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LECO vs PH
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) vs. Parker-Hannifin (PH) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Parker-Hannifin (PH) has delivered substantially stronger returns across 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year horizons, driven by aerospace segment momentum and accretive M&A (mergers and acquisitions).
- Lincoln Electric (LECO) posted record sales and adjusted EPS (earnings per share) in 2025, but its growth trajectory remains more tied to industrial manufacturing cycles.
- PH operates at roughly nine times LECO's market capitalization (~$120 billion versus ~$14 billion), reflecting a vastly different scale of operations and diversification.
- Both companies are headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and both improved operating margins in their most recent fiscal years, though PH's margin expansion has been more pronounced.
- Valuation multiples diverge meaningfully, with PH trading at a premium that reflects its stronger growth profile, while LECO offers a comparatively modest entry point.
- Recent weeks have seen LECO shares pull back approximately 6% over the trailing month, while PH has held relatively steady, suggesting differing near-term sentiment dynamics.
Introduction
Comparing LECO and PH offers a lens into two distinct tiers of the U.S. industrial sector. Lincoln Electric is a specialized leader in welding, cutting, and brazing technologies, while Parker-Hannifin is a diversified motion-and-control conglomerate with deep aerospace exposure. Both serve global end markets that range from heavy manufacturing to energy and transportation, yet their scale, growth engines, and market positioning differ sharply. For investors evaluating industrial names — whether seeking cyclical value in a manufacturing rebound or exposure to secular aerospace and electrification trends — understanding how these two Cleveland-based manufacturers stack up is a useful exercise in relative performance analysis.
LECO Overview and Recent Performance
Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO) is the world's leading manufacturer of welding equipment, consumables, and automation solutions, serving industries from general fabrication and automotive to shipbuilding and energy infrastructure. The company operates through three reporting segments: Americas Welding, International Welding, and The Harris Products Group. For full-year 2025, LECO reported net sales of $4.23 billion, representing a 5.6% year-over-year increase, with adjusted EPS reaching a record $9.87. Operating income margins expanded to 17.0% on a GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) basis and 17.6% on an adjusted basis, reflecting disciplined cost management and acquisition contributions. In recent market activity, shares have traded near $252, with a 52-week range of approximately $216 to $310. The stock's beta of 1.21 indicates slightly above-average sensitivity to broader market swings. Over the trailing month, LECO has declined roughly 6%, while remaining up approximately 15% on a one-year basis. The company's RISE strategy, unveiled with 2030 targets, aims to extend its leadership through organic growth investments and portfolio reshaping.
PH Overview and Recent Performance
Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH) is a global leader in motion and control technologies, with a portfolio spanning aerospace systems, filtration, fluid connectors, and electromechanical components. The company's fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025) delivered record results: sales of $19.9 billion, net income of $3.5 billion (up 24% year-over-year), and record adjusted EPS of $27.33. Segment operating margins reached 26.1% on an adjusted basis, driven by strong aerospace aftermarket demand and successful integration of the Meggitt PLC acquisition. PH's aerospace backlog reached a record $7.4 billion, providing meaningful revenue visibility. In recent market activity, shares have traded around $953, with a 52-week range of approximately $691 to $1,035. The stock has gained roughly 33% over the trailing year and nearly 9% year-to-date. PH also announced two significant acquisitions — Curtis Instruments for approximately $1 billion and Filtration Group for approximately $9.25 billion — broadening its electrification and industrial filtration capabilities. The company guided for fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $28.40 to $29.40.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The most immediate contrast between LECO and PH is scale. Parker-Hannifin generates nearly five times Lincoln Electric's annual revenue and commands a market capitalization roughly nine times larger. PH's diversification across aerospace, industrial, and filtration markets provides multiple growth vectors, with aerospace acting as a particularly powerful secular driver in recent periods. LECO, by contrast, is more concentrated in welding and cutting technologies, making its performance more sensitive to industrial capital spending and manufacturing activity levels.
