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SWK vs. WSO.B: Stanley Black & Decker vs. Watsco Stock Comparison

How do Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B) 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

Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but SWK is classified in Machinery while WSO.B is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Profile ItemSWKWSO.B
NameStanley Black & Decker Inc.Watsco Inc. Class B Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization17.08 billion USD12.92 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SWK
WSO.B
GSPC
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B), 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricSWKWSO.B
Total Return (1Y)83.07%-11.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.07%-3.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.19%4.30%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SWK
WSO.B
GSPC
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B), 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) trades around 1.67M shares per day on average, while Watsco (WSO.B) sees only 74 — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.

Risk profile metrics for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricSWKWSO.B
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.68%40.28%
Beta (5Y)1.100.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)-68.03%-43.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.67M74

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SWK and WSO.B 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 Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricSWKWSO.B
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.04-0.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.57-0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 9.44% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 16.21% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

9.44%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
SWK
9.44%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

16.21%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
WSO.B
16.21%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 5.53% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 6.31% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

5.53%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
SWK
5.53%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

6.31%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
WSO.B
6.31%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 8.71% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 10.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

8.71%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
SWK
8.71%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

10.14%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
WSO.B
10.14%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricSWKWSO.B
ROE (TTM)9.44%16.21%
ROA (TTM)3.48%8.27%
Net Margin (TTM)5.53%6.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.71%10.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)32.16%27.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at -1.53% and Watsco (WSO.B) at -4.98% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 35.90% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Watsco (WSO.B) at -7.47% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for SWK.

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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricSWKWSO.B
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.53%-4.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-3.71%-0.16%
EPS Growth (YoY)35.90%-7.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-26.81%-6.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.15 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

1.42

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
SWK
1.42
Min
0.36

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

3.15

Max
5.22
WSO.B
3.15
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Watsco (WSO.B) at 0.16 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 0.58 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

0.58

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
SWK
0.58
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

0.16

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
WSO.B
0.16
Min
0.00
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricSWKWSO.B
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.423.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.580.16
Net Debt / EBITDA2.69-0.14

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 2.89% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 4.02% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

2.89%

SWK
2.89%
Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

4.02%

WSO.B
4.02%
Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Watsco (WSO.B) reports payout ratio above 100% at 109.66%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) reports 59.68%, ranking against industry peers normally.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

59.68%

Max
67.39%
SWK
59.68%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

109.66%

WSO.B
109.66%
Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricSWKWSO.B
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.89%4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.68%109.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 20.58 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 27.26 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

20.58

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
SWK
20.58
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

27.26

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
WSO.B
27.26
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 1.12 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 1.74 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

1.12

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
SWK
1.12
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

1.74

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
WSO.B
1.74
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) at 1.93 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.99 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

SWK

Capital Goods industry group

1.93

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
SWK
1.93
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

WSO.B

Capital Goods industry group

3.99

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
WSO.B
3.99
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricSWKWSO.B
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.5827.26
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.121.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.933.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)11.37%3.50%