LECO vs. VRT: Lincoln Electric vs. Vertiv Stock Comparison
How do Lincoln Electric (LECO) and Vertiv (VRT) 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 Vertiv (VRT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but LECO is classified in Machinery while VRT is classified in Electrical Equipment.
| Profile Item | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | Vertiv Holdings Co Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Machinery | Electrical Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components | Electrical Components & Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 14.91 billion USD | 70.41 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 7, 1994 | August 2, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 27.30% | 11.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.31% | 71.14% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.33% | 49.38% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Vertiv (VRT) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.15, 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.
| Metric | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.13% | 71.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.17 | 2.15 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.29% | -69.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 409.99K | 5.90M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.74 | 0.10 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.11 | 0.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Vertiv (VRT) at 46.57% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
46.57%
- VRT
- 46.57%
- 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 16.00% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
16.00%
- Max
- 27.47%
- VRT
- 16.00%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Vertiv (VRT) at 23.77% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
23.77%
- Max
- 36.60%
- VRT
- 23.77%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 38.75% | 46.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.32% | 11.94% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.40% | 16.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.29% | 23.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 35.54% | 38.12% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 27.69% 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 VRT.
EPS Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 166.41% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 14.36%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.60% | 27.69% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.02% | 21.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 14.36% | 166.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.05% | 340.11% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vertiv (VRT) at 1.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VRT.
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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
1.39
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- VRT
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 0.78 and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.61 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.61
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- VRT
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.91 | 1.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.78 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.00 | -0.11 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 1.16% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Vertiv (VRT) at 0.11% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, LECO the richer one.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.11%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- VRT
- 0.11%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Vertiv (VRT) at 4.67% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
4.67%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- VRT
- 4.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.16% | 0.11% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 30.30% | 4.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 26.40 and Vertiv (VRT) at 34.18 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
34.18
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- VRT
- 34.18
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 3.21 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vertiv (VRT) at 5.37 sits in the pricier quartile — VRT costs more per dollar of 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
5.37
- Max
- 7.54
- VRT
- 5.37
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Lincoln Electric (LECO) at 9.59 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Vertiv (VRT) at 12.80 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
12.80
- VRT
- 12.80
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LECO | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.40 | 34.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.21 | 5.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.59 | 12.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.68% | 4.21% |