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NDSN vs. PCAR: Nordson vs. PACCAR Stock Comparison

How do Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR) 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

Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR) both belong to the Machinery industry, though NDSN is classified under Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components while PCAR falls under Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment.

Company profile comparison for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
Profile ItemNDSNPCAR
NameNordson CorporationPACCAR Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsConstruction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment
Market Capitalization17.26 billion USD53.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 18, 1980March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NDSN
PCAR
GSPC
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR), 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 Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricNDSNPCAR
Total Return (1Y)40.90%9.49%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)14.93%11.04%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.48%16.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NDSN
PCAR
GSPC
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR), 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 Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricNDSNPCAR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.53%27.23%
Beta (5Y)0.980.94
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.15%-27.75%
Avg. Volume (3M)381.48K3.33M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NDSN and PCAR 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 Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricNDSNPCAR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.560.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.430.30

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% and PACCAR (PCAR) at 13.71% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

17.76%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
NDSN
17.76%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

13.71%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
PCAR
13.71%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Nordson (NDSN) at 18.63% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of PACCAR (PCAR) at 9.50%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

18.63%

Max
27.47%
NDSN
18.63%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

9.50%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
PCAR
9.50%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Nordson (NDSN) at 27.40% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of PACCAR (PCAR) at 12.59%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

27.40%

Max
36.60%
NDSN
27.40%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

12.59%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
PCAR
12.59%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricNDSNPCAR
ROE (TTM)17.76%13.71%
ROA (TTM)8.47%4.53%
Net Margin (TTM)18.63%9.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.40%12.59%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.39%14.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while PACCAR (PCAR) at -15.50% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while PACCAR (PCAR) at -42.91% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricNDSNPCAR
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.78%-15.50%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.53%-0.44%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.93%-42.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.15%-7.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while PACCAR (PCAR) at 5.47 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

1.82

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
NDSN
1.82
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

5.47

PCAR
5.47
Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 0.56 and PACCAR (PCAR) at 0.72 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
NDSN
0.56
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

0.72

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
PCAR
0.72
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricNDSNPCAR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.825.47
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.560.72
Net Debt / EBITDA1.781.62

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 1.30% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PCAR the richer one.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

1.06%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
NDSN
1.06%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

1.30%

Max
2.66%
PCAR
1.30%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 25.95% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Nordson (NDSN) at 33.20% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

33.20%

Max
67.39%
NDSN
33.20%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

25.95%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
PCAR
25.95%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricNDSNPCAR
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.06%1.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.20%25.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 19.46 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 31.36 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for PCAR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

31.36

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
NDSN
31.36
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

19.46

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
PCAR
19.46
Min
3.03
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 1.85 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Nordson (NDSN) at 5.79 sits in the pricier quartile — NDSN costs more per dollar of sales.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

5.79

Max
7.54
NDSN
5.79
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

1.85

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
PCAR
1.85
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

PACCAR (PCAR) at 2.57 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Nordson (NDSN) at 5.28 carries an above-peer premium to book — NDSN is pricier on assets.

NDSN

Capital Goods industry group

5.28

Max
9.66
NDSN
5.28
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

PCAR

Capital Goods industry group

2.57

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
PCAR
2.57
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. PACCAR (PCAR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and PACCAR (PCAR)
MetricNDSNPCAR
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.3619.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.791.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.282.57
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.56%3.23%