IR vs HON vs EMR vs ROK vs IEX

For growth investors, Honeywell International Inc.

(HON) is the stronger pick with 7. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK). Honeywell International Inc. (HON) offers the better valuation at 29. 4x trailing P/E (20. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ingersoll Rand Inc. (IR) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Honeywell International Inc.

(HON) is the cheapest at 29. 4x versus Rockwell Automation, Inc. at 58. 5x. On forward P/E, Honeywell International Inc. is actually cheaper at 20. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: IDEX Corporation wins at 4. 77x versus Honeywell International Inc. 's 11. 18x.

Over the past 5 years, Rockwell Automation, Inc.

(ROK) delivered a total return of +74. 6%, compared to +0. 7% for IDEX Corporation (IEX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ROK returned +341. 0% versus HON's +135. 1%. 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), Honeywell International Inc.

(HON) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Emerson Electric Co. 's 1. 52β — meaning EMR is approximately 105% more volatile than HON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IDEX Corporation (IEX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 2% for Honeywell International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Honeywell International Inc.

(HON) is pulling ahead at 7. 8% versus 1. 0% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Emerson Electric Co. grew EPS 17. 8% year-over-year, compared to -29. 6% for Ingersoll Rand Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EMR leads at 9. 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.

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

0% net margin versus 7. 6% for Ingersoll Rand 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 17. 1% for ROK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EMR leads at 52. 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, IDEX Corporation (IEX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 4. 77x versus Honeywell International Inc. 's 11. 18x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Honeywell International Inc. (HON) trades at 20. 5x forward P/E versus 36. 9x for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — 16. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IR: 28. 4% to $99. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Honeywell International Inc. (HON) offers the highest yield at 2. 1%, versus 0. 1% for Ingersoll Rand Inc. (IR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Honeywell International Inc.

(HON) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), 2. 1% yield, +135. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HON: +135. 1%, IR: +299. 5%), 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.

HON, EMR, ROK, IEX pay a dividend while IR 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.