Industrial - Machinery
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PKOH vs ESAB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication
PKOH vs ESAB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Machinery | Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication |
| Market Cap | $444M | $6.24B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.61B | $2.91B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $24M | $207M |
| Gross Margin | 12.6% | 35.4% |
| Operating Margin | 5.0% | 16.2% |
| Forward P/E | 10.0x | 17.7x |
| Total Debt | $670M | $1.43B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $45M | $186M |
PKOH vs ESAB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Mar 22 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park-Ohio Holdings … (PKOH) | 100 | 219.2 | +119.2% |
| ESAB Corporation (ESAB) | 100 | 204.8 | +104.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PKOH vs ESAB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PKOH is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.38, yield 1.8%, current ratio 2.33x
- Lower P/E (10.0x vs 17.7x)
- 1.8% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs ESAB's 0.4%
ESAB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.24, yield 0.4%
- Rev growth 3.7%, EPS growth -13.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.1%
- 107.2% 10Y total return vs PKOH's 45.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 3.7% revenue growth vs PKOH's -3.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.0x vs 17.7x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 7.1% margin vs PKOH's 1.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.24 vs PKOH's 1.38, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.8% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs ESAB's 0.4% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +60.8% vs ESAB's -15.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.2% ROA vs PKOH's 1.7%, ROIC 11.9% vs 6.2% |
PKOH vs ESAB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PKOH vs ESAB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ESAB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ESAB is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.9B annually — 1.8x PKOH's $1.6B. ESAB is the more profitable business, keeping 7.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PKOH's 1.5%. On growth, ESAB holds the edge at +9.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $2.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $105M | $539M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $24M | $207M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1M | $218M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.6% | +35.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.0% | +16.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.5% | +7.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.1% | +7.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.8% | +9.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.3% | -29.1% |
Valuation Metrics
PKOH leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.1x trailing earnings, PKOH trades at a 34% valuation discount to ESAB's 27.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PKOH's 9.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ESAB's 13.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $444M | $6.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.1B | $7.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.14x | 27.53x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.96x | 17.74x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.79x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.33x | 13.00x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.28x | 2.19x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.12x | 2.82x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 222.03x | 29.24x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ESAB leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ESAB delivers a 9.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $6 for PKOH. ESAB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.65x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PKOH's 1.74x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.2% | +9.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +4.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.2% | +11.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.9% | +13.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.74x | 0.65x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $626M | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $45M | $186M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $670M | $1.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.44x | 3.40x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PKOH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ESAB five years ago would be worth $20,716 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,792 for PKOH. Over the past 12 months, PKOH leads with a +60.8% total return vs ESAB's -15.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PKOH at 27.6% vs ESAB's 20.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +49.5% | -8.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +60.8% | -15.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +107.6% | +75.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -12.1% | +107.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.4% | +107.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +27.6% | +20.7% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PKOH and ESAB each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ESAB is the less volatile stock with a 1.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PKOH's 1.38 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PKOH currently trades 97.4% from its 52-week high vs ESAB's 74.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.38x | 1.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.68 | $137.42 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.52 | $89.41 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.4% | +74.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 66.0 | 50.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 44K | 612K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PKOH and ESAB each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PKOH as "Buy" and ESAB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 43.2% upside for ESAB (target: $147) vs 20.0% for PKOH (target: $37). For income investors, PKOH offers the higher dividend yield at 1.81% vs ESAB's 0.35%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $37.00 | $146.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.56 | $0.36 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ESAB leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PKOH leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 2 tied.
PKOH vs ESAB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PKOH or ESAB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is the stronger pick with 3.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH). Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH) offers the better valuation at 18. 1x trailing P/E (10. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH) a "Buy" — based on 8 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.
02Which has the better valuation — PKOH or ESAB?
On trailing P/E, Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.
(PKOH) is the cheapest at 18. 1x versus ESAB Corporation at 27. 5x. On forward P/E, Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. is actually cheaper at 10. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PKOH or ESAB?
Over the past 5 years, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) delivered a total return of +107.
2%, compared to -12. 1% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ESAB returned +107. 2% versus PKOH's +45. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PKOH or ESAB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
24β versus Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. 's 1. 38β — meaning PKOH is approximately 11% more volatile than ESAB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ESAB Corporation (ESAB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 65% versus 174% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PKOH or ESAB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is pulling ahead at 3.
7% versus -3. 4% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ESAB Corporation grew EPS -13. 7% year-over-year, compared to -46. 7% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ESAB leads at 3. 1% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PKOH or ESAB?
ESAB Corporation (ESAB) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
0% net margin versus 1. 5% for Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. — meaning it keeps 8. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ESAB leads at 17. 3% versus 5. 1% for PKOH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ESAB leads at 35. 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.
07Is PKOH or ESAB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.
(PKOH) trades at 10. 0x forward P/E versus 17. 7x for ESAB Corporation — 7. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ESAB: 43. 2% to $146. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — PKOH or ESAB?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (PKOH) offers the highest yield at 1. 8%, versus 0. 4% for ESAB Corporation (ESAB).
09Is PKOH or ESAB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.
(PKOH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PKOH: +45. 4%, ESAB: +107. 2%), 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.
10What are the main differences between PKOH and ESAB?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
PKOH pays a dividend while ESAB 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.
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