EPAC vs KMT vs SWK vs ITT

For growth investors, ITT Inc.

(ITT) is the stronger pick with 8. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for Kennametal Inc. (KMT). Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC) offers the better valuation at 20. 9x trailing P/E (18. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ITT Inc. (ITT) 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, Enerpac Tool Group Corp.

(EPAC) is the cheapest at 20. 9x versus Kennametal Inc. at 34. 7x. On forward P/E, Kennametal Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 1x — 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: Enerpac Tool Group Corp. wins at 0. 11x versus ITT Inc. 's 0. 55x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, ITT Inc.

(ITT) delivered a total return of +115. 8%, compared to -56. 2% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ITT returned +531. 3% versus SWK's -1. 5%. 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), Enerpac Tool Group Corp.

(EPAC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning SWK is approximately 67% more volatile than EPAC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ITT Inc. (ITT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 65% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(ITT) is pulling ahead at 8. 5% versus -3. 9% for Kennametal Inc. (KMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. grew EPS 35. 9% year-over-year, compared to -12. 4% for Kennametal Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ITT leads at 9. 6% 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.

Enerpac Tool Group Corp.

(EPAC) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 0% net margin versus 2. 7% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EPAC leads at 22. 6% versus 7. 3% for KMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EPAC leads at 49. 6%, 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, Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 11x versus ITT Inc. 's 0. 55x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Kennametal Inc. (KMT) trades at 17. 1x forward P/E versus 27. 1x for ITT Inc. — 10. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SWK: 11. 2% to $89. 17.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) offers the highest yield at 4. 1%, versus 0. 1% for Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, ITT Inc.

(ITT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 23), 0. 7% yield, +531. 3% 10Y return). Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ITT: +531. 3%, SWK: -1. 5%), 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.

In terms of investment character: EPAC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KMT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SWK is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ITT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. KMT, SWK, ITT pay a dividend while EPAC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.