HLMN vs SWK vs LECO vs ITW

For growth investors, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

(LECO) is the stronger pick with 5. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 5% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) offers the better valuation at 24. 4x trailing P/E (22. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hillman Solutions Corp. (HLMN) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Illinois Tool Works Inc.

(ITW) is the cheapest at 24. 4x versus Hillman Solutions Corp. at 39. 4x. On forward P/E, Hillman Solutions Corp. is actually cheaper at 13. 5x — 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: Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. wins at 1. 13x versus Illinois Tool Works Inc. 's 2. 36x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

(LECO) delivered a total return of +112. 4%, compared to -56. 2% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LECO returned +389. 7% versus HLMN's -19. 7%. 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), Illinois Tool Works Inc.

(ITW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 67β versus Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning SWK is approximately 173% more volatile than ITW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 65% versus 3% for Illinois Tool Works Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

(LECO) is pulling ahead at 5. 5% versus -1. 5% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hillman Solutions Corp. grew EPS 122. 2% year-over-year, compared to -10. 4% for Illinois Tool Works Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LECO leads at 4. 0% 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.

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

(ITW) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 1% net margin versus 2. 6% for Hillman Solutions Corp. — meaning it keeps 19. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ITW leads at 26. 3% versus 7. 6% for HLMN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ITW leads at 44. 1%, 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, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 13x versus Illinois Tool Works Inc. 's 2. 36x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Hillman Solutions Corp. (HLMN) trades at 13. 5x forward P/E versus 25. 1x for Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. — 11. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLMN: 77. 7% to $14. 00.

In this comparison, SWK (4.

1% yield), ITW (2. 4% yield), LECO (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. HLMN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Illinois Tool Works Inc.

(ITW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 67), 2. 4% yield, +189. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ITW: +189. 4%, HLMN: -19. 7%), 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: HLMN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SWK is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; LECO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ITW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SWK, LECO, ITW pay a dividend while HLMN 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.