EPAC vs SWK

For growth investors, Enerpac Tool Group Corp.

(EPAC) is the stronger pick with 4. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 5% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). 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 Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC) a "Hold" — based on 19 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 Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. at 30. 3x. On forward P/E, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Enerpac Tool Group Corp.

(EPAC) delivered a total return of +26. 0%, compared to -56. 2% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EPAC returned +40. 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, Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 65% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Enerpac Tool Group Corp.

(EPAC) is pulling ahead at 4. 6% versus -1. 5% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. grew EPS 35. 9% year-over-year, compared to 9. 0% for Enerpac Tool Group Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EPAC leads at 2. 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. 6% for SWK. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

(SWK) trades at 17. 6x forward P/E versus 18. 8x for Enerpac Tool Group Corp. — 1. 1x 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, Enerpac Tool Group Corp.

(EPAC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 10)). 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 (EPAC: +40. 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; SWK is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. SWK pays 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.