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GGG vs LECO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Graco Inc. (GGG) vs. Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. (LECO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- LECO has outperformed GGG in recent market activity, with year-to-date (YTD) gains of 9.35% compared to GGG's 1.08%.
- GGG's recent quarterly earnings missed estimates amid construction softness and tariffs, while LECO approaches its next report with positive analyst expectations.
- Both stocks trade at elevated price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios around 26-28, reflecting premium valuations in the industrial sector.
- LECO boasts higher return on equity (ROE) at 37.22% versus GGG's 19.78%, indicating superior profitability efficiency.
- Market caps are closely matched at approximately $13-14 billion, positioning both as mid-to-large cap industrials with dividend yields near 1.2-1.5%.
Introduction
Graco Inc. (GGG) and Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. (LECO) represent key players in the industrial equipment sector, focusing on specialized fluid handling and welding technologies, respectively. This stock comparison analyzes their recent performance, business models, and market positioning amid fluctuating industrial demand and macroeconomic pressures. Traders seeking momentum plays may eye LECO's relative strength, while value-oriented investors could assess GGG's stability despite headwinds. Investors tracking industrials benefit from understanding these contrasts in growth drivers, risk profiles, and sentiment shifts for informed portfolio decisions in the current market environment.
GGG Overview and Recent Performance
Graco Inc. (GGG) designs, manufactures, and markets equipment for moving, measuring, mixing, controlling, dispensing, and spraying fluids and powders. Operating in Contractor, Industrial, and Expansion Markets segments, it serves painting, coatings, adhesives, and lubrication applications worldwide.
In recent market activity, GGG shares have faced downward pressure, declining about 5.62% over the past month and trading near the lower end of their 52-week range (high: $95.69, low: $78.87), with a current price around $80.54. A recent quarterly earnings miss—reporting $0.66 per share versus expectations of $0.75—contributed to sentiment shifts, driven by tariffs, delayed projects, and softness in construction. Despite this, solid revenue growth in prior periods and gross margin expansion have supported a market cap of $13.37 billion and a P/E ratio of 26.32. Dividend yield stands at 1.47%, appealing to income-focused holders amid broader industrial recovery signals.
LECO Overview and Recent Performance
Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. (LECO) is a leading provider of welding, cutting, and brazing products, including arc welding equipment, plasma systems, and automated solutions. Its segments—Americas Welding, International Welding, and Harris Products Group—cater to fabrication, oil & gas, automotive, and construction markets globally.
Recent weeks have seen LECO maintain upward momentum, with shares at $261.20, up 0.68% monthly and boasting YTD gains of 9.35% alongside a robust 42.49% one-year return. Trading between a 52-week high of $310 and low of $170.01, the stock reflects resilience post-record 2025 revenue of $4.2 billion. Positive factors include an upcoming earnings report with beat expectations, a 'Prime' ESG rating, and dividend declaration, bolstering a $14.32 billion market cap and P/E of 28.03. Elevated ROE of 37.22% underscores operational strength, though analyst caution on industrial recovery pricing tempers some optimism.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
While both GGG and LECO operate in industrials, GGG emphasizes fluid handling for coatings and lubrication, contrasting LECO's focus on welding and cutting for fabrication and energy sectors. Growth drivers differ: GGG benefits from acquisitions and industrial expansion but faces housing softness; LECO leverages automation demand and international sales amid oil & gas cycles.
Recent momentum favors LECO's stronger YTD and one-year returns, versus GGG's pullback post-earnings miss. Risk factors include cyclical exposure—construction for GGG, commodities for LECO—with betas of 1.09 and 1.29 indicating moderate volatility. Sector overlap provides diversification trade-offs, but LECO's higher ROE signals better capital efficiency, while GGG offers marginally superior profit margins (22.96% vs. 12.30%). Market sentiment tilts toward LECO's catalysts like ESG progress, though both command premium multiples reflecting quality industrials positioning.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI models currently lean toward LECO over GGG, citing superior trend consistency, elevated YTD performance, robust ROE, and upcoming earnings catalysts amid industrial tailwinds. GGG's stability and margins provide a counterbalance, but relative momentum and profitability positioning give LECO probabilistic edge in the near term, subject to broader market dynamics.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is GGG is a Hold and LECO is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
GGG’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileLECO’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- GGG’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- LECO’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
GGG’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while LECO’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- GGG’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- LECO’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
GGG (@Industrial Machinery) experienced а +2.45% price change this week, while LECO (@Tools & Hardware) price change was +6.46% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Industrial Machinery industry was +5.12%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +12.23%, and the average quarterly price growth was +15.41%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Tools & Hardware industry was +4.96%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +12.64%, and the average quarterly price growth was +19.89%.
