GPN vs. LECO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on October 3, 2025

Here’s a clear look at GPN and LECO, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	GPN	LECO
Company Name	Global Payments Inc.	Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Financials	Industrials
GICS Industry	Financial Services	Machinery
Market Capitalization	20.65 billion USD	12.85 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NasdaqGS
Listing Date	January 16, 2001	April 7, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of GPN and LECO 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.

GPN vs. LECO: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	LECO
5-Day Price Return	-4.63%	0.93%
13-Week Price Return	3.80%	13.75%
26-Week Price Return	-16.85%	19.55%
52-Week Price Return	-17.76%	21.95%
Month-to-Date Return	-6.46%	-2.80%
Year-to-Date Return	-25.86%	25.80%
10-Day Avg. Volume	2.80M	0.36M
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.59M	0.35M
3-Month Volatility	35.96%	25.40%
Beta	0.97	1.27

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

GPN

6.36%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 39.28%
Q3: 18.88%
Median: 9.97%
Q1: 4.03%
Min: -10.25%

GPN’s Return on Equity of 6.36% is on par with the norm for the Financial Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

LECO

37.34%

Machinery Industry

Max: 33.68%
Q3: 20.05%
Median: 12.37%
Q1: 8.67%
Min: -7.69%

LECO’s Return on Equity of 37.34% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Machinery industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

GPN

15.07%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 52.16%
Q3: 25.35%
Median: 12.68%
Q1: 6.11%
Min: -11.69%

GPN’s Net Profit Margin of 15.07% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Financial Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

LECO

12.27%

Machinery Industry

Max: 19.72%
Q3: 11.07%
Median: 7.62%
Q1: 5.05%
Min: -1.52%

A Net Profit Margin of 12.27% places LECO in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

GPN

23.26%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 75.57%
Q3: 37.78%
Median: 19.09%
Q1: 10.04%
Min: -19.42%

GPN’s Operating Profit Margin of 23.26% is around the midpoint for the Financial Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

LECO

16.67%

Machinery Industry

Max: 26.63%
Q3: 15.99%
Median: 11.27%
Q1: 7.72%
Min: -0.51%

An Operating Profit Margin of 16.67% places LECO in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	LECO
Return on Equity (TTM)	6.36%	37.34%
Return on Assets (TTM)	2.96%	13.84%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	15.07%	12.27%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	23.26%	16.67%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	65.01%	36.51%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

GPN

0.95

Financial Services Industry

Max: 4.83
Q3: 2.70
Median: 1.44
Q1: 0.86
Min: 0.01

For the Financial Services industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

LECO

1.68

Machinery Industry

Max: 3.13
Q3: 2.12
Median: 1.72
Q1: 1.34
Min: 0.77

LECO’s Current Ratio of 1.68 aligns with the median group of the Machinery industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

GPN

0.74

Financial Services Industry

Max: 5.07
Q3: 2.14
Median: 0.66
Q1: 0.12
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Financial Services industry.

LECO

0.91

Machinery Industry

Max: 1.56
Q3: 0.79
Median: 0.44
Q1: 0.27
Min: 0.00

LECO’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Machinery industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.91. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

GPN

5.15

Financial Services Industry

Max: 136.23
Q3: 56.08
Median: 6.55
Q1: 2.01
Min: -33.27

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Financial Services industry.

LECO

20.84

Machinery Industry

Max: 81.58
Q3: 37.68
Median: 13.76
Q1: 7.97
Min: -1.43

LECO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 20.84 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Machinery industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	LECO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.95	1.68
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.90	1.08
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.74	0.91
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	5.15	20.84

Growth

Revenue Growth

GPN vs. LECO: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

GPN vs. LECO: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

GPN

1.20%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 8.12%
Q3: 3.37%
Median: 1.70%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GPN’s Dividend Yield of 1.20% is consistent with its peers in the Financial Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

LECO

1.28%

Machinery Industry

Max: 4.55%
Q3: 2.66%
Median: 1.90%
Q1: 1.23%
Min: 0.00%

LECO’s Dividend Yield of 1.28% is consistent with its peers in the Machinery industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GPN

17.30%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 132.10%
Q3: 64.32%
Median: 18.23%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GPN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 17.30% is within the typical range for the Financial Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

LECO

32.88%

Machinery Industry

Max: 198.34%
Q3: 101.42%
Median: 62.79%
Q1: 29.85%
Min: 0.00%

LECO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 32.88% is within the typical range for the Machinery industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	LECO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.20%	1.28%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.30%	32.88%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

GPN

14.42

Financial Services Industry

Max: 45.81
Q3: 30.21
Median: 16.29
Q1: 10.14
Min: 0.70

GPN’s P/E Ratio of 14.42 is within the middle range for the Financial Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

LECO

25.66

Machinery Industry

Max: 47.95
Q3: 30.11
Median: 22.35
Q1: 16.56
Min: 6.48

LECO’s P/E Ratio of 25.66 is within the middle range for the Machinery industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

GPN

2.17

Financial Services Industry

Max: 10.88
Q3: 5.34
Median: 2.64
Q1: 1.24
Min: 0.06

The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Financial Services industry.

LECO

3.15

Machinery Industry

Max: 4.97
Q3: 2.76
Median: 1.65
Q1: 1.04
Min: 0.04

LECO’s P/S Ratio of 3.15 is in the upper echelon for the Machinery 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.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

GPN

0.86

Financial Services Industry

Max: 7.93
Q3: 3.78
Median: 1.49
Q1: 0.88
Min: 0.08

GPN’s P/B Ratio of 0.86 is in the lower quartile for the Financial Services industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.

LECO

8.39

Machinery Industry

Max: 7.29
Q3: 4.06
Median: 2.67
Q1: 1.54
Min: 0.52

At 8.39, LECO’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Machinery industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

GPN vs. LECO: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Financial Services and Machinery industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	GPN	LECO
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	14.42	25.66
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	2.17	3.15
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	0.86	8.39
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	6.60	25.56