Seek Returns

LECO vs. SNA: Lincoln Electric vs. Snap-on Stock Comparison

How do Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA) 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 Snap-on (SNA) 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 Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA)
Profile ItemLECOSNA
NameLincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.Snap-on Incorporated
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization14.91 billion USD18.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateApril 7, 1994February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LECO
SNA
GSPC
Loading price history…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA), 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 Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricLECOSNA
Total Return (1Y)27.30%12.48%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.31%15.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.33%14.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LECO
SNA
GSPC
Loading price history…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA), 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 Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricLECOSNA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)31.13%19.41%
Beta (5Y)1.170.73
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.29%-20.77%
Avg. Volume (3M)409.99K333.56K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
LECO and SNA 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricLECOSNA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.740.42
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.110.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 38.75% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Snap-on (SNA) at 17.32% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

17.32%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
SNA
17.32%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 12.40% and Snap-on (SNA) at 19.21% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

19.21%

Max
27.47%
SNA
19.21%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 24.88% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

24.88%

Max
36.60%
SNA
24.88%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricLECOSNA
ROE (TTM)38.75%17.32%
ROA (TTM)13.32%9.70%
Net Margin (TTM)12.40%19.21%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.29%24.88%
Gross Margin (TTM)35.54%51.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 5.60% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Snap-on (SNA) at 0.93% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 14.36% and Snap-on (SNA) at -1.64% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricLECOSNA
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.60%0.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.02%2.11%
EPS Growth (YoY)14.36%-1.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.05%4.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Snap-on (SNA) at 3.55 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.55

Max
5.22
SNA
3.55
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Snap-on (SNA) at 0.21 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

0.21

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
SNA
0.21
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricLECOSNA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.913.55
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.780.21
Net Debt / EBITDA1.00-0.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.16% and Snap-on (SNA) at 2.66% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

2.66%

SNA
2.66%
Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA) at 50.70% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

50.70%

Max
67.39%
SNA
50.70%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricLECOSNA
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.16%2.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)30.30%50.70%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 19.08 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 SNA, 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

19.08

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
SNA
19.08
Min
3.03
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA) at 3.60 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.60

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
SNA
3.60
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Snap-on (SNA) at 3.11 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.11

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
SNA
3.11
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
Loading chart…
Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricLECOSNA
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.4019.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.213.60
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.593.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.68%5.77%