RRX vs AME vs ROK

For growth investors, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the stronger pick with 6. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for Regal Rexnord Corporation (RRX). AMETEK, Inc. (AME) offers the better valuation at 37. 7x trailing P/E (29. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Regal Rexnord Corporation (RRX) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the cheapest at 37. 7x versus Rockwell Automation, Inc. at 59. 9x. On forward P/E, Regal Rexnord Corporation is actually cheaper at 21. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) delivered a total return of +81. 5%, compared to +62. 8% for Regal Rexnord Corporation (RRX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AME returned +433. 2% versus RRX's +290. 6%. 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), AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 93β versus Regal Rexnord Corporation's 1. 91β — meaning RRX is approximately 105% more volatile than AME relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AMETEK, Inc. (AME) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 98% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is pulling ahead at 6. 6% versus -1. 6% for Regal Rexnord Corporation (RRX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Regal Rexnord Corporation grew EPS 43. 5% year-over-year, compared to -7. 4% for Rockwell Automation, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AME leads at 6. 4% 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.

AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 0% net margin versus 4. 7% for Regal Rexnord Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AME leads at 26. 2% versus 11. 5% for RRX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ROK leads at 48. 1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Regal Rexnord Corporation (RRX) trades at 21.

7x forward P/E versus 37. 8x for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — 16. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AME: 1. 9% to $245. 91.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 0. 5% for AMETEK, Inc. (AME).

For long-horizon retirement investors, AMETEK, Inc.

(AME) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), 0. 5% yield, +433. 2% 10Y return). Regal Rexnord Corporation (RRX) carries a higher beta of 1. 91 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AME: +433. 2%, RRX: +290. 6%), 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.