FERG vs. ULS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at FERG and ULS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | FERG | ULS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Ferguson Enterprises Inc. | UL Solutions Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Trading Companies & Distributors | Professional Services |
| Market Capitalization | 46.00 billion USD | 14.83 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 5, 2010 | April 12, 2024 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of FERG and ULS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | FERG | ULS |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 4.41% | 4.16% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 5.07% | 0.99% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 45.87% | 27.59% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 22.32% | 48.03% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 4.41% | 4.16% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 35.10% | 47.98% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.75M | 0.64M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.71M | 0.79M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 29.09% | 35.48% |
| Beta | 1.13 | 0.44 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
FERG
32.99%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 32.99%
- Q3
- 19.66%
- Median
- 13.72%
- Q1
- 9.74%
- Min
- -0.34%
In the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, FERG’s Return on Equity of 32.99% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
ULS
34.07%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 68.01%
- Q3
- 35.32%
- Median
- 21.92%
- Q1
- 11.67%
- Min
- -20.25%
ULS’s Return on Equity of 34.07% is on par with the norm for the Professional Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
FERG
6.03%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 16.11%
- Q3
- 9.48%
- Median
- 5.89%
- Q1
- 3.68%
- Min
- -1.09%
FERG’s Net Profit Margin of 6.03% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
ULS
11.08%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 31.75%
- Q3
- 15.50%
- Median
- 8.95%
- Q1
- 4.51%
- Min
- 0.35%
ULS’s Net Profit Margin of 11.08% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Professional Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
FERG
8.47%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 26.26%
- Q3
- 14.59%
- Median
- 7.05%
- Q1
- 4.94%
- Min
- -8.06%
FERG’s Operating Profit Margin of 8.47% is around the midpoint for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
ULS
16.71%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 30.62%
- Q3
- 19.06%
- Median
- 13.60%
- Q1
- 8.60%
- Min
- -2.18%
ULS’s Operating Profit Margin of 16.71% is around the midpoint for the Professional Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | FERG | ULS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 32.99% | 34.07% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 10.86% | 11.40% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 6.03% | 11.08% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 8.47% | 16.71% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 30.67% | 48.53% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
FERG
1.68
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 3.32
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 1.41
- Min
- 0.26
FERG’s Current Ratio of 1.68 aligns with the median group of the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
ULS
1.32
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.75
- Median
- 1.34
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.47
ULS’s Current Ratio of 1.32 aligns with the median group of the Professional Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
FERG
0.64
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.93
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.61
- Min
- 0.01
FERG’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.64 is typical for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
ULS
0.56
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 2.93
- Q3
- 1.45
- Median
- 0.98
- Q1
- 0.45
- Min
- 0.00
ULS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.56 is typical for the Professional Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
FERG
13.75
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 15.13
- Q3
- 7.93
- Median
- 5.67
- Q1
- 2.04
- Min
- -1.67
FERG’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 13.75 is in the upper quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
ULS
11.92
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 39.45
- Q3
- 20.41
- Median
- 11.64
- Q1
- 5.46
- Min
- -1.21
ULS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 11.92 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Professional Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | FERG | ULS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.68 | 1.32 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.78 | 1.32 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.64 | 0.56 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 13.75 | 11.92 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
FERG
1.06%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 5.25%
- Q3
- 2.95%
- Median
- 2.06%
- Q1
- 1.11%
- Min
- 0.00%
FERG’s Dividend Yield of 1.06% is in the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
ULS
0.69%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 4.83%
- Q3
- 2.44%
- Median
- 1.52%
- Q1
- 0.52%
- Min
- 0.00%
ULS’s Dividend Yield of 0.69% is consistent with its peers in the Professional Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
FERG
35.28%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 136.12%
- Q3
- 71.34%
- Median
- 47.49%
- Q1
- 22.56%
- Min
- 0.00%
FERG’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 35.28% is within the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
ULS
31.19%
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 128.51%
- Q3
- 69.03%
- Median
- 47.00%
- Q1
- 18.05%
- Min
- 0.00%
ULS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 31.19% is within the typical range for the Professional Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | FERG | ULS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.06% | 0.69% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 35.28% | 31.19% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
FERG
24.74
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 42.69
- Q3
- 25.21
- Median
- 16.99
- Q1
- 13.13
- Min
- 5.35
FERG’s P/E Ratio of 24.74 is within the middle range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
ULS
45.34
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 52.60
- Q3
- 33.83
- Median
- 24.95
- Q1
- 17.59
- Min
- 7.96
A P/E Ratio of 45.34 places ULS in the upper quartile for the Professional Services industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
FERG
1.49
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 4.90
- Q3
- 2.71
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.30
FERG’s P/S Ratio of 1.49 aligns with the market consensus for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
ULS
5.02
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 8.27
- Q3
- 4.40
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 0.99
- Min
- 0.17
ULS’s P/S Ratio of 5.02 is in the upper echelon for the Professional Services industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
FERG
7.55
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 7.55
- Q3
- 4.63
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.31
FERG’s P/B Ratio of 7.55 is in the upper tier for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
ULS
13.37
Professional Services Industry
- Max
- 18.75
- Q3
- 9.53
- Median
- 5.88
- Q1
- 2.95
- Min
- 0.59
ULS’s P/B Ratio of 13.37 is in the upper tier for the Professional Services industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | FERG | ULS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 24.74 | 45.34 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.49 | 5.02 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 7.55 | 13.37 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 28.65 | 40.73 |