ESLT vs. NDSN: Elbit Systems vs. Nordson Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but ESLT is classified in Aerospace & Defense while NDSN is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Profile Item	ESLT	NDSN
Name	Elbit Systems Ltd.	Nordson Corporation
Country/Region	Israel	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	32.00 billion USD	17.26 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 27, 1996	March 18, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ESLT

NDSN

GSPC

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	ESLT	NDSN
Total Return (1Y)	55.34%	40.90%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	57.29%	14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	37.24%	5.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ESLT

NDSN

GSPC

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	ESLT	NDSN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	47.34%	23.53%
Beta (5Y)	0.10	0.98
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-35.54%	-39.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	88.09K	381.48K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ESLT 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	ESLT	NDSN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.08	1.56
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.76	2.43

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 15.24% 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.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

15.24%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
ESLT: 15.24%
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%

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 7.44%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

7.44%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
ESLT: 7.44%
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%

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 9.57%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

9.57%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
ESLT: 9.57%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	ESLT	NDSN
ROE (TTM)	15.24%	17.76%
ROA (TTM)	3.87%	8.47%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.44%	18.63%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.57%	27.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	25.03%	55.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 16.27% 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.

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 58.64% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for ESLT.

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	ESLT	NDSN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	16.27%	3.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	12.93%	2.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)	58.64%	4.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	22.61%	-1.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 1.40 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ESLT.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

1.40

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
ESLT: 1.40
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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 0.19 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 0.56 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

0.19

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
ESLT: 0.19
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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	ESLT	NDSN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.40	1.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.19	0.56
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.11	1.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 0.58% and Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

0.58%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
ESLT: 0.58%
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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 23.33% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Nordson (NDSN) at 33.20% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

23.33%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
ESLT: 23.33%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	ESLT	NDSN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.58%	1.06%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	23.33%	33.20%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Nordson (NDSN) at 31.36 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 51.36 sits in the richer quartile — ESLT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

51.36

Max: 59.38
ESLT: 51.36
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 3.74 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.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

3.74

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
ESLT: 3.74
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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 7.24 and Nordson (NDSN) at 5.28 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

ESLT

Capital Goods industry group

7.24

Max: 9.66
ESLT: 7.24
Q3: 5.00
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and Nordson (NDSN)
Metric	ESLT	NDSN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	51.36	31.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.74	5.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.24	5.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-0.12%	3.56%