KMT vs SWK vs ITT vs GTLS vs TDY

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). Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) offers the better valuation at 30. 3x trailing P/E (17. 6x 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, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

(SWK) is the cheapest at 30. 3x versus Chart Industries, Inc. at 628. 5x. On forward P/E, Chart Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 4x — 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: ITT Inc. wins at 0. 55x versus Teledyne Technologies Incorporated's 2. 14x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, ITT Inc.

(ITT) delivered a total return of +115. 8%, compared to -56. 2% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GTLS returned +772. 5% versus SWK's -1. 5%. 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), Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 56β versus Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning SWK is approximately 228% more volatile than GTLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ITT Inc. (ITT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 111% for Chart Industries, 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: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. grew EPS 35. 9% year-over-year, compared to -92. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GTLS leads at 38. 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.

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY) is the more profitable company, earning 14.

6% net margin versus 1. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TDY leads at 18. 8% versus 7. 3% for KMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TDY leads at 39. 2%, 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, ITT Inc. (ITT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 55x versus Teledyne Technologies Incorporated's 2. 14x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 27. 1x for ITT Inc. — 10. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TDY: 12. 8% to $711. 33.

In this comparison, SWK (4.

1% yield), KMT (1. 9% yield), ITT (0. 7% yield), GTLS (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. TDY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 56), +772. 5% 10Y return). Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GTLS: +772. 5%, SWK: -1. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (KMT (Industrials) and SWK (Industrials) and ITT (Industrials) and GTLS (Industrials) and TDY (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: KMT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SWK is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ITT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; GTLS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TDY is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. KMT, SWK, ITT pay a dividend while GTLS, TDY do 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.