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WSO.B vs. WTS: Watsco vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison

How do Watsco (WSO.B) 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

Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but WSO.B is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while WTS is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
Profile ItemWSO.BWTS
NameWatsco Inc. Class B Common StockWatts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryTrading Companies & DistributorsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization12.92 billion USD11.55 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980August 21, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

WSO.B
WTS
GSPC
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS), 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 Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricWSO.BWTS
Total Return (1Y)-11.21%33.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.05%25.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.30%12.56%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

WSO.B
WTS
GSPC
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS), 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 Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricWSO.BWTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)40.28%27.38%
Beta (5Y)0.641.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.41%-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)74225.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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WSO.B and WTS 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 Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricWSO.BWTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.381.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.571.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Watsco (WSO.B) at 16.21% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WTS.

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%

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%
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 16.00% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Watsco (WSO.B) at 6.31%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

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%
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Watsco (WSO.B) at 10.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

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%
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricWSO.BWTS
ROE (TTM)16.21%20.91%
ROA (TTM)8.27%12.05%
Net Margin (TTM)6.31%16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.14%20.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)27.18%49.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Watts Water (WTS) at 8.27% 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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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Watsco (WSO.B) at -7.47% and Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% 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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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricWSO.BWTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.98%8.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.16%7.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)-7.47%17.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.89%10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 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.

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

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
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Watsco (WSO.B) at 0.16 and Watts Water (WTS) at 0.08 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

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

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
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricWSO.BWTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.152.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.160.08
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.14-0.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 0.66% 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.

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%

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%
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): 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 Watts Water (WTS) reports 17.24%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

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%
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricWSO.BWTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.02%0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)109.66%17.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Watsco (WSO.B) at 27.26 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.

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

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
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Watsco (WSO.B) at 1.74 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Watts Water (WTS) at 4.14 sits in the pricier quartile — WTS costs more per dollar of sales.

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

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
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Watsco (WSO.B) at 3.99 and Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

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
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Watsco (WSO.B) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Watsco (WSO.B) and Watts Water (WTS)
MetricWSO.BWTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.2625.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.744.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.994.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.50%2.21%