FER vs. XYL: Ferrovial vs. Xylem Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ferrovial (FER) and Xylem (XYL) 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 Xylem (XYL) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FER is classified in Construction & Engineering while XYL is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Ferrovial (FER) and Xylem (XYL)
Profile Item	FER	XYL
Name	Ferrovial N.V.	Xylem Inc.
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	22.44 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	August 13, 2012	October 13, 2011
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FER

XYL

GSPC

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Xylem (XYL), 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 Xylem (XYL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	FER	XYL
Total Return (1Y)	-1.10%	-33.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.01%	2.29%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.20%	-4.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FER

XYL

GSPC

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Xylem (XYL), 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 Xylem (XYL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	FER	XYL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.38%	30.74%
Beta (5Y)	0.36	0.96
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.67%	-44.89%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.95M	2.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FER and XYL 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 Xylem (XYL)
Metric	FER	XYL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.20	-1.22
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.30	-1.48

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 11.62% and Xylem (XYL) at 9.76% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

9.76%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
XYL: 9.76%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 6.15% and Xylem (XYL) at 11.94% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

11.94%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
XYL: 11.94%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 10.45% and Xylem (XYL) at 15.95% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

15.95%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
XYL: 15.95%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	FER	XYL
ROE (TTM)	11.62%	9.76%
ROA (TTM)	2.62%	5.07%
Net Margin (TTM)	6.15%	11.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)	10.45%	15.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)	87.14%	39.32%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 5.24% and Xylem (XYL) at 5.52% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Xylem (XYL) at 7.40% 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. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	FER	XYL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.24%	5.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.43%	17.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-72.26%	7.40%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	70.54%	25.99%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 1.20 and Xylem (XYL) at 1.39 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

1.39

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
XYL: 1.39
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Xylem (XYL) at 0.29 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ferrovial (FER) at 1.44 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

0.29

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
XYL: 0.29
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Ferrovial (FER) vs. Xylem (XYL): 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 Xylem (XYL)
Metric	FER	XYL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.20	1.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.44	0.29
Net Debt / EBITDA	4.39	1.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Xylem (XYL) at 1.69% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ferrovial (FER) at 0.94% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, XYL the richer one.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

1.69%

Max: 2.66%
XYL: 1.69%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and FER more so: Xylem (XYL) at 37.47% sits above the band, while Ferrovial (FER) at 71.24% exceeds every peer 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

37.47%

Max: 67.39%
XYL: 37.47%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	FER	XYL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.94%	1.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	71.24%	37.47%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ferrovial (FER) at 32.26 and Xylem (XYL) at 21.69 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

21.69

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
XYL: 21.69
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Xylem (XYL) at 2.48 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ferrovial (FER) at 4.28 sits in the pricier quartile — FER costs more per dollar of sales.

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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

2.48

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
XYL: 2.48
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Xylem (XYL) at 2.19 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

2.19

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
XYL: 2.19
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ferrovial (FER) and Xylem (XYL)
Metric	FER	XYL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	32.26	21.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.28	2.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	6.59	2.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.11%	5.39%