WST vs. NDSN
WST (West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.) and NDSN (Nordson Corporation) are both stocks. WST operates in Medical Instruments & Supplies (Healthcare), while NDSN operates in Specialty Industrial Machinery (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, WST returned 16.30%/yr vs 14.17%/yr for NDSN. At a 0.35 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
WST vs. NDSN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with WST having a 19.71% return and NDSN slightly higher at 20.24%. Over the past 10 years, WST has outperformed NDSN with an annualized return of 16.30%, while NDSN has yielded a comparatively lower 14.17% annualized return.
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
- 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 vs. NDSN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
NDSN Nordson Corporation | 20.24% | 17.03% | -20.15% | 12.39% | -5.93% | 28.09% | 24.45% | 37.88% | -17.65% | 31.83% |
Correlation
The correlation between WST and NDSN 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 WST and NDSN shifts across timeframes, from 0.35 (all time) to 0.47 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
WST:
$23.81B
NDSN:
$16.17B
WST:
$7.47
NDSN:
$9.36
WST:
44.02
NDSN:
30.79
WST:
7.42
NDSN:
5.60
WST:
7.96
NDSN:
5.05
WST:
$3.22B
NDSN:
$2.90B
WST:
$1.17B
NDSN:
$1.60B
WST:
$799.00M
NDSN:
$744.50M
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Return for Risk
WST vs. NDSN — Risk / Return Rank
WST
NDSN
WST vs. NDSN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) 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.
| WST | NDSN | 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 | 1.26 | 1.27 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.90 | 2.42 | -0.52 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.81 | 7.81 | -4.01 |
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Drawdowns
WST vs. NDSN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WST drawdown since its inception was -59.29%, smaller than the maximum NDSN drawdown of -73.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WST and NDSN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WST | NDSN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.29% | -73.62% | +14.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.70% | -14.15% | -10.55% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -53.79% | -39.15% | -14.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -59.29% | -39.15% | -20.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -59.29% | -44.24% | -15.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -29.39% | -3.41% | -25.98% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.89% | -13.24% | -3.65% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 12.30% | 4.37% | +7.93% |
Volatility
WST vs. NDSN - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) is 7.48%, while Nordson Corporation (NDSN) has a volatility of 8.59%. This indicates that WST 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
| WST | NDSN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.48% | 8.59% | -1.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 25.29% | 15.87% | +9.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 41.32% | 21.26% | +20.06% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 40.59% | 24.78% | +15.81% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 34.65% | 28.47% | +6.18% |
Dividends
WST vs. NDSN - Dividend Comparison
WST's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.26%, less than NDSN's 1.12% 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
WST vs. NDSN - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. 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
WST vs. NDSN - Profitability Comparison
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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%.
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
WST and NDSN 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, WST dropped -59.29% vs NDSN's -73.62%.
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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