SYM vs. WAB: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 24, 2025

Here’s a clear look at SYM and WAB, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	SYM	WAB
Company Name	Symbotic Inc.	Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
Market Capitalization	26.28 billion USD	32.97 billion USD
Exchange	NasdaqGM	NYSE
Listing Date	March 9, 2021	June 16, 1995
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of SYM and WAB by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

SYM vs. WAB: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	SYM	WAB
5-Day Price Return	-15.61%	0.98%
13-Week Price Return	57.24%	-6.91%
26-Week Price Return	60.53%	-1.85%
52-Week Price Return	76.80%	19.80%
Month-to-Date Return	-17.52%	0.42%
Year-to-Date Return	87.68%	1.72%
10-Day Avg. Volume	2.71M	1.05M
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.02M	1.02M
3-Month Volatility	91.17%	20.33%
Beta	2.07	1.11

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

SYM

-7.69%

Machinery Industry

Max: 34.68%
Q3: 19.06%
Median: 13.13%
Q1: 8.53%
Min: -4.87%

SYM has a negative Return on Equity of -7.69%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.

WAB

11.11%

Machinery Industry

Max: 34.68%
Q3: 19.06%
Median: 13.13%
Q1: 8.53%
Min: -4.87%

WAB’s Return on Equity of 11.11% is on par with the norm for the Machinery industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

SYM

-0.71%

Machinery Industry

Max: 19.74%
Q3: 11.24%
Median: 8.13%
Q1: 5.38%
Min: -1.11%

SYM has a negative Net Profit Margin of -0.71%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.

WAB

10.92%

Machinery Industry

Max: 19.74%
Q3: 11.24%
Median: 8.13%
Q1: 5.38%
Min: -1.11%

WAB’s Net Profit Margin of 10.92% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Machinery industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

SYM

-5.20%

Machinery Industry

Max: 26.63%
Q3: 16.15%
Median: 11.27%
Q1: 7.72%
Min: -4.91%

SYM has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -5.20%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.

WAB

16.22%

Machinery Industry

Max: 26.63%
Q3: 16.15%
Median: 11.27%
Q1: 7.72%
Min: -4.91%

An Operating Profit Margin of 16.22% places WAB in the upper quartile for the Machinery industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	SYM	WAB
Return on Equity (TTM)	-7.69%	11.11%
Return on Assets (TTM)	-0.88%	6.00%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	-0.71%	10.92%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	-5.20%	16.22%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	16.30%	33.57%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

SYM

1.08

Machinery Industry

Max: 3.83
Q3: 2.32
Median: 1.72
Q1: 1.28
Min: 0.78

SYM’s Current Ratio of 1.08 falls into the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

WAB

1.76

Machinery Industry

Max: 3.83
Q3: 2.32
Median: 1.72
Q1: 1.28
Min: 0.78

WAB’s Current Ratio of 1.76 aligns with the median group of the Machinery industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

SYM

0.00

Machinery Industry

Max: 1.49
Q3: 0.75
Median: 0.44
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.00

Falling into the lower quartile for the Machinery industry, SYM’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.00 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.

WAB

0.44

Machinery Industry

Max: 1.49
Q3: 0.75
Median: 0.44
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.00

WAB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.44 is typical for the Machinery industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

SYM

Machinery Industry

Max: 67.55
Q3: 33.79
Median: 13.87
Q1: 7.97
Min: -1.43

Interest Coverage Ratio data for SYM is currently unavailable.

WAB

7.65

Machinery Industry

Max: 67.55
Q3: 33.79
Median: 13.87
Q1: 7.97
Min: -1.43

In the lower quartile for the Machinery industry, WAB’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 7.65 indicates a tighter cushion for servicing debt, suggesting less financial flexibility than many of its competitors.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	SYM	WAB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.08	1.76
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.90	1.05
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.00	0.44
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	--	7.65

Growth

Revenue Growth

SYM vs. WAB: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

SYM vs. WAB: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

SYM

0.00%

Machinery Industry

Max: 5.32%
Q3: 2.84%
Median: 1.87%
Q1: 1.09%
Min: 0.00%

SYM currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.

WAB

0.47%

Machinery Industry

Max: 5.32%
Q3: 2.84%
Median: 1.87%
Q1: 1.09%
Min: 0.00%

WAB’s Dividend Yield of 0.47% is in the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

SYM

0.00%

Machinery Industry

Max: 202.17%
Q3: 98.65%
Median: 55.54%
Q1: 29.03%
Min: 0.00%

SYM has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.

WAB

13.53%

Machinery Industry

Max: 202.17%
Q3: 98.65%
Median: 55.54%
Q1: 29.03%
Min: 0.00%

WAB’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 13.53% is in the lower quartile for the Machinery industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	SYM	WAB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.47%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	13.53%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

SYM

Machinery Industry

Max: 53.66
Q3: 31.29
Median: 22.00
Q1: 16.18
Min: 7.00

P/E Ratio data for SYM is currently unavailable.

WAB

28.50

Machinery Industry

Max: 53.66
Q3: 31.29
Median: 22.00
Q1: 16.18
Min: 7.00

WAB’s P/E Ratio of 28.50 is within the middle range for the Machinery industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

SYM

11.92

Machinery Industry

Max: 5.04
Q3: 2.72
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.04
Min: 0.24

With a P/S Ratio of 11.92, SYM trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Machinery industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

WAB

3.11

Machinery Industry

Max: 5.04
Q3: 2.72
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.04
Min: 0.24

WAB’s P/S Ratio of 3.11 is in the upper echelon for the Machinery industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

SYM

108.69

Machinery Industry

Max: 7.23
Q3: 3.90
Median: 2.52
Q1: 1.47
Min: 0.49

At 108.69, SYM’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Machinery industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

WAB

3.32

Machinery Industry

Max: 7.23
Q3: 3.90
Median: 2.52
Q1: 1.47
Min: 0.49

WAB’s P/B Ratio of 3.32 is within the conventional range for the Machinery industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

SYM vs. WAB: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Machinery industry benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	SYM	WAB
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	--	28.50
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	11.92	3.11
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	108.69	3.32
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	54.72	22.63