IEX vs. WTS: IDEX vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do IDEX (IEX) 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

IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Profile Item	IEX	WTS
Name	IDEX Corporation	Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	16.67 billion USD	11.55 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 2, 1989	August 21, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IEX

WTS

GSPC

IDEX (IEX) 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	IEX	WTS
Total Return (1Y)	42.33%	33.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	8.92%	25.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.31%	12.56%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IEX

WTS

GSPC

IDEX (IEX) 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

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	IEX	WTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	22.98%	27.38%
Beta (5Y)	0.95	1.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-34.60%	-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)	666.74K	225.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

IEX 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 IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	IEX	WTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.66	1.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.64	1.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while IDEX (IEX) at 13.35% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WTS.

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%

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%

IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) at 14.65% 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.

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%

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%

IDEX (IEX) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 22.33% 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.

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%

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%

IDEX (IEX) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	IEX	WTS
ROE (TTM)	13.35%	20.91%
ROA (TTM)	7.06%	12.05%
Net Margin (TTM)	14.65%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	22.33%	20.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.91%	49.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both IDEX (IEX) at 5.77% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both IDEX (IEX) at -3.46% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	IEX	WTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.77%	8.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.81%	7.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-3.46%	17.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-5.97%	10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 2.78 and Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity 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

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

IDEX (IEX) 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 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

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

IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	IEX	WTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.78	2.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.44	0.08
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.18	-0.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

IDEX (IEX) at 1.30% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Watts Water (WTS) at 0.66% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, IEX the richer one.

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%

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%

IDEX (IEX) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 17.24% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while IDEX (IEX) at 50.14% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

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%

IDEX (IEX) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	IEX	WTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.30%	0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	50.14%	17.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 31.53 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.

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

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

IDEX (IEX) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 4.56 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.

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

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

IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) at 4.17 and Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 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

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

IDEX (IEX) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	IEX	WTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.53	25.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.56	4.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.17	4.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.50%	2.21%