LECO vs. LII: Lincoln Electric vs. Lennox Stock Comparison
How do Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Lennox (LII) 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 Lennox (LII) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but LECO is classified in Machinery while LII is classified in Building Products.
| Profile Item | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | Lennox International Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Machinery | Building Products |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components | Building Products |
| Market Capitalization | 14.91 billion USD | 11.70 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 7, 1994 | July 29, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 27.30% | -27.83% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.31% | -2.32% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.33% | 3.79% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.13% | 41.59% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.17 | 1.18 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.29% | -49.95% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 409.99K | 563.34K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.74 | -0.77 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.11 | -0.96 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Lennox (LII) at 62.82% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 38.75% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
LII
Capital Goods industry group
62.82%
- LII
- 62.82%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 12.40% and Lennox (LII) at 13.76% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
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%
LII
Capital Goods industry group
13.76%
- Max
- 27.47%
- LII
- 13.76%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Lennox (LII) at 20.57% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 18.29%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
LII
Capital Goods industry group
20.57%
- Max
- 36.60%
- LII
- 20.57%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 38.75% | 62.82% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.32% | 15.93% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.40% | 13.76% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.29% | 20.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 35.54% | 32.62% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 5.60% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Lennox (LII) at -2.73% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 14.36% and Lennox (LII) at 1.11% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.60% | -2.73% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.02% | 3.26% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 14.36% | 1.11% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.05% | 17.97% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Lennox (LII) at 1.21 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LII.
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
LII
Capital Goods industry group
1.21
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- LII
- 1.21
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 0.78 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Lennox (LII) at 1.58 uses more debt funding than most peers.
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
LII
Capital Goods industry group
1.58
- Max
- 2.33
- LII
- 1.58
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.91 | 1.21 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.78 | 1.58 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.00 | 1.73 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.16% and Lennox (LII) at 1.53% 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%
LII
Capital Goods industry group
1.53%
- Max
- 2.66%
- LII
- 1.53%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Lennox (LII) at 24.68% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 30.30% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
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%
LII
Capital Goods industry group
24.68%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- LII
- 24.68%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.16% | 1.53% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 30.30% | 24.68% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Lennox (LII) at 15.47 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 26.40 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for LII, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
LII
Capital Goods industry group
15.47
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- LII
- 15.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 3.21 and Lennox (LII) at 2.15 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
LII
Capital Goods industry group
2.15
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- LII
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 9.59 and Lennox (LII) at 8.88 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
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
LII
Capital Goods industry group
8.88
- Max
- 9.66
- LII
- 8.88
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LECO | LII |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.40 | 15.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.21 | 2.15 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.59 | 8.88 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.68% | 3.14% |