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GNRC vs. WTS: Generac vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison

How do Generac (GNRC) 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

Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GNRC is classified in Electrical Equipment while WTS is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
Profile ItemGNRCWTS
NameGenerac Holdings Inc.Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryElectrical EquipmentMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryElectrical Components & EquipmentIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization10.43 billion USD11.55 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 11, 2010August 21, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GNRC
WTS
GSPC
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Generac (GNRC) 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 Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricGNRCWTS
Total Return (1Y)23.38%33.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)23.05%25.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-15.31%12.56%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricGNRCWTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)59.48%27.38%
Beta (5Y)1.841.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)-81.73%-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.22M225.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GNRC 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 Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricGNRCWTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.321.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.501.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Generac (GNRC) at 10.64% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WTS.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

10.64%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
GNRC
10.64%
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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Generac (GNRC) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 16.00% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Generac (GNRC) at 6.52%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

6.52%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
GNRC
6.52%
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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Generac (GNRC) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Generac (GNRC) at 11.67%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

11.67%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
GNRC
11.67%
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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Generac (GNRC) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricGNRCWTS
ROE (TTM)10.64%20.91%
ROA (TTM)4.24%12.05%
Net Margin (TTM)6.52%16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)11.67%20.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)38.18%49.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Watts Water (WTS) at 8.27% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Generac (GNRC) at -2.02% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Generac (GNRC) at -50.09% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricGNRCWTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)-2.02%8.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.67%7.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)-50.09%17.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-20.83%10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Generac (GNRC) at 1.97 and Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

1.97

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
GNRC
1.97
Q1
1.43
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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Generac (GNRC) 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 Generac (GNRC) at 0.47 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

0.47

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
GNRC
0.47
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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Generac (GNRC) 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 Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricGNRCWTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.972.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.470.08
Net Debt / EBITDA1.65-0.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Generac (GNRC) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Watts Water (WTS) reports a yield of 0.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
GNRC
0.00%
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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Generac (GNRC) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Generac (GNRC) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Watts Water (WTS) reports a payout of 17.24%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
GNRC
0.00%
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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Generac (GNRC) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricGNRCWTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%17.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Generac (GNRC) at 34.87 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.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

34.87

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
GNRC
34.87
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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Generac (GNRC) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Generac (GNRC) at 2.26 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Watts Water (WTS) at 4.14 sits in the pricier quartile — WTS costs more per dollar of sales.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

2.26

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
GNRC
2.26
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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Generac (GNRC) 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 Generac (GNRC) at 3.46 and Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

GNRC

Capital Goods industry group

3.46

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
GNRC
3.46
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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Generac (GNRC) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Generac (GNRC) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricGNRCWTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)34.8725.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.264.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.464.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.21%2.21%