricDOVWSO.B
Total Return (1Y)18.59%-11.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.73%-3.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.12%4.30%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Dover (DOV) trades around 1.21M shares per day on average, while Watsco (WSO.B) sees only 74 — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.

Risk profile metrics for Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricDOVWSO.B
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.76%40.28%
Beta (5Y)1.080.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.56%-43.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.21M74

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DOV 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 Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricDOVWSO.B
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.56-0.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.81-0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Dover (DOV) at 15.20% 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.

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%

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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Dover (DOV) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dover (DOV) at 13.60% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Watsco (WSO.B) at 6.31%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

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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Dover (DOV) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Dover (DOV) at 19.66% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Watsco (WSO.B) at 10.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

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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Dover (DOV) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricDOVWSO.B
ROE (TTM)15.20%16.21%
ROA (TTM)7.23%8.27%
Net Margin (TTM)13.60%6.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.66%10.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.23%27.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Dover (DOV) at 4.48% 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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Dover (DOV) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Watsco (WSO.B) at -7.47% 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. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricDOVWSO.B
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.48%-4.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.04%-0.16%
EPS Growth (YoY)-59.18%-7.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.28%-6.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Dover (DOV) at 1.95 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.

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

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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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) at 0.43 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

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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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricDOVWSO.B
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.953.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.430.16
Net Debt / EBITDA0.80-0.14

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dover (DOV) at 1.03% 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.

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%

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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Dover (DOV) 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 Dover (DOV) reports 24.33%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

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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Dover (DOV) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricDOVWSO.B
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.03%4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)24.33%109.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Dover (DOV) at 23.79 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.

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

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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Dover (DOV) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Dover (DOV) at 3.16 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 1.74 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

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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Dover (DOV) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Dover (DOV) at 3.55 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.99 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

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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Dover (DOV) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Dover (DOV) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricDOVWSO.B
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.7927.26
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.161.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.553.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.18%3.50%