GGG vs NDSN: Graco and Nordson compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- Nordson is the larger company, worth $17.8B, about 1.4 times Graco.
- Nordson grew revenue faster over the last year (+10.3% vs +3.3%).
- Graco keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (28.1% vs 26.9%).
- On earnings, Graco is the cheaper stock (25.1x vs 34.6x).
- Nordson's price assumes faster free cash flow growth: about 9% a year, against 5% for Graco (reverse DCF).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | GGG | NDSN |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $12.8B | $17.8B |
| Share price | $78.21 | $328.17 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $2.2B | $2.8B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | $638M | $661M |
| Revenue growth, last year | +3.3% | +10.3% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +3.0% | +4.3% |
| Operating margin | 28.1% | 26.9% |
| Net margin | 23.5% | 18.6% |
| Return on equity | 21.1% | 17.0% |
| P/E (trailing) | 25.1x | 34.6x |
| Price / free cash flow | 20.0x | 27.0x |
| EV / EBITDA | 16.3x | 24.3x |
| FCF growth the price implies | 5.0% | 8.9% |
| Dividend yield | 1.5% | 0.99% |
| Debt / equity | 0.24x | 0.82x |
| Fundamental grade | B | B |
| Superinvestors holding it | 3 | 3 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 0 | 0 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
Graco
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $2.0B | $323M | 26.7% |
| 2022 | $2.1B | $176M | 26.7% |
| 2023 | $2.2B | $466M | 29.5% |
| 2024 | $2.1B | $515M | 27.0% |
| 2025 | $2.2B | $638M | 27.9% |
Nordson
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $2.4B | $508M | 26.0% |
| 2022 | $2.6B | $462M | 27.1% |
| 2023 | $2.6B | $607M | 25.6% |
| 2024 | $2.7B | $492M | 25.1% |
| 2025 | $2.8B | $661M | 25.5% |
Where the revenue comes from
Graco · by segments, 2025
Contractor$1.1B48%
Industrial$997M45%
Process$168M8%
Nordson · by segments, 2025
Industrial Precisions Solutions$1.3B48%
Medical Fluid Systems$835M30%
Advanced Technology Systems$625M22%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open GGG in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, Graco or Nordson?
Nordson (NDSN), at $17.8B against $12.8B.
Is GGG or NDSN cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Graco (25.1x) is cheaper than Nordson (34.6x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, GGG or NDSN?
Nordson: revenue grew +10.3% over the last year, against +3.3%.
More comparisons
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.