LECO vs. RKLB: Lincoln Electric vs. Rocket Lab Stock Comparison
How do Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) 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 Rocket Lab (RKLB) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but LECO is classified in Machinery while RKLB is classified in Aerospace & Defense.
Lincoln Electric (LECO) has more than two decades of public-market history since April 7, 1994, whereas Rocket Lab (RKLB) listed on November 24, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | Rocket Lab Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Machinery | Aerospace & Defense |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Capitalization | 14.91 billion USD | 33.93 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | April 7, 1994 | November 24, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 27.30% | 12.96% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.31% | 138.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.33% | 31.49% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Rocket Lab (RKLB) carries a highly aggressive beta of 3.14, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Lincoln Electric (LECO) is closer to market-like at 1.17 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) is heavily traded at around 19.51M shares per day, whereas Lincoln Electric (LECO) sees a more moderate 409.99K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.13% | 95.71% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.17 | 3.14 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.29% | -78.32% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 409.99K | 19.51M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.74 | 0.09 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.11 | 0.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative ROE of -7.92%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Lincoln Electric (LECO) reports 38.75%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
-7.92%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- RKLB
- -7.92%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative net margin of -21.51%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Lincoln Electric (LECO) reports 12.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
-21.51%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
- RKLB
- -21.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative operating margin of -24.57%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Lincoln Electric (LECO) reports 18.29%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
-24.57%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
- RKLB
- -24.57%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 38.75% | -7.92% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.32% | -4.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.40% | -21.51% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.29% | -24.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 35.54% | 37.26% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 37.96% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 5.60% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for RKLB.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Lincoln Electric (LECO) reports EPS growth of 14.36%, ranked against its industry; Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.60% | 37.96% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.02% | 41.82% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 14.36% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.05% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 5.48 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
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
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
5.48
- RKLB
- 5.48
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 0.04 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 0.78 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
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
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
0.04
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- RKLB
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.91 | 5.48 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.78 | 0.04 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.00 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Lincoln Electric (LECO) reports a yield of 1.16%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- RKLB
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Lincoln Electric (LECO) reports a payout of 30.30%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- RKLB
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.16% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 30.30% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Lincoln Electric (LECO) trades at 26.40 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no P/E ratio this period.
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
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
- RKLB
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 3.21 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 44.12 clears its benchmark range — RKLB looks notably rich on sales.
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
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
44.12
- RKLB
- 44.12
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 9.59 and Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 9.09 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
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
9.09
- Max
- 9.66
- RKLB
- 9.09
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LECO | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.40 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.21 | 44.12 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.59 | 9.09 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.68% | -0.74% |