Lincoln Electric (LECO) vs Woodward (WWD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Woodward (WWD) has outperformed Lincoln Electric (LECO) over the past year, gaining 27.4% versus a gain of 11.3%. Over five years, WWD leads with a +180.8% price change compared with +89.6% for LECO. Woodward is the larger company by market cap ($19.15 billion vs $14.34 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Lincoln Electric trades at a lower forward P/E (21.0x vs 30.2x for Woodward). Lincoln Electric offers the higher dividend yield (1.19% vs 0.30%). Woodward converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.4% versus 12.3%.
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 | WWD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $263.17 | $324.25 |
| Market cap | $14.34B | $19.15B |
| 1-day change | -4.49% | -2.50% |
| YTD return | +9.82% | +7.25% |
| 1-year return | +11.31% | +27.41% |
| 5-year return | +89.59% | +180.83% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.29 | 36.07 |
| Forward P/E | 21.01 | 30.19 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.01 | $8.99 |
| Dividend yield | 1.19% | 0.30% |
| Annual dividend | $3.12 | $0.98 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.23B | $3.57B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.60% | +7.30% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $520.53M | $442.11M |
| Gross margin | 36.25% | 26.81% |
| Operating margin | 16.96% | — |
| Net margin | 12.30% | 12.39% |
| 52-week high | $310.00 | $450.92 |
| 52-week low | $216.22 | $244.69 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.11% | -28.09% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.86% | +33.77% |
| Average volume | 420.42K | 669.89K |
| Shares outstanding | 54.51M | 59.05M |
| Employees | 12,000 | 10,200 |
| Sector | Industrials | Energy |
| 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
- WWD has outperformed LECO by 16.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Woodward trades at a higher earnings multiple (36.1x vs 26.3x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Lincoln Electric in Industrials and Woodward in Energy.
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 Woodward
WWD stock →Woodward, Inc. designs, manufactures, and services control solutions for the aerospace and industrial markets worldwide.
Energy · Industrial Machinery/Components · 10,200 employees
LECO vs WWD FAQ
Which is bigger, Lincoln Electric or Woodward?
Woodward (WWD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $19.15B compared with $14.34B for Lincoln Electric (LECO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LECO or WWD?
WWD returned +27.41% over the past 12 months, compared with +11.31% for LECO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LECO or WWD?
LECO has the lower trailing P/E at 26.3, versus 36.1 for WWD. 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 Woodward?
Lincoln Electric has the higher yield at 1.19%, compared with 0.30% for Woodward.
Are Lincoln Electric and Woodward in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.