NDSN vs. WWD: Nordson vs. Woodward Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Nordson (NDSN) and Woodward (WWD) 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 Woodward (WWD) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but NDSN is classified in Machinery while WWD is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Nordson (NDSN) and Woodward (WWD)
Profile Item	NDSN	WWD
Name	Nordson Corporation	Woodward, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	17.26 billion USD	18.74 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 18, 1980	April 4, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NDSN

WWD

GSPC

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Woodward (WWD), 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 Woodward (WWD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	NDSN	WWD
Total Return (1Y)	40.90%	25.66%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	14.93%	36.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	5.48%	23.54%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NDSN

WWD

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	NDSN	WWD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	23.53%	40.29%
Beta (5Y)	0.98	0.87
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-39.15%	-37.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)	381.48K	665.85K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

NDSN and WWD 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 Woodward (WWD)
Metric	NDSN	WWD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.56	0.53
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.43	0.85

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Woodward (WWD) at 22.34% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nordson (NDSN) at 17.76% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WWD.

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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

22.34%

Max: 40.55%
WWD: 22.34%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 13.17% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.17%

Max: 27.47%
WWD: 13.17%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 17.76%, 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

17.76%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
WWD: 17.76%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	NDSN	WWD
ROE (TTM)	17.76%	22.34%
ROA (TTM)	8.47%	8.62%
Net Margin (TTM)	18.63%	13.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.40%	17.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)	55.39%	29.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 3.78% and Woodward (WWD) at 7.30% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 4.93% and Woodward (WWD) at 19.63% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	NDSN	WWD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	3.78%	7.30%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.53%	14.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)	4.93%	19.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.15%	38.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 1.82 and Woodward (WWD) at 1.65 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

1.65

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
WWD: 1.65
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 0.56 and Woodward (WWD) at 0.56 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
WWD: 0.56
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD)
Metric	NDSN	WWD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.82	1.65
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.56	0.56
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.78	1.13

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 1.06% and Woodward (WWD) at 0.32% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.32%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WWD: 0.32%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Woodward (WWD) at 13.35% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WWD: 13.35%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	NDSN	WWD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.06%	0.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	33.20%	13.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 31.36 and Woodward (WWD) at 35.30 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

35.30

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
WWD: 35.30
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Nordson (NDSN) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 4.47 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

4.47

Max: 7.54
WWD: 4.47
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Nordson (NDSN) at 5.28 and Woodward (WWD) at 7.60 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

7.60

Max: 9.66
WWD: 7.60
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Nordson (NDSN) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	NDSN	WWD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.36	35.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.79	4.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.28	7.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.56%	1.00%