Momentum has favored PH over multiple timeframes. PH's 3-year total return of approximately 141% and 5-year return of roughly 239% substantially outpace LECO's approximately 27% and 103%, respectively. This gap reflects PH's successful acquisition integration strategy — particularly the Meggitt deal — and its exposure to the aerospace aftermarket cycle. LECO's returns, while respectable, have been more modest and cyclical in nature.
On valuation, LECO trades at a trailing P/E (price-to-earnings ratio) of approximately 26, while PH trades at a premium multiple around 33 times trailing earnings. This premium reflects PH's stronger growth trajectory and higher margins. From a risk standpoint, LECO's more focused business model means greater sensitivity to manufacturing PMIs (Purchasing Managers' Indexes) and industrial production trends, while PH's diversification — especially its aerospace backlog — provides a degree of insulation against broad industrial slowdowns. Dividend investors may note LECO's yield of roughly 1.25%, while PH's shareholder returns strategy has leaned more heavily on share repurchases, totaling $1.6 billion in fiscal 2025.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable trend consistency, margin expansion momentum, and relative positioning across multiple timeframes, Tickeron's AI would likely favor PH in the current market environment. The combination of a record aerospace backlog, sustained organic revenue growth, expanding segment operating margins above 26% on an adjusted basis, and a proven acquisition-integration track record creates a favorable pattern that trend-following algorithms typically recognize. LECO remains a well-managed industrial franchise with a strong balance sheet and credible long-term strategy, but its more cyclical revenue profile and comparatively narrower growth trajectory have positioned it behind PH in momentum-driven and trend-oriented rankings. This assessment reflects probabilistic analysis of recent data patterns rather than any definitive prediction, and conditions can shift as new fundamental and technical data emerge.
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.
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 LECO is a StrongBuy and PH is a Buy.
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).
LECO’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whilePH’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- LECO’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- PH’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.
LECO’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while PH’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- LECO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- PH’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
LECO (@Tools & Hardware) experienced а -1.60% price change this week, while PH (@Industrial Machinery) price change was +1.87% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Tools & Hardware industry was -2.79%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.47%, and the average quarterly price growth was +8.08%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Industrial Machinery industry was -2.59%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -9.61%, and the average quarterly price growth was -5.54%.
Reported Earning Dates
LECO is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
PH is expected to report earnings on Aug 06, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Tools & Hardware (-2.79% 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.
@Industrial Machinery (-2.59% 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.
| LECO | PH | LECO / PH | |
| Capitalization | 13.7B | 122B | 11% |
| EBITDA | 849M | 5.63B | 15% |
| Gain YTD | 4.624 | 10.901 | 42% |
| P/E Ratio | 25.73 | 35.82 | 72% |
| Revenue | 4.35B | 21B | 21% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 476M | - |
| Total Debt | 1.31B | 9.58B | 14% |
LECO | PH | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 7 | 67 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 79 Overvalued | 78 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 34 | 7 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 37 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 55 | 26 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
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.
PH's Valuation (78) in the Industrial Machinery industry is in the same range as LECO (79). This means that PH’s stock grew similarly to LECO’s over the last 12 months.
PH's Profit vs Risk Rating (7) in the Industrial Machinery industry is in the same range as LECO (34). This means that PH’s stock grew similarly to LECO’s over the last 12 months.
PH's SMR Rating (100) in the Industrial Machinery industry is in the same range as LECO (100). This means that PH’s stock grew similarly to LECO’s over the last 12 months.
PH's Price Growth Rating (37) in the Industrial Machinery industry is in the same range as LECO (59). This means that PH’s stock grew similarly to LECO’s over the last 12 months.
PH's P/E Growth Rating (26) in the Industrial Machinery industry is in the same range as LECO (55). This means that PH’s stock grew similarly to LECO’s over the last 12 months.
| LECO | PH | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 51% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 81% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 70% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 46% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 71% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 69% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 71% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 57% | 4 days ago 47% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | N/A |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 61% |
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