ECL vs LIN vs SHW vs NDSN

For growth investors, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the stronger pick with 3.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 1% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW). The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) offers the better valuation at 30. 4x trailing P/E (27. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ecolab Inc. (ECL) 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.

On trailing P/E, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the cheapest at 30.

4x versus Ecolab Inc. at 35. 4x. On forward P/E, Nordson Corporation is actually cheaper at 24. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Linde plc wins at 1. 10x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 98x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Linde plc (LIN) delivered a total return of +80.

6%, compared to +15. 0% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +379. 1% versus ECL's +142. 1%. 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), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

24β versus Nordson Corporation's 1. 05β — meaning NDSN is approximately 338% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Linde plc (LIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 68% versus 3% for The Sherwin-Williams Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is pulling ahead at 3.

8% versus 2. 1% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Linde plc grew EPS 7. 1% year-over-year, compared to -2. 7% for The Sherwin-Williams Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, ECL leads at 4. 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.

Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

3% net margin versus 10. 9% for The Sherwin-Williams Company — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LIN leads at 26. 3% versus 16. 1% for SHW. 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, Linde plc (LIN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 10x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 98x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) trades at 24. 7x forward P/E versus 31. 5x for Ecolab Inc. — 6. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ECL: 27. 0% to $327. 11.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Linde plc (LIN) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 1. 0% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW).

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

24), 1. 2% yield, +379. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +379. 1%, NDSN: +299. 1%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ECL (Basic Materials) and LIN (Basic Materials) and SHW (Basic Materials) and NDSN (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.