IEX vs XYL

For growth investors, IDEX Corporation (IEX) is the stronger pick with 5.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 5% for Xylem Inc. (XYL). Xylem Inc. (XYL) offers the better valuation at 30. 3x trailing P/E (21. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IDEX Corporation (IEX) a "Hold" — based on 29 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, Xylem Inc.

(XYL) is the cheapest at 30. 3x versus IDEX Corporation at 34. 0x. On forward P/E, Xylem Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Xylem Inc. wins at 0. 94x versus IDEX Corporation's 4. 85x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Xylem Inc.

(XYL) delivered a total return of +5. 6%, compared to +2. 0% for IDEX Corporation (IEX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XYL returned +209. 7% versus IEX's +190. 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), Xylem Inc.

(XYL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 92β versus IDEX Corporation's 0. 95β — meaning IEX is approximately 3% more volatile than XYL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Xylem Inc. (XYL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 45% for IDEX Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IDEX Corporation (IEX) is pulling ahead at 5.

8% versus 5. 5% for Xylem Inc. (XYL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Xylem Inc. grew EPS 7. 4% year-over-year, compared to -3. 5% for IDEX Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, XYL leads at 17. 8% 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.

IDEX Corporation (IEX) is the more profitable company, earning 14.

0% net margin versus 10. 6% for Xylem Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IEX leads at 20. 8% versus 13. 5% for XYL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IEX leads at 44. 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. 94x versus IDEX Corporation's 4. 85x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Xylem Inc. (XYL) trades at 21. 4x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for IDEX Corporation — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XYL: 27. 8% to $151. 57.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Xylem Inc. (XYL) offers the highest yield at 1. 4%, versus 1. 3% for IDEX Corporation (IEX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Xylem Inc.

(XYL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 92), 1. 4% yield, +209. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XYL: +209. 7%, IEX: +190. 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.