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WCC vs. WSO.B: WESCO vs. Watsco Stock Comparison

How do WESCO (WCC) 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

WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B) are both classified in the Trading Companies & Distributors sub-industry within the broader Trading Companies & Distributors industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
Profile ItemWCCWSO.B
NameWESCO International, Inc.Watsco Inc. Class B Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization14.24 billion USD12.92 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 12, 1999March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

WCC
WSO.B
GSPC
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WESCO (WCC) 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 WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricWCCWSO.B
Total Return (1Y)26.01%-11.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)33.71%-3.05%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)19.77%4.30%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

WCC
WSO.B
GSPC
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WESCO (WCC) 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 WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

WESCO (WCC) has an aggressive beta of 1.56, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Watsco (WSO.B) is defensive at 0.64 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricWCCWSO.B
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.31%40.28%
Beta (5Y)1.560.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.37%-43.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)592.41K74

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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WCC 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 WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricWCCWSO.B
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.45-0.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.66-0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both WESCO (WCC) at 15.44% 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.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

15.44%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
WCC
15.44%
Median
12.12%
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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WESCO (WCC) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both WESCO (WCC) at 3.04% 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.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

3.04%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
WCC
3.04%
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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WESCO (WCC) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both WESCO (WCC) at 6.61% and Watsco (WSO.B) at 10.14% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

6.61%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
WCC
6.61%
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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WESCO (WCC) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricWCCWSO.B
ROE (TTM)15.44%16.21%
ROA (TTM)5.43%8.27%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%6.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)6.61%10.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.51%27.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

WESCO (WCC) at 7.76% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Watsco (WSO.B) at -4.98% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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WESCO (WCC) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both WESCO (WCC) at 0.00% and Watsco (WSO.B) at -7.47% 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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WESCO (WCC) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricWCCWSO.B
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.76%-4.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.15%-0.16%
EPS Growth (YoY)0.00%-7.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.23%-6.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

WESCO (WCC) at 2.01 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.15 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

2.01

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
WCC
2.01
Q1
1.43
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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WESCO (WCC) 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 quartile, while WESCO (WCC) at 1.25 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

1.25

Max
2.33
WCC
1.25
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
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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WESCO (WCC) 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 WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricWCCWSO.B
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.013.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.250.16
Net Debt / EBITDA3.46-0.14

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 0.68% pays an industry-typical yield; Watsco (WSO.B) at 4.02% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

0.68%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
WCC
0.68%
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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WESCO (WCC) 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 WESCO (WCC) reports 12.13%, ranking against industry peers normally.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

12.13%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
WCC
12.13%
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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WESCO (WCC) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricWCCWSO.B
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.68%4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)12.13%109.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 18.17 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Watsco (WSO.B) at 27.26 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for WCC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

18.17

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
WCC
18.17
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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WESCO (WCC) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 0.55 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Watsco (WSO.B) at 1.74 prices around its industry’s middle — WCC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

0.55

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
WCC
0.55
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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WESCO (WCC) 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 WESCO (WCC) at 2.62 and Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.99 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

2.62

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
WCC
2.62
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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WESCO (WCC) vs. Watsco (WSO.B): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Watsco (WSO.B)
MetricWCCWSO.B
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.1727.26
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.551.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.623.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.71%3.50%