Industrial - Machinery
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2 / 10Stock Comparison
GTLS vs ESAB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication
GTLS vs ESAB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Machinery | Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication |
| Market Cap | $9.94B | $6.19B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.26B | $2.84B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $40M | $227M |
| Gross Margin | 32.6% | 35.5% |
| Operating Margin | 8.5% | 17.3% |
| Forward P/E | 16.4x | 17.6x |
| Total Debt | $3.74B | $1.43B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $366M | $186M |
GTLS vs ESAB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Mar 22 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chart Industries, I… (GTLS) | 100 | 121.0 | +21.0% |
| ESAB Corporation (ESAB) | 100 | 203.1 | +103.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GTLS vs ESAB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
GTLS is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 7.4% 10Y total return vs ESAB's 105.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.56, current ratio 1.36x
- Lower P/E (16.4x vs 17.6x)
ESAB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.24, yield 0.4%
- Rev growth 3.7%, EPS growth -13.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.1%
- Beta 1.24, yield 0.4%, current ratio 1.90x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 3.7% revenue growth vs GTLS's 2.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (16.4x vs 17.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 8.0% margin vs GTLS's 0.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.56 vs ESAB's 1.24 | |
| Dividends | 0.4% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs GTLS's 0.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +37.4% vs ESAB's -16.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.8% ROA vs GTLS's 0.4%, ROIC 11.9% vs 7.4% |
GTLS vs ESAB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
GTLS vs ESAB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ESAB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GTLS is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.3B annually — 1.5x ESAB's $2.8B. ESAB is the more profitable business, keeping 8.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GTLS's 0.9%. On growth, ESAB holds the edge at +7.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.3B | $2.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $644M | $576M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $40M | $227M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $203M | $213M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +32.6% | +35.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.5% | +17.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.9% | +8.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +7.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.5% | +7.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -36.1% | -37.5% |
Valuation Metrics
ESAB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 27.3x trailing earnings, ESAB trades at a 96% valuation discount to GTLS's 629.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ESAB's 12.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GTLS's 14.3x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.9B | $6.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $13.3B | $7.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 629.58x | 27.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.43x | 17.59x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.76x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.35x | 12.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.33x | 2.18x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.79x | 2.80x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 49.04x | 29.01x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ESAB leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ESAB delivers a 10.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $1 for GTLS. ESAB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.65x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GTLS's 1.11x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.2% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +4.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.4% | +11.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.6% | +13.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.11x | 0.65x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.4B | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $366M | $186M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.7B | $1.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.08x | 6.20x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — GTLS and ESAB each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ESAB five years ago would be worth $20,538 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,325 for GTLS. Over the past 12 months, GTLS leads with a +37.4% total return vs ESAB's -16.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ESAB at 20.3% vs GTLS's 17.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.7% | -9.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +37.4% | -16.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +63.0% | +74.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +33.2% | +105.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +740.5% | +105.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.7% | +20.3% |
Risk & Volatility
GTLS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GTLS is the less volatile stock with a 0.56 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ESAB's 1.24 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GTLS currently trades 99.6% from its 52-week high vs ESAB's 73.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.56x | 1.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $208.51 | $137.42 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $140.50 | $89.41 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.6% | +73.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.9 | 44.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 605K |
Analyst Outlook
ESAB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GTLS as "Buy" and ESAB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 44.5% upside for ESAB (target: $147) vs -6.7% for GTLS (target: $194). For income investors, ESAB offers the higher dividend yield at 0.35% vs GTLS's 0.29%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $193.81 | $146.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 37 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | $0.36 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ESAB leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). GTLS leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
GTLS vs ESAB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GTLS or ESAB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is the stronger pick with 3.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). ESAB Corporation (ESAB) offers the better valuation at 27. 3x trailing P/E (17. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) a "Buy" — based on 37 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — GTLS or ESAB?
On trailing P/E, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is the cheapest at 27.
3x versus Chart Industries, Inc. at 629. 6x. On forward P/E, Chart Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GTLS or ESAB?
Over the past 5 years, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) delivered a total return of +105.
4%, compared to +33. 2% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GTLS returned +740. 5% versus ESAB's +105. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GTLS or ESAB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Chart Industries, Inc.
(GTLS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 56β versus ESAB Corporation's 1. 24β — meaning ESAB is approximately 123% more volatile than GTLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 65% versus 111% for Chart Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GTLS or ESAB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is pulling ahead at 3.
7% versus 2. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ESAB Corporation grew EPS -13. 7% year-over-year, compared to -92. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GTLS leads at 38. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — GTLS or ESAB?
ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
0% net margin versus 1. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ESAB leads at 17. 3% versus 15. 2% for GTLS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ESAB leads at 35. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is GTLS or ESAB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Chart Industries, Inc.
(GTLS) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 17. 6x for ESAB Corporation — 1. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ESAB: 44. 5% to $146. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — GTLS or ESAB?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
ESAB Corporation (ESAB) offers the highest yield at 0. 4%, versus 0. 3% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS).
09Is GTLS or ESAB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Chart Industries, Inc.
(GTLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 56), +740. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GTLS: +740. 5%, ESAB: +105. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between GTLS and ESAB?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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