NDSN vs. WST
NDSN (Nordson Corporation) and WST (West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.) are both stocks. NDSN operates in Specialty Industrial Machinery (Industrials), while WST operates in Medical Instruments & Supplies (Healthcare). Over the past 10 years, NDSN returned 14.17%/yr vs 16.30%/yr for WST. At a 0.35 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NDSN vs. WST - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with NDSN having a 20.24% return and WST slightly lower at 19.71%. Over the past 10 years, NDSN has underperformed WST with an annualized return of 14.17%, while WST has yielded a comparatively higher 16.30% annualized return.
NDSN
- 1D
- 0.90%
- 1M
- 3.33%
- YTD
- 20.24%
- 6M
- 23.21%
- 1Y
- 34.03%
- 3Y*
- 8.35%
- 5Y*
- 6.49%
- 10Y*
- 14.17%
WST
- 1D
- -0.46%
- 1M
- 8.74%
- YTD
- 19.71%
- 6M
- 23.10%
- 1Y
- 46.68%
- 3Y*
- -2.51%
- 5Y*
- -0.72%
- 10Y*
- 16.30%
NDSN vs. WST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NDSN Nordson Corporation | 20.24% | 17.03% | -20.15% | 12.39% | -5.93% | 28.09% | 24.45% | 37.88% | -17.65% | 31.83% |
WST West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | 19.71% | -15.73% | -6.75% | 49.97% | -49.70% | 65.88% | 89.05% | 54.13% | -0.08% | 17.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between NDSN and WST is 0.41, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 26, 1990 | 0.35 |
The correlation between NDSN and WST shifts across timeframes, from 0.35 (all time) to 0.47 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NDSN:
$16.17B
WST:
$23.81B
NDSN:
$9.36
WST:
$7.47
NDSN:
30.79
WST:
44.02
NDSN:
5.60
WST:
7.42
NDSN:
5.05
WST:
7.96
NDSN:
$2.90B
WST:
$3.22B
NDSN:
$1.60B
WST:
$1.17B
NDSN:
$744.50M
WST:
$799.00M
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Return for Risk
NDSN vs. WST — Risk / Return Rank
NDSN
WST
NDSN vs. WST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nordson Corporation (NDSN) and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST). 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.
| NDSN | WST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.47 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.18 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.26 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.42 | 1.90 | +0.52 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.81 | 3.81 | +4.01 |
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Drawdowns
NDSN vs. WST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NDSN drawdown since its inception was -73.62%, which is greater than WST's maximum drawdown of -59.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NDSN and WST.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NDSN | WST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -73.62% | -59.29% | -14.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.15% | -24.70% | +10.55% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -39.15% | -53.79% | +14.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.15% | -59.29% | +20.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.24% | -59.29% | +15.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.41% | -29.39% | +25.98% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.24% | -16.89% | +3.65% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.37% | 12.30% | -7.93% |
Volatility
NDSN vs. WST - Volatility Comparison
Nordson Corporation (NDSN) has a higher volatility of 8.59% compared to West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) at 7.48%. This indicates that NDSN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than WST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NDSN | WST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.59% | 7.48% | +1.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.87% | 25.29% | -9.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.26% | 41.32% | -20.06% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.78% | 40.59% | -15.81% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 28.47% | 34.65% | -6.18% |
Dividends
NDSN vs. WST - Dividend Comparison
NDSN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.12%, more than WST's 0.26% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NDSN Nordson Corporation | 1.12% | 1.66% | 1.02% | 1.01% | 0.98% | 0.71% | 0.77% | 0.90% | 1.09% | 0.78% | 0.91% | 1.43% |
WST West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | 0.26% | 0.31% | 0.25% | 0.22% | 0.31% | 0.15% | 0.23% | 0.41% | 0.58% | 0.54% | 0.58% | 0.75% |
Financials
NDSN vs. WST - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Nordson Corporation and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.. 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
NDSN vs. WST - Profitability Comparison
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%.
WST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported a gross profit of 296.40M and revenue of 844.90M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 35.1%.
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%.
WST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported an operating income of 177.10M and revenue of 844.90M, resulting in an operating margin of 21.0%.
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%.
WST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. reported a net income of 138.80M and revenue of 844.90M, resulting in a net margin of 16.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NDSN and WST have a correlation of 0.41, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NDSN has higher volatility (8.59%) compared to WST (7.48%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NDSN dropped -73.62% vs WST's -59.29%.
NDSN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.61 vs 1.14), 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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