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NDSN vs. WTS: Nordson vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison

How do Nordson (NDSN) and Watts Water (WTS) 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 Watts Water (WTS) 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 Watts Water (WTS)
Profile ItemNDSNWTS
NameNordson CorporationWatts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock
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 USD11.55 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 18, 1980August 21, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NDSN
WTS
GSPC
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS), 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 Watts Water (WTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricNDSNWTS
Total Return (1Y)40.90%33.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)14.93%25.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.48%12.56%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NDSN
WTS
GSPC
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS), 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 Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricNDSNWTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.53%27.38%
Beta (5Y)0.981.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.15%-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)381.48K225.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NDSN and WTS 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 Watts Water (WTS)
MetricNDSNWTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.561.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.431.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WTS.

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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

20.91%

Max
40.55%
WTS
20.91%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): 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 Watts Water (WTS) at 16.00% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

16.00%

Max
27.47%
WTS
16.00%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 27.40% and Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

20.85%

Max
36.60%
WTS
20.85%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricNDSNWTS
ROE (TTM)17.76%20.91%
ROA (TTM)8.47%12.05%
Net Margin (TTM)18.63%16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.40%20.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)55.39%49.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% and Watts Water (WTS) at 8.27% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% and Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% 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. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricNDSNWTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.78%8.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.53%7.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.93%17.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.15%10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 and Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

2.80

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
WTS
2.80
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 0.08 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

0.08

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
WTS
0.08
Min
0.00
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): 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 Watts Water (WTS)
MetricNDSNWTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.822.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.560.08
Net Debt / EBITDA1.78-0.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% and Watts Water (WTS) at 0.66% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

0.66%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
WTS
0.66%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 17.24% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

17.24%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
WTS
17.24%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricNDSNWTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.06%0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.20%17.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 31.36 and Watts Water (WTS) at 25.95 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

25.95

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
WTS
25.95
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): 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 Watts Water (WTS) at 4.14 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

4.14

Max
7.54
WTS
4.14
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

4.98

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
WTS
4.98
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Nordson (NDSN) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricNDSNWTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.3625.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.794.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.284.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.56%2.21%