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LECO vs. LHX: Lincoln Electric vs. L3Harris Stock Comparison

How do Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX) 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

Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but LECO is classified in Machinery while LHX is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
Profile ItemLECOLHX
NameLincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization14.91 billion USD48.39 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateApril 7, 1994December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LECO
LHX
GSPC
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX), 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 Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
MetricLECOLHX
Total Return (1Y)27.30%-5.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.31%16.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.33%5.91%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LECO
LHX
GSPC
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX), 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 Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
MetricLECOLHX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)31.13%29.75%
Beta (5Y)1.170.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.29%-38.16%
Avg. Volume (3M)409.99K1.70M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LECO and LHX 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 Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
MetricLECOLHX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.74-0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.11-0.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 38.75% sits in the top ROE quartile, while L3Harris (LHX) at 10.03% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LECO.

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%

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

10.03%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
LHX
10.03%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): 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 L3Harris (LHX) at 8.76%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

8.76%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
LHX
8.76%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 18.29% and L3Harris (LHX) at 14.34% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

14.34%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
LHX
14.34%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
MetricLECOLHX
ROE (TTM)38.75%10.03%
ROA (TTM)13.32%4.56%
Net Margin (TTM)12.40%8.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.29%14.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)35.54%25.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 5.60% and L3Harris (LHX) at 2.53% 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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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 14.36% and L3Harris (LHX) at 8.39% 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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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
MetricLECOLHX
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.60%2.53%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.02%8.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)14.36%8.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.05%15.82%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while L3Harris (LHX) at 1.20 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LHX.

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

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

1.20

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
LHX
1.20
Min
0.36
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 0.78 and L3Harris (LHX) at 0.52 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

0.52

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
LHX
0.52
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
MetricLECOLHX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.911.20
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.780.52
Net Debt / EBITDA1.001.88

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.16% and L3Harris (LHX) at 1.92% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

1.92%

Max
2.66%
LHX
1.92%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 30.30% and L3Harris (LHX) at 46.09% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

46.09%

Max
67.39%
LHX
46.09%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
MetricLECOLHX
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.16%1.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)30.30%46.09%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 26.40 and L3Harris (LHX) at 24.20 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

24.20

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
LHX
24.20
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 3.21 and L3Harris (LHX) at 2.07 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

2.07

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
LHX
2.07
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

L3Harris (LHX) at 2.39 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.

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

LHX

Capital Goods industry group

2.39

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
LHX
2.39
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. L3Harris (LHX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and L3Harris (LHX)
MetricLECOLHX
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.4024.20
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.212.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.592.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.68%7.09%