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FTV vs. WTS: Fortive vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison

How do Fortive (FTV) 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

Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS) are both classified in the Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components sub-industry within the broader Machinery industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
Profile ItemFTVWTS
NameFortive CorporationWatts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization19.46 billion USD11.55 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 5, 2016August 21, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FTV
WTS
GSPC
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Fortive (FTV) 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 Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricFTVWTS
Total Return (1Y)31.85%33.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.44%25.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)3.01%12.56%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FTV
WTS
GSPC
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Fortive (FTV) 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 Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricFTVWTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.76%27.38%
Beta (5Y)1.011.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)-32.10%-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.44M225.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FTV 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 Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricFTVWTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.991.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.511.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Fortive (FTV) at 10.55% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WTS.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

10.55%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
FTV
10.55%
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%
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Fortive (FTV) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Fortive (FTV) at 14.83% and Watts Water (WTS) at 16.00% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

14.83%

Max
27.47%
FTV
14.83%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
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%
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Fortive (FTV) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Fortive (FTV) at 21.30% and Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

21.30%

Max
36.60%
FTV
21.30%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
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%
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Fortive (FTV) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricFTVWTS
ROE (TTM)10.55%20.91%
ROA (TTM)4.61%12.05%
Net Margin (TTM)14.83%16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.30%20.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)63.47%49.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Fortive (FTV) at 1.92% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both Fortive (FTV) at -26.69% and Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricFTVWTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.92%8.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-10.62%7.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)-26.69%17.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.26%10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Fortive (FTV) at 1.23 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for FTV.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

1.23

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
FTV
1.23
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
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Fortive (FTV) 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 industry quartile, while Fortive (FTV) at 0.60 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

0.60

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
FTV
0.60
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
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Fortive (FTV) 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 Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricFTVWTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.232.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.600.08
Net Debt / EBITDA2.45-0.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Fortive (FTV) at 0.38% and Watts Water (WTS) at 0.66% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

0.38%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
FTV
0.38%
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%
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Fortive (FTV) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Fortive (FTV) at 11.85% and Watts Water (WTS) at 17.24% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

11.85%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
FTV
11.85%
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%
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Fortive (FTV) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricFTVWTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.38%0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)11.85%17.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Fortive (FTV) at 30.98 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.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

30.98

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
FTV
30.98
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
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Fortive (FTV) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Fortive (FTV) at 4.43 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.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

4.43

Max
7.54
FTV
4.43
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
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Fortive (FTV) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Fortive (FTV) at 3.28 and Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

FTV

Capital Goods industry group

3.28

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
FTV
3.28
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
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Fortive (FTV) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fortive (FTV) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricFTVWTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.9825.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.434.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.284.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.05%2.21%