IEX vs. NDSN
IEX (IDEX Corporation) and NDSN (Nordson Corporation) are both stocks. Both operate in the Specialty Industrial Machinery industry within the Industrials sector. Over the past 10 years, IEX returned 11.91%/yr vs 14.84%/yr for NDSN. At a 0.50 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IEX vs. NDSN - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEX achieves a 25.19% return, which is significantly higher than NDSN's 21.78% return. Over the past 10 years, IEX has underperformed NDSN with an annualized return of 11.91%, while NDSN has yielded a comparatively higher 14.84% annualized return.
IEX
- 1D
- -1.86%
- 1M
- 5.93%
- YTD
- 25.19%
- 6M
- 23.53%
- 1Y
- 30.03%
- 3Y*
- 4.31%
- 5Y*
- 1.50%
- 10Y*
- 11.91%
NDSN
- 1D
- -1.35%
- 1M
- 0.69%
- YTD
- 21.78%
- 6M
- 21.00%
- 1Y
- 38.43%
- 3Y*
- 8.65%
- 5Y*
- 7.18%
- 10Y*
- 14.84%
IEX vs. NDSN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEX IDEX Corporation | 25.19% | -13.69% | -2.35% | -3.80% | -2.22% | 19.82% | 17.22% | 37.94% | -3.16% | 48.53% |
NDSN Nordson Corporation | 21.78% | 17.03% | -20.15% | 12.39% | -5.93% | 28.09% | 24.45% | 37.88% | -17.65% | 31.83% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEX and NDSN is 0.70, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 21, 1991 | 0.50 |
Over the past year, IEX and NDSN have become more correlated (0.70) than their long-term average of 0.50, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Fundamentals
IEX:
$16.46B
NDSN:
$16.33B
IEX:
$6.77
NDSN:
$9.36
IEX:
32.68
NDSN:
31.10
IEX:
9.64
NDSN:
12.19
IEX:
4.70
NDSN:
5.66
IEX:
4.06
NDSN:
5.10
IEX:
$3.53B
NDSN:
$2.90B
IEX:
$1.57B
NDSN:
$1.60B
IEX:
$885.40M
NDSN:
$744.50M
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
IEX vs. NDSN — Risk / Return Rank
IEX
NDSN
IEX vs. NDSN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for IDEX Corporation (IEX) and Nordson Corporation (NDSN). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IEX | NDSN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.31 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.99 | 2.73 | -0.74 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.90 | 8.84 | -4.94 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IEX vs. NDSN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEX drawdown since its inception was -81.60%, which is greater than NDSN's maximum drawdown of -73.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEX and NDSN.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IEX | NDSN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -81.60% | -73.62% | -7.98% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.17% | -14.15% | -1.02% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -34.60% | -39.15% | +4.55% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.60% | -39.15% | +4.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.52% | -44.24% | +8.72% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.12% | -2.17% | -4.95% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.43% | -13.23% | +1.80% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.72% | 4.36% | +3.36% |
Volatility
IEX vs. NDSN - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for IDEX Corporation (IEX) is 6.36%, while Nordson Corporation (NDSN) has a volatility of 7.64%. This indicates that IEX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NDSN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IEX | NDSN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.36% | 7.64% | -1.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.13% | 16.07% | +1.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.83% | 21.12% | +4.71% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.06% | 24.80% | -0.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.22% | 28.39% | -4.17% |
Dividends
IEX vs. NDSN - Dividend Comparison
IEX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.29%, more than NDSN's 1.13% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEX IDEX Corporation | 1.29% | 1.58% | 1.29% | 1.16% | 1.02% | 0.90% | 1.00% | 1.12% | 1.31% | 1.10% | 1.49% | 1.62% |
NDSN Nordson Corporation | 1.13% | 1.66% | 1.02% | 1.01% | 0.98% | 0.71% | 0.77% | 0.90% | 1.09% | 0.78% | 0.91% | 1.43% |
Financials
IEX vs. NDSN - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between IDEX Corporation and Nordson Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
IEX vs. NDSN - Profitability Comparison
IEX - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, IDEX Corporation reported a gross profit of 398.10M and revenue of 886.90M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 44.9%.
NDSN - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nordson Corporation reported a gross profit of 404.08M and revenue of 740.85M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 54.5%.
IEX - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, IDEX Corporation reported an operating income of 172.40M and revenue of 886.90M, resulting in an operating margin of 19.4%.
NDSN - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nordson Corporation reported an operating income of 197.20M and revenue of 740.85M, resulting in an operating margin of 26.6%.
IEX - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, IDEX Corporation reported a net income of 120.00M and revenue of 886.90M, resulting in a net margin of 13.5%.
NDSN - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nordson Corporation reported a net income of 117.32M and revenue of 740.85M, resulting in a net margin of 15.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions
IEX and NDSN have a correlation of 0.70, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NDSN has higher volatility (7.64%) compared to IEX (6.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEX dropped -81.60% vs NDSN's -73.62%.
NDSN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.83 vs 1.17), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for IEX and NDSN
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer