ROK
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Industrial - Machinery
Market Cap$51.65B
5Y Perf.+112.5%
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Stock Comparison
ROK vs HON
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HON
Honeywell International Inc.
Conglomerates
Market Cap$137.39B
5Y Perf.+48.7%
ROK vs HON — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ROK | HON |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Machinery | Conglomerates |
| Market Cap | $51.65B | $137.39B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $8.80B | $36.76B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.09B | $4.10B |
| Gross Margin | 52.5% | 36.9% |
| Operating Margin | 19.1% | 14.9% |
| Forward P/E | 37.8x | 20.6x |
| Total Debt | $3.65B | $34.58B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $468M | $12.49B |
ROK vs HON — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ROK
HON
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwell Automation… (ROK) | 100 | 212.5 | +112.5% |
| Honeywell Internati… (HON) | 100 | 148.7 | +48.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ROK vs HON
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ROK leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. Honeywell International Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ROK
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
The Growth Play
ROK carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 1.0%, EPS growth -7.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.4%
- 347.3% 10Y total return vs HON's 134.6%
- 12.4% margin vs HON's 11.2%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
HON
Honeywell International Inc.
The Income Pick
HON is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.74, yield 2.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.74, current ratio 1.32x
- Beta 0.74, yield 2.1%, current ratio 1.32x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HON | 7.8% revenue growth vs ROK's 1.0% |
| Value | HON | Lower P/E (20.6x vs 37.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | ROK | 12.4% margin vs HON's 11.2% |
| Stability / Safety | HON | Beta 0.74 vs ROK's 1.33 |
| Dividends | ROK | 1.1% yield, 20-year raise streak, vs HON's 2.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ROK | +83.7% vs HON's +5.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ROK | 9.7% ROA vs HON's 5.3%, ROIC 15.1% vs 12.6% |
ROK vs HON — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ROK vs HON — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLROKLAGGINGHON
HONHoneywell Internation…
1leads
ROKRockwell Automation, …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HONMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ROK6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HON6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ROK9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ROK6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ROK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HON is the larger business by revenue, generating $36.8B annually — 4.2x ROK's $8.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.4% (ROK) to 11.2% (HON). On growth, ROK holds the edge at +11.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | HONHoneywell Interna… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.8B | $36.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.9B | $6.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $4.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.3B | $4.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +52.5% | +36.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.1% | +14.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +11.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +11.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.8% | -6.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +39.6% | -41.9% |
ROK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HON leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 29.5x trailing earnings, HON trades at a 51% valuation discount to ROK's 59.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HON's 20.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ROK's 31.4x.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | HONHoneywell Interna… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $51.6B | $137.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $54.8B | $159.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 59.89x | 29.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 37.84x | 20.60x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 16.04x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 31.36x | 20.05x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.19x | 3.67x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 14.00x | 9.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 38.03x | 25.48x |
HON leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ROK leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ROK delivers a 29.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $30 in annual profit, vs $23 for HON. ROK carries lower financial leverage with a 0.98x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HON's 2.24x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ROK scores 8/9 vs HON's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | HONHoneywell Interna… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +29.6% | +23.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.7% | +5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.1% | +12.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +18.5% | +12.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.98x | 2.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.2B | $22.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $468M | $12.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.6B | $34.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.06x | 3.92x |
ROK leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ROK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ROK five years ago would be worth $18,015 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,364 for HON. Over the past 12 months, ROK leads with a +83.7% total return vs HON's +5.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ROK at 19.1% vs HON's 5.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | HONHoneywell Interna… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.6% | +11.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +83.7% | +5.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +68.9% | +16.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +80.1% | +3.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +347.3% | +134.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.1% | +5.2% |
ROK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ROK and HON each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HON is the less volatile stock with a 0.74 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ROK's 1.33 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ROK currently trades 99.1% from its 52-week high vs HON's 87.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | HONHoneywell Interna… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.33x | 0.74x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $463.49 | $248.18 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $250.32 | $186.76 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.1% | +87.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.9 | 32.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 836K | 3.7M |
Evenly matched — ROK and HON each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — ROK and HON each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ROK as "Hold" and HON as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 12.5% upside for HON (target: $244) vs -5.0% for ROK (target: $437). For income investors, HON offers the higher dividend yield at 2.14% vs ROK's 1.14%.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | HONHoneywell Interna… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $436.56 | $243.83 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.1% | +2.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 20 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.23 | $4.63 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | +2.8% |
Evenly matched — ROK and HON each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ROK leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HON leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallRockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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ROK vs HON: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ROK or HON a better buy right now?
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. 5x trailing P/E (20. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Honeywell International Inc. (HON) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 — ROK or HON?
On trailing P/E, Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) is the cheapest at 29. 5x versus Rockwell Automation, Inc. at 59. 9x. On forward P/E, Honeywell International Inc. is actually cheaper at 20. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ROK or HON?
Over the past 5 years, Rockwell Automation, Inc.
(ROK) delivered a total return of +80. 1%, compared to +3. 6% for Honeywell International Inc. (HON). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ROK returned +347. 3% versus HON's +134. 6%. 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 — ROK or HON?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Rockwell Automation, Inc. 's 1. 33β — meaning ROK is approximately 79% more volatile than HON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 98% versus 2% for Honeywell International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ROK or HON?
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: Rockwell Automation, Inc. grew EPS -7. 4% year-over-year, compared to -15. 5% for Honeywell International Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ROK leads at 2. 4% 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 — ROK or HON?
Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 6% net margin versus 10. 4% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HON leads at 17. 5% versus 17. 1% for ROK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ROK leads at 48. 1%, 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 ROK or HON more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) trades at 20. 6x forward P/E versus 37. 8x for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — 17. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HON: 12. 5% to $243. 83.
08Which pays a better dividend — ROK or HON?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Honeywell International Inc. (HON) offers the highest yield at 2. 1%, versus 1. 1% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK).
09Is ROK or HON better for a retirement portfolio?
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, +134. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HON: +134. 6%, ROK: +347. 3%), 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 ROK and HON?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(ROK: 11.8% · HON: -6.9%)Net Margin>
%
(ROK: 12.4% · HON: 11.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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