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NDSN vs. SNA: Nordson vs. Snap-on Stock Comparison

How do Nordson (NDSN) and Snap-on (SNA) 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 Snap-on (SNA) 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 Snap-on (SNA)
Profile ItemNDSNSNA
NameNordson CorporationSnap-on 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 USD18.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 18, 1980February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NDSN
SNA
GSPC
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA), 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 Snap-on (SNA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricNDSNSNA
Total Return (1Y)40.90%12.48%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)14.93%15.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.48%14.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NDSN
SNA
GSPC
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA), 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 Snap-on (SNA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricNDSNSNA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.53%19.41%
Beta (5Y)0.980.73
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.15%-20.77%
Avg. Volume (3M)381.48K333.56K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NDSN and SNA 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricNDSNSNA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.560.42
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.430.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% and Snap-on (SNA) at 17.32% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

17.32%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
SNA
17.32%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA) at 19.21% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

19.21%

Max
27.47%
SNA
19.21%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 27.40% and Snap-on (SNA) at 24.88% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

24.88%

Max
36.60%
SNA
24.88%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricNDSNSNA
ROE (TTM)17.76%17.32%
ROA (TTM)8.47%9.70%
Net Margin (TTM)18.63%19.21%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.40%24.88%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.39%51.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Snap-on (SNA) at 0.93% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% and Snap-on (SNA) at -1.64% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricNDSNSNA
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.78%0.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.53%2.11%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.93%-1.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.15%4.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Snap-on (SNA) at 3.55 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.55

Max
5.22
SNA
3.55
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Snap-on (SNA) at 0.21 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

0.21

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
SNA
0.21
Min
0.00
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricNDSNSNA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.823.55
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.560.21
Net Debt / EBITDA1.78-0.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 2.66% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SNA 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

2.66%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 33.20% and Snap-on (SNA) at 50.70% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

50.70%

Max
67.39%
SNA
50.70%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricNDSNSNA
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.06%2.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.20%50.70%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 19.08 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 SNA, 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

19.08

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
SNA
19.08
Min
3.03
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 3.60 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.60

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
SNA
3.60
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Snap-on (SNA) at 3.11 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.11

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
SNA
3.11
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricNDSNSNA
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.3619.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.793.60
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.283.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.56%5.77%