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ITT vs. LECO: ITT vs. Lincoln Electric Stock Comparison

How do ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO) 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

ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO) 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 ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
Profile ItemITTLECO
NameITT Inc.Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization18.34 billion USD14.91 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 15, 1995April 7, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ITT
LECO
GSPC
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO), 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 ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricITTLECO
Total Return (1Y)16.96%27.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)30.67%17.31%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.16%16.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ITT
LECO
GSPC
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO), 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 ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricITTLECO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.39%31.13%
Beta (5Y)1.221.17
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.97%-34.29%
Avg. Volume (3M)787.73K409.99K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ITT and LECO 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 ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricITTLECO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.390.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.591.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 38.75% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ITT (ITT) at 11.36% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LECO.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

11.36%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
ITT
11.36%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

38.75%

Max
40.55%
LECO
38.75%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 12.40% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of ITT (ITT) at 8.07%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

8.07%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
ITT
8.07%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

12.40%

Max
27.47%
LECO
12.40%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both ITT (ITT) at 16.49% and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 18.29% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

16.49%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
ITT
16.49%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

18.29%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
LECO
18.29%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricITTLECO
ROE (TTM)11.36%38.75%
ROA (TTM)6.46%13.32%
Net Margin (TTM)8.07%12.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.49%18.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)35.70%35.54%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ITT (ITT) at 8.48% and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 5.60% 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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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both ITT (ITT) at -3.02% and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 14.36% 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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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricITTLECO
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.48%5.60%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.65%4.02%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.02%14.36%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.73%5.05%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ITT (ITT) at 1.29 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ITT.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

1.29

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
ITT
1.29
Min
0.36

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

1.91

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
LECO
1.91
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both ITT (ITT) at 0.76 and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 0.78 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

0.76

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
ITT
0.76
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

0.78

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
LECO
0.78
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricITTLECO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.291.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.760.78
Net Debt / EBITDA2.801.00

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.16% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while ITT (ITT) at 0.77% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, LECO the richer one.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

0.77%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
ITT
0.77%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

1.16%

Max
2.66%
LECO
1.16%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both ITT (ITT) at 31.06% and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 30.30% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

31.06%

Max
67.39%
ITT
31.06%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

30.30%

Max
67.39%
LECO
30.30%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricITTLECO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.77%1.16%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)31.06%30.30%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 26.40 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while ITT (ITT) at 42.29 sits in the richer quartile — ITT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

42.29

Max
59.38
ITT
42.29
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

26.40

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
LECO
26.40
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both ITT (ITT) at 3.54 and Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 3.21 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

3.54

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
ITT
3.54
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

3.21

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
LECO
3.21
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

ITT (ITT) at 3.85 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 9.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — LECO is pricier on assets.

ITT

Capital Goods industry group

3.85

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
ITT
3.85
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

LECO

Capital Goods industry group

9.59

Max
9.66
LECO
9.59
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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ITT (ITT) vs. Lincoln Electric (LECO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ITT (ITT) and Lincoln Electric (LECO)
MetricITTLECO
P/E Ratio (TTM)42.2926.40
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.543.21
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.859.59
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.63%2.68%