FER vs. WTS: Ferrovial vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS) 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

Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FER is classified in Construction & Engineering while WTS is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Profile Item	FER	WTS
Name	Ferrovial N.V.	Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	Netherlands	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Construction & Engineering	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction & Engineering	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	42.19 billion USD	11.55 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	August 13, 2012	August 21, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FER

WTS

GSPC

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS), 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 Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	FER	WTS
Total Return (1Y)	-1.10%	33.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.01%	25.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.20%	12.56%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FER

WTS

GSPC

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS), 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 Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	FER	WTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.38%	27.38%
Beta (5Y)	0.36	1.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.67%	-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.95M	225.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FER and WTS 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 Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	FER	WTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.20	1.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.30	1.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ferrovial (FER) at 11.62% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WTS.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

11.62%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
FER: 11.62%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

20.91%

Max: 40.55%
WTS: 20.91%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 16.00% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Ferrovial (FER) at 6.15%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

6.15%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
FER: 6.15%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

16.00%

Max: 27.47%
WTS: 16.00%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Ferrovial (FER) at 10.45%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

10.45%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
FER: 10.45%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

20.85%

Max: 36.60%
WTS: 20.85%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	FER	WTS
ROE (TTM)	11.62%	20.91%
ROA (TTM)	2.62%	12.05%
Net Margin (TTM)	6.15%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	10.45%	20.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)	87.14%	49.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 5.24% and Watts Water (WTS) at 8.27% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Ferrovial (FER) at -72.26% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	FER	WTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.24%	8.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.43%	7.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-72.26%	17.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	70.54%	10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ferrovial (FER) at 1.20 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for FER.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

1.20

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
FER: 1.20
Min: 0.36

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

2.80

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
WTS: 2.80
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 0.08 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Ferrovial (FER) at 1.44 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

1.44

Max: 2.33
FER: 1.44
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

0.08

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
WTS: 0.08
Min: 0.00

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	FER	WTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.20	2.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.44	0.08
Net Debt / EBITDA	4.39	-0.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 0.94% and Watts Water (WTS) at 0.66% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

0.94%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
FER: 0.94%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

0.66%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WTS: 0.66%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 17.24% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Ferrovial (FER) at 71.24% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

71.24%

FER: 71.24%
Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

17.24%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WTS: 17.24%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	FER	WTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.94%	0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	71.24%	17.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 32.26 and Watts Water (WTS) at 25.95 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

32.26

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
FER: 32.26
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

25.95

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
WTS: 25.95
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 4.28 and Watts Water (WTS) at 4.14 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

4.28

Max: 7.54
FER: 4.28
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

4.14

Max: 7.54
WTS: 4.14
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Ferrovial (FER) at 6.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — FER is pricier on assets.

FER

Capital Goods industry group

6.59

Max: 9.66
FER: 6.59
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

4.98

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
WTS: 4.98
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	FER	WTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	32.26	25.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.28	4.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	6.59	4.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.11%	2.21%