Seek Returns

NDSN vs. RBC: Nordson vs. RBC Bearings Stock Comparison

How do Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC) 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 RBC Bearings (RBC) 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 RBC Bearings (RBC)
Profile ItemNDSNRBC
NameNordson CorporationRBC Bearings Incorporated
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization17.26 billion USD15.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 18, 1980August 10, 2005
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NDSN
RBC
GSPC
Loading price history…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC), 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 Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
MetricNDSNRBC
Total Return (1Y)40.90%13.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)14.93%30.63%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.48%15.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NDSN
RBC
GSPC
Loading price history…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC), 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 Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
MetricNDSNRBC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.53%29.69%
Beta (5Y)0.981.34
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.15%-34.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)381.48K309.06K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
NDSN and RBC 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 RBC Bearings (RBC)
MetricNDSNRBC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.560.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.430.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 10.51% 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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

10.51%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
RBC
10.51%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): 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 RBC Bearings (RBC) at 17.51% 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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

17.51%

Max
27.47%
RBC
17.51%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 27.40% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 24.97% 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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

24.97%

Max
36.60%
RBC
24.97%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
MetricNDSNRBC
ROE (TTM)17.76%10.51%
ROA (TTM)8.47%6.06%
Net Margin (TTM)18.63%17.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.40%24.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.39%45.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 14.34% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 18.05% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
MetricNDSNRBC
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.78%14.34%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.53%8.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.93%18.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.15%22.54%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while RBC Bearings (RBC) at 3.13 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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

3.13

Max
5.22
RBC
3.13
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 0.22 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 0.56 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.22

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
RBC
0.22
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): 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 RBC Bearings (RBC)
MetricNDSNRBC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.823.13
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.560.22
Net Debt / EBITDA1.781.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Nordson (NDSN) reports a yield of 1.06%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
RBC
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Nordson (NDSN) reports a payout of 33.20%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
RBC
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
MetricNDSNRBC
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.06%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.20%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Nordson (NDSN) at 31.36 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while RBC Bearings (RBC) at 42.44 sits in the richer quartile — RBC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

42.44

Max
59.38
RBC
42.44
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 5.79 and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 7.42 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

7.42

Max
7.54
RBC
7.42
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 4.21 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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

4.21

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
RBC
4.21
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
Loading chart…
Nordson (NDSN) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
MetricNDSNRBC
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.3642.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.797.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.284.21
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.56%2.22%