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IEX vs. WSO.B: IDEX vs. Watsco Stock Comparison

How do IDEX (IEX) 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

IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but IEX is classified in Machinery while WSO.B is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Profile ItemIEXWSO.B
NameIDEX CorporationWatsco Inc. Class B Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization16.67 billion USD12.92 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 2, 1989March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IEX
WSO.B
GSPC
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricIEXWSO.B
Total Return (1Y)42.33%-11.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.92%-3.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.31%4.30%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IEX
WSO.B
GSPC
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricIEXWSO.B
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.98%40.28%
Beta (5Y)0.950.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.60%-43.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)666.74K74

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IEX 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 IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricIEXWSO.B
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.66-0.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.64-0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 13.35% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 16.21% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
IEX
13.35%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

IDEX (IEX) at 14.65% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Watsco (WSO.B) at 6.31%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

14.65%

Max
27.47%
IEX
14.65%
Q3
12.10%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

IDEX (IEX) at 22.33% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Watsco (WSO.B) at 10.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

22.33%

Max
36.60%
IEX
22.33%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricIEXWSO.B
ROE (TTM)13.35%16.21%
ROA (TTM)7.06%8.27%
Net Margin (TTM)14.65%6.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)22.33%10.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.91%27.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

IDEX (IEX) at 5.77% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Watsco (WSO.B) at -4.98% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both IDEX (IEX) at -3.46% 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.

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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricIEXWSO.B
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.77%-4.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.81%-0.16%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.46%-7.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.97%-6.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

IDEX (IEX) at 2.78 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.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

2.78

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
IEX
2.78
Median
2.08
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) at 0.44 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

0.44

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
IEX
0.44
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricIEXWSO.B
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.783.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.440.16
Net Debt / EBITDA1.18-0.14

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

IDEX (IEX) at 1.30% 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.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

1.30%

Max
2.66%
IEX
1.30%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) reports 50.14%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

50.14%

Max
67.39%
IEX
50.14%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricIEXWSO.B
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.30%4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)50.14%109.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 31.53 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.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

31.53

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
IEX
31.53
Median
25.41
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
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Watsco (WSO.B) at 1.74 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while IDEX (IEX) at 4.56 sits in the pricier quartile — IEX costs more per dollar of sales.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

4.56

Max
7.54
IEX
4.56
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
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
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both IDEX (IEX) at 4.17 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.99 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

4.17

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
IEX
4.17
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
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricIEXWSO.B
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.5327.26
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.561.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.173.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.50%3.50%