Reported Earning Dates
GGG is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
LECO is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Industrial Machinery (+5.12% weekly)The industry makes and maintains machines for consumers, the industry, and most other companies. While it has traditionally been categorized as heavy industry, some smaller companies are also branching into the light category. The industry is pivotal in providing the equipment for production in businesses like agriculture, mining, industry and construction, gas, electricity and water utilities. It also supplies supporting equipment for almost all sectors of the economy, such as equipment for heating, and air conditioning of buildings. Illinois Tool Works Inc., Parker-Hannifin Corporation and Rockwell Automation Inc are some of the major U.S. companies operating in this industry.
@Tools & Hardware (+4.96% weekly)Tools & Hardware industry includes companies that manufacture security products, storage cabinets, steel rules and tapes, calipers, shoe hook fasteners, lumber, structural materials and other related supplies. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., Snap-on Incorporated and L.S. Starrett Company are some of the largest, established players in this industry. The industry is also seeing rapid growth in online sales. The proliferation of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects has boosted industry demand. But oil price volatility poses potential risks to this industry, particularly to e-commerce companies which spend on services of shipping companies, which might alter charges based on oil price movements.
| GGG | LECO | GGG / LECO | |
| Capitalization | 12.6B | 15.1B | 83% |
| EBITDA | 744M | 849M | 88% |
| Gain YTD | -7.552 | 12.855 | -59% |
| P/E Ratio | 24.85 | 28.40 | 87% |
| Revenue | 2.25B | 4.35B | 52% |
| Total Cash | 712M | 299M | 238% |
| Total Debt | 52.9M | 1.31B | 4% |
GGG | LECO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 15 | 20 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 25 Undervalued | 84 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 81 | 26 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 46 | 25 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 70 | 47 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 70 | 38 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 90 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
GGG's Valuation (25) in the Industrial Machinery industry is somewhat better than the same rating for LECO (84). This means that GGG’s stock grew somewhat faster than LECO’s over the last 12 months.
LECO's Profit vs Risk Rating (26) in the Industrial Machinery industry is somewhat better than the same rating for GGG (81). This means that LECO’s stock grew somewhat faster than GGG’s over the last 12 months.
LECO's SMR Rating (25) in the Industrial Machinery industry is in the same range as GGG (46). This means that LECO’s stock grew similarly to GGG’s over the last 12 months.
LECO's Price Growth Rating (47) in the Industrial Machinery industry is in the same range as GGG (70). This means that LECO’s stock grew similarly to GGG’s over the last 12 months.
LECO's P/E Growth Rating (38) in the Industrial Machinery industry is in the same range as GGG (70). This means that LECO’s stock grew similarly to GGG’s over the last 12 months.
| GGG | LECO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 46% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 51% | 2 days ago 49% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 48% | 2 days ago 71% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 50% | 2 days ago 67% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 49% | 2 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 61% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 49% | 4 days ago 62% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 19 days ago 53% | 12 days ago 56% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 42% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 51% |
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LECO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, LECO has been closely correlated with GGG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if LECO jumps, then GGG could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To LECO | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LECO | 100% | -1.45% | ||
| GGG - LECO | 74% Closely correlated | -1.31% | ||
| DOV - LECO | 73% Closely correlated | -0.83% | ||
| DCI - LECO | 73% Closely correlated | -1.66% | ||
| ZWS - LECO | 70% Closely correlated | -2.42% | ||
| FELE - LECO | 70% Closely correlated | -0.27% | ||
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