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WCC vs. XYL: WESCO vs. Xylem Stock Comparison

How do WESCO (WCC) and Xylem (XYL) 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 Xylem (XYL) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but WCC is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while XYL is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for WESCO (WCC) and Xylem (XYL)
Profile ItemWCCXYL
NameWESCO International, Inc.Xylem Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization14.24 billion USD22.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 12, 1999October 13, 2011
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

WCC
XYL
GSPC
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL), 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 Xylem (XYL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricWCCXYL
Total Return (1Y)26.01%-33.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)33.71%2.29%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)19.77%-4.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

WCC
XYL
GSPC
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL), 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 Xylem (XYL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricWCCXYL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.31%30.74%
Beta (5Y)1.560.96
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.37%-44.89%
Avg. Volume (3M)592.41K2.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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WCC and XYL 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 Xylem (XYL)
MetricWCCXYL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.45-1.22
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.66-1.48

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both WESCO (WCC) at 15.44% and Xylem (XYL) at 9.76% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

9.76%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
XYL
9.76%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both WESCO (WCC) at 3.04% and Xylem (XYL) at 11.94% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

11.94%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
XYL
11.94%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both WESCO (WCC) at 6.61% and Xylem (XYL) at 15.95% 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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

15.95%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
XYL
15.95%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricWCCXYL
ROE (TTM)15.44%9.76%
ROA (TTM)5.43%5.07%
Net Margin (TTM)3.04%11.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)6.61%15.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.51%39.32%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both WESCO (WCC) at 7.76% and Xylem (XYL) at 5.52% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both WESCO (WCC) at 0.00% and Xylem (XYL) at 7.40% 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. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricWCCXYL
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.76%5.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.15%17.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)0.00%7.40%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.23%25.99%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

WESCO (WCC) at 2.01 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Xylem (XYL) at 1.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for XYL.

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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

1.39

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
XYL
1.39
Min
0.36
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Xylem (XYL) at 0.29 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while WESCO (WCC) at 1.25 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

0.29

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
XYL
0.29
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): 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 Xylem (XYL)
MetricWCCXYL
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.011.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.250.29
Net Debt / EBITDA3.461.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Xylem (XYL) at 1.69% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while WESCO (WCC) at 0.68% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, XYL the richer one.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

1.69%

Max
2.66%
XYL
1.69%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 12.13% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Xylem (XYL) at 37.47% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

37.47%

Max
67.39%
XYL
37.47%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricWCCXYL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.68%1.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)12.13%37.47%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 18.17 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Xylem (XYL) at 21.69 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

21.69

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
XYL
21.69
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): 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 Xylem (XYL) at 2.48 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

2.48

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
XYL
2.48
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): 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 Xylem (XYL) at 2.19 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

XYL

Capital Goods industry group

2.19

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
XYL
2.19
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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WESCO (WCC) vs. Xylem (XYL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for WESCO (WCC) and Xylem (XYL)
MetricWCCXYL
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.1721.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.552.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.622.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.71%5.39%