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 11.29%/yr vs 14.17%/yr for NDSN. Their 0.50 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
IEX vs. NDSN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEX achieves a 30.87% return, which is significantly higher than NDSN's 24.59% return. Over the past 10 years, IEX has underperformed NDSN with an annualized return of 11.29%, while NDSN has yielded a comparatively higher 14.17% annualized return.
IEX
- 1D
- -1.42%
- 1M
- 3.30%
- 6M
- 16.86%
- YTD
- 30.87%
- 1Y
- 46.98%
- 3Y*
- 2.68%
- 5Y*
- 1.63%
- 10Y*
- 11.29%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.55%
NDSN
- 1D
- 0.86%
- 1M
- 2.55%
- 6M
- 9.11%
- YTD
- 24.59%
- 1Y
- 44.18%
- 3Y*
- 7.26%
- 5Y*
- 6.89%
- 10Y*
- 14.17%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.79%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $208.67M | $171.00M | $158.82M | |
| $85.17M | $95.37M | $115.39M |
IEX vs. NDSN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEX IDEX Corporation | 30.87% | -13.69% | -2.35% | -3.80% | -2.22% | 19.82% | 17.22% | 37.94% | -3.16% | 48.53% |
NDSN Nordson Corporation | 24.59% | 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 0.66, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.66 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.72 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.71 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.67 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 21, 1991 | 0.50 |
The correlation between IEX and NDSN shifts across timeframes, from 0.50 (all time) to 0.72 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
IEX:
$16.99B
NDSN:
$16.59B
IEX:
$6.96
NDSN:
$9.39
IEX:
33.11
NDSN:
31.70
IEX:
9.77
NDSN:
12.42
IEX:
4.80
NDSN:
5.77
IEX:
4.27
NDSN:
5.22
IEX:
$3.59B
NDSN:
$2.90B
IEX:
$1.60B
NDSN:
$1.60B
IEX:
$904.40M
NDSN:
$744.50M
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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 | -0.06 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.32 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.98 | 2.90 | +0.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.87 | 9.26 | +0.61 |
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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.
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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 | -14.49% | -14.15% | -0.34% |
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 | -2.90% | -2.25% | -0.65% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.41% | -13.21% | +1.80% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.39% | 4.43% | -0.04% |
Volatility
IEX vs. NDSN - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for IDEX Corporation (IEX) is 5.53%, while Nordson Corporation (NDSN) has a volatility of 6.14%. 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.
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Volatility by Period
| IEX | NDSN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.53% | 6.14% | -0.61% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.02% | 16.48% | +0.54% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.27% | 21.42% | +1.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.06% | 24.88% | -0.82% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.20% | 28.38% | -4.18% |
Dividends
IEX vs. NDSN - Dividend Comparison
IEX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.25%, more than NDSN's 1.10% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEX IDEX Corporation | 1.25% | 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 | 1.10% | 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 Aug 2026, IDEX Corporation reported a gross profit of 426.80M and revenue of 920.60M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 46.4%.
NDSN - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 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 Aug 2026, IDEX Corporation reported an operating income of 199.90M and revenue of 920.60M, resulting in an operating margin of 21.7%.
NDSN - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 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 Aug 2026, IDEX Corporation reported a net income of 143.40M and revenue of 920.60M, resulting in a net margin of 15.6%.
NDSN - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 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 0.66, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NDSN has higher volatility (6.14%) compared to IEX (5.53%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEX dropped -81.60% vs NDSN's -73.62%.
NDSN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.92 vs 1.86), 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.
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