NDSN vs IEX

For growth investors, IDEX Corporation (IEX) is the stronger pick with 5.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 8% for Nordson Corporation (NDSN). Nordson Corporation (NDSN) offers the better valuation at 33. 7x trailing P/E (25. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nordson Corporation (NDSN) a "Buy" — based on 20 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.

On trailing P/E, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the cheapest at 33.

7x versus IDEX Corporation at 34. 0x. On forward P/E, Nordson Corporation is actually cheaper at 25. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Nordson Corporation wins at 1. 70x versus IDEX Corporation's 4. 85x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) delivered a total return of +44.

0%, compared to +2. 0% for IDEX Corporation (IEX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NDSN returned +302. 8% versus IEX's +190. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), IDEX Corporation (IEX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

95β versus Nordson Corporation's 1. 05β — meaning NDSN is approximately 10% more volatile than IEX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IDEX Corporation (IEX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 69% for Nordson Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IDEX Corporation (IEX) is pulling ahead at 5.

8% versus 3. 8% for Nordson Corporation (NDSN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nordson Corporation grew EPS 4. 9% year-over-year, compared to -3. 5% for IDEX Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, IEX leads at 2. 8% 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.

Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

4% net margin versus 14. 0% for IDEX Corporation — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NDSN leads at 25. 5% versus 20. 8% for IEX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NDSN leads at 55. 2%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 70x versus IDEX Corporation's 4. 85x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) trades at 25. 1x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for IDEX Corporation — 0. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IEX: 11. 0% to $242. 14.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

IDEX Corporation (IEX) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 1. 1% for Nordson Corporation (NDSN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, IDEX Corporation (IEX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

95), 1. 3% yield, +190. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IEX: +190. 9%, NDSN: +302. 8%), 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.

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.