ROK vs. WTS: Rockwell Automation vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison
How do Rockwell Automation (ROK) 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
Rockwell Automation (ROK) and Watts Water (WTS) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but ROK is classified in Electrical Equipment while WTS is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Rockwell Automation Inc. | Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Electrical Equipment | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electrical Components & Equipment | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 41.82 billion USD | 11.55 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 31, 1981 | August 21, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 6.19% | 33.85% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 16.94% | 25.59% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 4.86% | 12.56% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.28% | 27.38% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.54 | 1.11 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -45.09% | -44.08% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 799.28K | 225.08K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.06 | 1.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.07 | 1.78 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 38.73% and Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
38.73%
- Max
- 40.55%
- ROK
- 38.73%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 15.68% 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.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
15.68%
- Max
- 27.47%
- ROK
- 15.68%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 14.75%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
14.75%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- ROK
- 14.75%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 38.73% | 20.91% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.32% | 12.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.68% | 16.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 14.75% | 20.85% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.95% | 49.09% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: Watts Water (WTS) reports revenue growth of 8.27%, ranked against its industry; Rockwell Automation (ROK) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 63.49% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for ROK.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -- | 8.27% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 7.20% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 63.49% | 17.03% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.62% | 10.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 2.11 and Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
2.11
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- ROK
- 2.11
- Median
- 2.08
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Watts Water (WTS) at 0.08 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 1.00 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
1.00
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- ROK
- 1.00
- Median
- 0.60
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.11 | 2.80 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.00 | 0.08 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.58 | -0.40 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Rockwell Automation (ROK) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Watts Water (WTS) reports a yield of 0.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- ROK
- 0.00%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Watts Water (WTS) at 17.24% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 51.03% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
51.03%
- Max
- 67.39%
- ROK
- 51.03%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.66% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 51.03% | 17.24% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 29.97 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.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
29.97
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- ROK
- 29.97
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 4.65 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.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
4.65
- Max
- 7.54
- ROK
- 4.65
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 11.76 prices above its benchmark range — ROK looks rich relative to book.
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
11.76
- ROK
- 11.76
- Max
- 9.66
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ROK | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 29.97 | 25.95 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.65 | 4.14 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 11.76 | 4.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -1.13% | 2.21% |