ESAB vs TRI vs SPGI vs ITW vs MCO

For growth investors, Moody's Corporation (MCO) is the stronger pick with 8.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 9% for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW). ESAB Corporation (ESAB) offers the better valuation at 23. 6x trailing P/E (15. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ESAB Corporation (ESAB) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is the cheapest at 23.

6x versus Moody's Corporation at 33. 0x. On forward P/E, ESAB Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ESAB Corporation wins at 2. 10x versus Moody's Corporation's 3. 46x.

Over the past 5 years, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) delivered a total return of +78.

2%, compared to +0. 1% for Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCO returned +372. 5% versus ESAB's +78. 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), Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

32β versus ESAB Corporation's 1. 30β — meaning ESAB is approximately 304% more volatile than TRI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 3% for Illinois Tool Works Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Moody's Corporation (MCO) is pulling ahead at 8.

9% versus 0. 9% for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Moody's Corporation grew EPS 21. 4% year-over-year, compared to -30. 5% for Thomson Reuters Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, TRI leads at 4. 1% 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.

Moody's Corporation (MCO) is the more profitable company, earning 31.

9% net margin versus 8. 0% for ESAB Corporation — meaning it keeps 31. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MCO leads at 44. 8% versus 17. 3% for ESAB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TRI leads at 75. 8%, 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, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 10x versus Moody's Corporation's 3. 46x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) trades at 15. 2x forward P/E versus 27. 0x for Moody's Corporation — 11. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ESAB: 60. 3% to $141. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 0. 4% for ESAB Corporation (ESAB).

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

32), 2. 7% yield, +132. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRI: +132. 8%, ESAB: +78. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ESAB (Industrials) and TRI (Industrials) and SPGI (Financial Services) and ITW (Industrials) and MCO (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

TRI, SPGI, ITW, MCO pay a dividend while ESAB 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.