GRC vs PNR

For growth investors, The Gorman-Rupp Company (GRC) is the stronger pick with 3.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 3% for Pentair plc (PNR). Pentair plc (PNR) offers the better valuation at 19. 9x trailing P/E (14. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Gorman-Rupp Company (GRC) a "Hold" — based on 3 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.

9x versus The Gorman-Rupp Company at 37. 8x. On forward P/E, Pentair plc is actually cheaper at 14. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Pentair plc wins at 1. 13x versus The Gorman-Rupp Company's 1. 87x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, The Gorman-Rupp Company (GRC) delivered a total return of +122.

6%, compared to +23. 0% for Pentair plc (PNR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GRC returned +209. 7% versus PNR's +126. 9%. 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), Pentair plc (PNR) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

22β versus The Gorman-Rupp Company's 1. 24β — meaning GRC is approximately 1% more volatile than PNR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pentair plc (PNR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 42% versus 79% for The Gorman-Rupp Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Gorman-Rupp Company (GRC) is pulling ahead at 3.

4% versus 2. 3% for Pentair plc (PNR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Gorman-Rupp Company grew EPS 32. 0% year-over-year, compared to 5. 9% for Pentair plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, GRC leads at 9. 4% 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.

Pentair plc (PNR) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

7% net margin versus 7. 8% for The Gorman-Rupp Company — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PNR leads at 20. 5% versus 14. 0% for GRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PNR leads at 40. 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, Pentair plc (PNR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 13x versus The Gorman-Rupp Company's 1. 87x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Pentair plc (PNR) trades at 14. 8x forward P/E versus 29. 6x for The Gorman-Rupp Company — 14. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Pentair plc (PNR) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 1. 0% for The Gorman-Rupp Company (GRC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Gorman-Rupp Company (GRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

24), 1. 0% yield, +209. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GRC: +209. 7%, PNR: +126. 9%), 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.

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.