NDSN vs. PNR: Nordson vs. Pentair Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Nordson (NDSN) and Pentair (PNR) 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 Pentair (PNR) 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 Nordson (NDSN) and Pentair (PNR)
Profile Item	NDSN	PNR
Name	Nordson Corporation	Pentair plc
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	17.26 billion USD	10.88 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	March 18, 1980	May 3, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NDSN

PNR

GSPC

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR), 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 Pentair (PNR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	NDSN	PNR
Total Return (1Y)	40.90%	-33.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	14.93%	6.19%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	5.48%	0.13%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NDSN

PNR

GSPC

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR), 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 Pentair (PNR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	NDSN	PNR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	23.53%	36.79%
Beta (5Y)	0.98	0.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-39.15%	-53.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	381.48K	3.26M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

NDSN and PNR 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 Pentair (PNR)
Metric	NDSN	PNR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.56	-1.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.43	-1.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% and Pentair (PNR) at 15.61% 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

15.61%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
PNR: 15.61%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Nordson (NDSN) at 18.63% and Pentair (PNR) at 15.44% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

15.44%

Max: 27.47%
PNR: 15.44%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 27.40% and Pentair (PNR) at 21.90% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

21.90%

Max: 36.60%
PNR: 21.90%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	NDSN	PNR
ROE (TTM)	17.76%	15.61%
ROA (TTM)	8.47%	7.91%
Net Margin (TTM)	18.63%	15.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.40%	21.90%
Gross Margin (TTM)	55.39%	40.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% and Pentair (PNR) at 2.28% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% and Pentair (PNR) at 5.88% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	NDSN	PNR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	3.78%	2.28%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.53%	0.44%
EPS Growth (YoY)	4.93%	5.88%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.15%	10.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 and Pentair (PNR) at 1.47 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

1.47

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
PNR: 1.47
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 0.56 and Pentair (PNR) at 0.42 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

0.42

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
PNR: 0.42
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): 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 Pentair (PNR)
Metric	NDSN	PNR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.82	1.47
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.56	0.42
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.78	1.61

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 1.52% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PNR 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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

1.52%

Max: 2.66%
PNR: 1.52%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 33.20% and Pentair (PNR) at 28.88% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

28.88%

Max: 67.39%
PNR: 28.88%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	NDSN	PNR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.06%	1.52%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	33.20%	28.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 18.56 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 PNR, 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

18.56

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
PNR: 18.56
Min: 3.03

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Pentair (PNR) at 2.74 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

2.74

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
PNR: 2.74
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pentair (PNR) at 2.82 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

PNR

Capital Goods industry group

2.82

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
PNR: 2.82
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Pentair (PNR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Pentair (PNR)
Metric	NDSN	PNR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.36	18.56
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.79	2.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.28	2.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.56%	4.77%