GGG vs FELE vs GTLS vs XYL vs PNR

For growth investors, Graco Inc.

(GGG) is the stronger pick with 5. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 3% for Pentair plc (PNR). Pentair plc (PNR) offers the better valuation at 19. 4x trailing P/E (14. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) 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, Pentair plc (PNR) is the cheapest at 19.

4x versus Chart Industries, Inc. at 628. 6x. On forward P/E, Pentair plc is actually cheaper at 14. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Xylem Inc. wins at 0. 90x versus Graco Inc. 's 2. 50x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) delivered a total return of +40. 6%, compared to +0. 6% for Xylem Inc. (XYL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GTLS returned +772. 7% versus PNR's +121. 3%. 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), Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 49β versus Pentair plc's 1. 21β — meaning PNR is approximately 146% more volatile than GTLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Graco Inc. (GGG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 111% for Chart Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(GGG) is pulling ahead at 5. 8% versus 2. 3% for Pentair plc (PNR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Graco Inc. grew EPS 9. 2% 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.

Graco Inc.

(GGG) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 3% net margin versus 1. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GGG leads at 27. 3% versus 12. 7% for FELE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GGG leads at 52. 5%, 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, Xylem Inc. (XYL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 90x versus Graco Inc. 's 2. 50x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Pentair plc (PNR) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 24. 8x for Graco Inc. — 10. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PNR: 47. 8% to $113. 56.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Xylem Inc. (XYL) offers the highest yield at 1. 4%, versus 0. 3% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 49), +772. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GTLS: +772. 7%, PNR: +121. 3%), 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.

GGG, FELE, XYL, PNR pay a dividend while GTLS 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.