TNC vs CAT vs DE vs NDSN vs TRMB

For growth investors, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the stronger pick with 4. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 6% for Deere & Company (DE). Trimble Inc. (TRMB) offers the better valuation at 28. 7x trailing P/E (16. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Tennant Company (TNC) 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.

On trailing P/E, Trimble Inc.

(TRMB) is the cheapest at 28. 7x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 49. 6x. On forward P/E, Trimble Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Caterpillar Inc. wins at 1. 35x versus Trimble Inc. 's 6. 61x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) delivered a total return of +337. 5%, compared to -35. 8% for Trimble Inc. (TRMB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1203% versus TNC's +78. 4%. 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), Deere & Company (DE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

60β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 67β — meaning CAT is approximately 179% more volatile than DE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Trimble Inc. (TRMB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 2% for Deere & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -11. 6% for Deere & Company (DE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nordson Corporation grew EPS 4. 9% year-over-year, compared to -71. 3% for Trimble Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CAT leads at 4. 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.

Nordson Corporation (NDSN) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

4% net margin versus 3. 6% for Tennant Company — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NDSN leads at 25. 9% versus 6. 7% for TNC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TRMB leads at 68. 3%, 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, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 35x versus Trimble Inc. 's 6. 61x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Trimble Inc. (TRMB) trades at 16. 2x forward P/E versus 37. 9x for Caterpillar Inc. — 21. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TRMB: 85. 8% to $93. 33.

In this comparison, TNC (1.

4% yield), DE (1. 1% yield), NDSN (1. 1% yield), CAT (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. TRMB does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Deere & Company (DE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

60), 1. 1% yield, +626. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DE: +626. 6%, TRMB: +91. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (TNC (Industrials) and CAT (Industrials) and DE (Industrials) and NDSN (Industrials) and TRMB (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

TNC, CAT, DE, NDSN pay a dividend while TRMB 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.