IR vs PNR

For growth investors, Ingersoll Rand Inc.

(IR) is the stronger pick with 5. 7% 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 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, Pentair plc (PNR) is the cheapest at 19.

9x versus Ingersoll Rand Inc. at 53. 4x. On forward P/E, Pentair plc is actually cheaper at 14. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Ingersoll Rand Inc.

(IR) delivered a total return of +54. 1%, compared to +23. 0% for Pentair plc (PNR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IR returned +299. 5% 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 Ingersoll Rand Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning IR is approximately 21% 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 47% for Ingersoll Rand Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ingersoll Rand Inc.

(IR) is pulling ahead at 5. 7% versus 2. 3% for Pentair plc (PNR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pentair plc grew EPS 5. 9% year-over-year, compared to -29. 6% for Ingersoll Rand Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IR leads at 8. 9% 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. 6% for Ingersoll Rand Inc. — 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 18. 5% for IR. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Pentair plc (PNR) trades at 14.

8x forward P/E versus 22. 0x for Ingersoll Rand Inc. — 7. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PNR: 43. 8% to $113. 56.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Pentair plc (PNR) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 0. 1% for Ingersoll Rand Inc. (IR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Pentair plc (PNR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

22), 1. 3% yield, +126. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PNR: +126. 9%, 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.

PNR pays 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.