FERG vs. WSO.B: Ferguson Enterprises vs. Watsco Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B) are both classified in the Trading Companies & Distributors sub-industry within the broader Trading Companies & Distributors industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Profile Item	FERG	WSO.B
Name	Ferguson Enterprises Inc.	Watsco Inc. Class B Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Trading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Trading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization	45.21 billion USD	12.92 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 5, 2010	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FERG

WSO.B

GSPC

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Metric	FERG	WSO.B
Total Return (1Y)	6.92%	-11.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.73%	-3.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	13.21%	4.30%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FERG

WSO.B

GSPC

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) trades around 1.46M 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Metric	FERG	WSO.B
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	32.85%	40.28%
Beta (5Y)	1.08	0.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.31%	-43.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.46M	74

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FERG 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Metric	FERG	WSO.B
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.08	-0.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.12	-0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Watsco (WSO.B) earns 16.21% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) has no ROE this period.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

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

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%

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): FERG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; WSO.B is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 6.32% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 6.31% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

6.32%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
FERG: 6.32%
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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 10.16% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 10.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

10.16%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
FERG: 10.16%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Metric	FERG	WSO.B
ROE (TTM)	--	16.21%
ROA (TTM)	--	8.27%
Net Margin (TTM)	6.32%	6.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)	10.16%	10.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.63%	27.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Watsco (WSO.B) reports revenue growth of -4.98%, ranked against its industry; Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) has no revenue growth figure this period.

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 19.11% and Watsco (WSO.B) at -7.47% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Metric	FERG	WSO.B
Revenue Growth (YoY)	--	-4.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-0.16%
EPS Growth (YoY)	19.11%	-7.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-6.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.73 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.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.73

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
FERG: 1.73
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

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.11 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.11

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
FERG: 1.11
Median: 0.60
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

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Metric	FERG	WSO.B
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.73	3.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.11	0.16
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.10	-0.14

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.80% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Watsco (WSO.B) at 4.02% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.80%

Max: 2.66%
FERG: 1.80%
Q3: 1.14%
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%

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) reports 33.57%, ranking against industry peers normally.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

33.57%

Max: 67.39%
FERG: 33.57%
Q3: 28.02%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Metric	FERG	WSO.B
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.80%	4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	33.57%	109.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 23.00 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.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

23.00

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
FERG: 23.00
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

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) 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 Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 1.44 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 1.74 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

1.44

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
FERG: 1.44
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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.99 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) at 7.29 carries an above-peer premium to book — FERG is pricier on assets.

FERG

Capital Goods industry group

7.29

Max: 9.66
FERG: 7.29
Q3: 5.00
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Metric	FERG	WSO.B
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.00	27.26
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.44	1.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.29	3.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	3.50%