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GGG vs. NDSN: Graco vs. Nordson Stock Comparison

How do Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN) 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

Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN) 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 Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
Profile ItemGGGNDSN
NameGraco Inc.Nordson Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization10.88 billion USD17.26 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 18, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GGG
NDSN
GSPC
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN), 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 Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricGGGNDSN
Total Return (1Y)-12.76%40.90%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-1.59%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.14%5.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GGG
NDSN
GSPC
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN), 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 Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricGGGNDSN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.08%23.53%
Beta (5Y)0.870.98
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.55%-39.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.99M381.48K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GGG and NDSN 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 Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricGGGNDSN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.651.56
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.802.43

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Graco (GGG) at 20.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for GGG.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

20.38%

Max
40.55%
GGG
20.38%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

17.76%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
NDSN
17.76%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Graco (GGG) at 22.40% and Nordson (NDSN) at 18.63% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

22.40%

Max
27.47%
GGG
22.40%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

18.63%

Max
27.47%
NDSN
18.63%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Graco (GGG) at 25.26% and Nordson (NDSN) at 27.40% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

25.26%

Max
36.60%
GGG
25.26%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

27.40%

Max
36.60%
NDSN
27.40%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricGGGNDSN
ROE (TTM)20.38%17.76%
ROA (TTM)12.02%8.47%
Net Margin (TTM)22.40%18.63%
Operating Margin (TTM)25.26%27.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)51.96%55.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Graco (GGG) at 5.83% and Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% 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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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Graco (GGG) at 9.22% and Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% 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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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricGGGNDSN
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.83%3.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.43%2.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.22%4.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.01%-1.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Graco (GGG) at 2.13 and Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

2.13

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
GGG
2.13
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

1.82

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
NDSN
1.82
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Graco (GGG) at 0.07 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 0.56 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

0.07

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
GGG
0.07
Min
0.00

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
NDSN
0.56
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricGGGNDSN
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.131.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.070.56
Net Debt / EBITDA0.031.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Graco (GGG) at 1.74% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GGG the richer one.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

1.74%

Max
2.66%
GGG
1.74%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

1.06%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
NDSN
1.06%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Graco (GGG) at 37.42% and Nordson (NDSN) at 33.20% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

37.42%

Max
67.39%
GGG
37.42%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

33.20%

Max
67.39%
NDSN
33.20%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricGGGNDSN
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.74%1.06%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)37.42%33.20%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Graco (GGG) at 21.89 and Nordson (NDSN) at 31.36 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

21.89

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
GGG
21.89
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

31.36

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
NDSN
31.36
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Graco (GGG) at 4.71 and Nordson (NDSN) at 5.79 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

4.71

Max
7.54
GGG
4.71
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

5.79

Max
7.54
NDSN
5.79
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Graco (GGG) at 4.41 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Nordson (NDSN) at 5.28 carries an above-peer premium to book — NDSN is pricier on assets.

GGG

Capital Goods industry group

4.41

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
GGG
4.41
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

5.28

Max
9.66
NDSN
5.28
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Graco (GGG) vs. Nordson (NDSN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Graco (GGG) and Nordson (NDSN)
MetricGGGNDSN
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.8931.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.715.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.415.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.94%3.56%