WHR vs SWK

For growth investors, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

(SWK) is the stronger pick with -1. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 5% for Whirlpool Corporation (WHR). Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) offers the better valuation at 7. 9x trailing P/E (10. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) a "Hold" — based on 19 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, Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) is the cheapest at 7.

9x versus Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. at 30. 6x. On forward P/E, Whirlpool Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

(SWK) delivered a total return of -56. 0%, compared to -69. 7% for Whirlpool Corporation (WHR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SWK returned -0. 7% versus WHR's -43. 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), Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

27β versus Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning SWK is approximately 45% more volatile than WHR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 65% versus 3% for Whirlpool Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

(SWK) is pulling ahead at -1. 5% versus -6. 5% for Whirlpool Corporation (WHR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Whirlpool Corporation grew EPS 196. 4% year-over-year, compared to 35. 9% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SWK leads at -3. 7% 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.

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

(SWK) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 7% net margin versus 2. 0% for Whirlpool Corporation — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SWK leads at 7. 6% versus 4. 7% for WHR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SWK leads at 29. 9%, 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, Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) trades at 10.

0x forward P/E versus 17. 8x for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. — 7. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SWK: 10. 0% to $89. 17.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) offers the highest yield at 11. 8%, versus 4. 1% for Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

27), 11. 8% yield). 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 (WHR: -43. 4%, SWK: -0. 7%), 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 (WHR (Consumer Cyclical) and SWK (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: WHR is a small-cap deep-value stock; SWK is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. 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.