EPAC vs NDSN vs GTLS vs ROP

For growth investors, Roper Technologies, Inc.

(ROP) is the stronger pick with 12. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC) offers the better valuation at 20. 9x trailing P/E (18. 7x 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, Enerpac Tool Group Corp.

(EPAC) is the cheapest at 20. 9x versus Chart Industries, Inc. at 628. 5x. On forward P/E, Roper Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 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: Enerpac Tool Group Corp. wins at 0. 11x versus Nordson Corporation's 1. 68x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) delivered a total return of +42.

4%, compared to -17. 5% for Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GTLS returned +772. 7% versus EPAC's +40. 2%. 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), Roper Technologies, Inc.

(ROP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Enerpac Tool Group Corp. 's 1. 08β — meaning EPAC is approximately 174% more volatile than ROP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 111% for Chart Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Roper Technologies, Inc.

(ROP) is pulling ahead at 12. 3% versus 2. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Enerpac Tool Group Corp. grew EPS 9. 0% 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.

Roper Technologies, Inc.

(ROP) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 4% net margin versus 1. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ROP leads at 28. 3% versus 15. 2% for GTLS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ROP leads at 69. 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, Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 11x versus Nordson Corporation's 1. 68x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP) trades at 15. 7x forward P/E versus 24. 8x for Nordson Corporation — 9. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ROP: 29. 8% to $457. 64.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Nordson Corporation (NDSN) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 0. 1% for Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Roper Technologies, Inc.

(ROP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 0. 9% yield, +109. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ROP: +109. 8%, EPAC: +40. 2%), 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.

NDSN, ROP pay a dividend while EPAC, GTLS do 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.