Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) has outperformed Lincoln Electric (LECO) over the past year, gaining 22.6% versus a gain of 7.0%. Over five years, LECO leads with a +86.4% price change compared with -50.9% for SWK. Lincoln Electric is the larger company by market cap ($14.10 billion vs $13.47 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Stanley Black & Decker trades at a lower forward P/E (14.0x vs 20.7x for Lincoln Electric). Stanley Black & Decker offers the higher dividend yield (3.72% vs 1.21%). Lincoln Electric converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.3% versus 2.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | LECO | SWK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $258.78 | $89.17 |
| Market cap | $14.10B | $13.47B |
| 1-day change | -1.67% | +0.97% |
| YTD return | +7.99% | +20.05% |
| 1-year return | +6.96% | +22.59% |
| 5-year return | +86.43% | -50.92% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 25.85 | 21.80 |
| Forward P/E | 20.66 | 14.05 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.01 | $4.09 |
| Dividend yield | 1.21% | 3.72% |
| Annual dividend | $3.12 | $3.32 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.23B | $15.13B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.60% | -1.53% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $520.53M | $401.90M |
| Gross margin | 36.25% | 30.33% |
| Operating margin | 16.96% | — |
| Net margin | 12.30% | 2.66% |
| 52-week high | $310.00 | $104.68 |
| 52-week low | $216.22 | $61.90 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -16.52% | -14.82% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.83% | +13.37% |
| Average volume | 420.42K | 1.78M |
| Shares outstanding | 54.51M | 151.02M |
| Employees | 12,000 | 41,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- SWK has outperformed LECO by 15.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Stanley Black & Decker offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.72% vs 1.21%).
- Lincoln Electric is more profitable, keeping 12.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 2.7 cents for Stanley Black & Decker.
- Lincoln Electric grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+5.60% vs -1.53%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Lincoln Electric in Industrials and Stanley Black & Decker in Consumer Discretionary.
About Lincoln Electric
LECO stock →Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells welding, cutting, and brazing products in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Americas Welding, International Welding, and The Harris Products Group.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 12,000 employees
About Stanley Black & Decker
SWK stock →Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. provides hand tools, power tools, outdoor products, and related accessories in the United States, Canada, Other Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Consumer Discretionary · Industrial Machinery/Components · 41,000 employees
LECO vs SWK FAQ
Which is bigger, Lincoln Electric or Stanley Black & Decker?
Lincoln Electric (LECO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $14.10B compared with $13.47B for Stanley Black & Decker (SWK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LECO or SWK?
SWK returned +22.59% over the past 12 months, compared with +6.96% for LECO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LECO or SWK?
SWK has the lower trailing P/E at 21.8, versus 25.9 for LECO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Lincoln Electric or Stanley Black & Decker?
Stanley Black & Decker has the higher yield at 3.72%, compared with 1.21% for Lincoln Electric.
Are Lincoln Electric and Stanley Black & Decker in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.