KMT vs ITT

For growth investors, ITT Inc.

(ITT) is the stronger pick with 8. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for Kennametal Inc. (KMT). Kennametal Inc. (KMT) offers the better valuation at 30. 1x trailing P/E (11. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ITT Inc. (ITT) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Kennametal Inc.

(KMT) is the cheapest at 30. 1x versus ITT Inc. at 33. 7x. On forward P/E, Kennametal Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, ITT Inc.

(ITT) delivered a total return of +112. 6%, compared to -2. 7% for Kennametal Inc. (KMT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ITT returned +527. 0% versus KMT's +96. 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), ITT Inc.

(ITT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 23β versus Kennametal Inc. 's 1. 36β — meaning KMT is approximately 10% more volatile than ITT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ITT Inc. (ITT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 49% for Kennametal Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ITT Inc.

(ITT) is pulling ahead at 8. 5% versus -3. 9% for Kennametal Inc. (KMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ITT Inc. grew EPS -3. 0% year-over-year, compared to -12. 4% for Kennametal Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ITT leads at 9. 6% 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.

ITT Inc.

(ITT) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 4% net margin versus 4. 7% for Kennametal Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ITT leads at 17. 4% versus 7. 3% for KMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ITT leads at 35. 4%, 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, Kennametal Inc.

(KMT) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 26. 8x for ITT Inc. — 15. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITT: 17. 2% to $241. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kennametal Inc. (KMT) offers the highest yield at 2. 2%, versus 0. 7% for ITT Inc. (ITT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, ITT Inc.

(ITT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 23), 0. 7% yield, +527. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ITT: +527. 0%, KMT: +96. 1%), 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.