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LECO vs. SWK: Lincoln Electric vs. Stanley Black & Decker Stock Comparison

How do Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
Profile ItemLECOSWK
NameLincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.Stanley Black & Decker Inc.
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 USD17.08 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateApril 7, 1994March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LECO
SWK
GSPC
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK), 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
MetricLECOSWK
Total Return (1Y)27.30%83.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.31%17.07%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.33%-5.19%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LECO
SWK
GSPC
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK), 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
MetricLECOSWK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)31.13%38.68%
Beta (5Y)1.171.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.29%-68.03%
Avg. Volume (3M)409.99K1.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LECO and SWK 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
MetricLECOSWK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.742.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.113.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 38.75% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 9.44% 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%

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

9.44%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
SWK
9.44%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 5.53%, 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%

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

5.53%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
SWK
5.53%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 18.29% and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 8.71% 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%

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

8.71%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
SWK
8.71%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
MetricLECOSWK
ROE (TTM)38.75%9.44%
ROA (TTM)13.32%3.48%
Net Margin (TTM)12.40%5.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.29%8.71%
Gross Margin (TTM)35.54%32.16%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 5.60% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at -1.53% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 35.90% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 14.36% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for SWK.

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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
MetricLECOSWK
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.60%-1.53%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.02%-3.71%
EPS Growth (YoY)14.36%35.90%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.05%-26.81%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for SWK.

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

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

1.42

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
SWK
1.42
Min
0.36
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 0.78 and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 0.58 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

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

0.58

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
SWK
0.58
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
MetricLECOSWK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.911.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.780.58
Net Debt / EBITDA1.002.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.16% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 2.89% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

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%

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

2.89%

SWK
2.89%
Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 59.68% 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%

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

59.68%

Max
67.39%
SWK
59.68%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
MetricLECOSWK
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.16%2.89%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)30.30%59.68%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 26.40 and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 20.58 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

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

20.58

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
SWK
20.58
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 1.12 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

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

1.12

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
SWK
1.12
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 1.93 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

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

1.93

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
SWK
1.93
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs. Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
MetricLECOSWK
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.4020.58
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.211.12
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.591.93
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.68%11.37%