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Relative Intelligence · Industrial Machinery

How Parker-Hannifin (PH) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on PH alone. It places PH (Parker-Hannifin Corporation) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where PH stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: PH's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against PH →Chart PH vs. 25 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in PH have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in PH over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of PH over the same span and PH's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 103 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of PH; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$10,000$100,000$1M199720022007201220172022$10,000$100,000$1M19972004201120182025
  • ROK$1M+12,857% total · +18.3% a year
  • AME$869,262+8,593% total · +16.6% a year
  • DHR$777,394+7,674% total · +16.2% a year
  • CW$708,111+6,981% total · +15.8% a year
  • CAT$615,591+6,056% total · +15.3% a year
  • PH$505,227+4,952% total · +14.5% a year
  • NDSN$336,601+3,266% total · +12.9% a year
  • RTX$288,741+2,787% total · +12.3% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
  • HWM$100,078+901% total · +8.3% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 243 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of PH; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000$100,000202120222023202420252026$0$50,000$100,000202120222023202420252026
  • HWM$73,554+636% total · +49.0% a year
  • NVT$53,086+431% total · +39.6% a year
  • MOG-A$52,115+421% total · +39.1% a year
  • GE$49,841+398% total · +37.9% a year
  • ESLT$49,131+391% total · +37.5% a year
  • CAT$46,130+361% total · +35.8% a year
  • CW$43,818+338% total · +34.4% a year
  • PH$36,392+264% total · +29.5% a year
  • RTX$24,048+140% total · +19.2% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

PH at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$119B
Industry
Industrial - Machinery
Price history from
October 1986

Returns

Past 1 year
+28.7%total return
Past 3 years
+161%+37.7% a year
Past 5 years
+235%+27.4% a year
Past 10 years
+789%+24.4% a year
Best calendar year
+80.1%1997
Worst calendar year
−42.6%2008
Losing years
8 of 29full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
28.8%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.99return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−66.9%May 2008 to Mar 2009
From its all-time high
−11.9%below the peak

PH against the whole market

Where PH ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does PH rank among all stocks?

This section ranks PH on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how PH stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasurePHRankStanding
1-year return+28.7%1,006 of 3,287top 31%
3-year return+161%537 of 3,017top 18%
5-year return+235%249 of 2,893top 9%
10-year return+789%161 of 2,202top 7%
Volatility, 5 years28.8%622 of 2,893top 22%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.99105 of 2,893top 4%
Worst decline, past 10 years−54.7%652 of 2,187top 30%

What has beaten PH on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). PH sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than PH with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to PH; faint dots are 2 more of the 5 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than PHMCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%BLX: +31.4% a year, volatility 25.9%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CW: +30.8% a year, volatility 28.7%NVT: +35.4% a year, volatility 38.0%MOG-A: +36.6% a year, volatility 32.0%ESLT: +39.8% a year, volatility 34.6%GE: +36.0% a year, volatility 31.0%HEI: +17.3% a year, volatility 27.8%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%EPU: +29.5% a year, volatility 24.9%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%EME: +43.0% a year, volatility 35.3%PHSPY (S&P 500)CWNVTMOG-AESLTGEHEICAHLLYMFGSMFGHSBCEPUDXJEME15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than PHMCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%BLX: +31.4% a year, volatility 25.9%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CW: +30.8% a year, volatility 28.7%NVT: +35.4% a year, volatility 38.0%MOG-A: +36.6% a year, volatility 32.0%ESLT: +39.8% a year, volatility 34.6%GE: +36.0% a year, volatility 31.0%HEI: +17.3% a year, volatility 27.8%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%EPU: +29.5% a year, volatility 24.9%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%EME: +43.0% a year, volatility 35.3%PHSPY (S&P 500)CWNVTMOG-AESLTGEHEICAHLLYMFGSMFGHSBCEPUDXJEME
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than PH?

Investments that beat PH over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat PH over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks PH's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than PH follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than PH's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× PH's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than PH's.

Screen the whole market against PH for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 15 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with PH?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
PHParker-Hannifin Corporation · this page
+27.4%28.8%0.99−54.7%+789%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.640.09%
Popular alternativesbest 1 shownThe investments people most often weigh against PH. 1 of 25 passed at least one test.
CWCurtiss-Wright Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Higher return, similar volatility+30.8%28.7%1.08−48.7%+512%0.51—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 5 shownEverything else in Industrial Machinery and the categories next to it (Infrastructure, Electrical Equipment, Aerospace & Defense, Industrial Distribution), plus PH's specific themes. 5 of 90 passed at least one test.
NVTnVent Electric plc · Electrical Equipment
Higher return in most periods+35.4%38.0%0.99−56.2%—0.53—
MOG-AMoog Inc. · Aerospace & Defense
Higher return in most periods+36.6%32.0%1.14−63.7%+595%0.60—
ESLTElbit Systems Ltd. · Aerospace & Defense
Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+39.8%34.6%1.15−35.4%+765%0.05—
GEGE Aerospace · Aerospace & Defense
Higher return, similar volatility+36.0%31.0%1.15−80.9%+139%0.68—
HEIHEICO Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Smaller losses in recent crashes+17.3%27.8%0.71−57.7%+809%0.49—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 62 of 3,518 passed at least one test.
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.46—
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%0.11—
MFGMizuho Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+33.6%30.6%1.10−45.7%+345%0.36—
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+33.7%29.4%1.14−47.6%+474%0.36—
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc · Banks
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods+33.1%25.9%1.24−62.3%+319%0.25—
EPUiShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF · International
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods+29.5%24.9%1.17−51.0%+275%0.350.59%
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
On the frontierSimilar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.440.48%
EMEEMCOR Group, Inc. · Engineering & Construction
Higher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+43.0%35.3%1.20−48.0%+1,202%0.57—
What these numbers mean for PH
Annual return
PH returned 27.4% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $33,500. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
PH's volatility over the past 5 years was 28.8%, 1.7 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, PH's return lands within 28.8% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
PH's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.99, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so PH earned more for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
PH's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 54.7%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 54.7% fall takes a 121% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, PH's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.64 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against PH instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a PH holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 5 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than PH with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. Best first; funds that hold the same thing are listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with PHExpense
1
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.46—
2
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc · Banks
Whole market+33.1%25.9%1.24−62.3%+319%0.25—
3
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.27—
4
BLXBladex, Inc. · Banks - Regional
Whole market+31.4%25.9%1.19−68.5%+290%0.57—
5
EPUiShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF · International
Whole market+29.5%24.9%1.17−51.0%+275%0.350.59%

PH against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against PH, compared period by period and year by year.

How do PH's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at PH, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than PH with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityPH: 27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CW: 30.8% a year, volatility 28.7%SWK: −9.6% a year, volatility 38.3%DE: 14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%ROK: 7.8% a year, volatility 32.3%TKR: 11.2% a year, volatility 33.1%DHR: −3.8% a year, volatility 29.1%ITT: 17.1% a year, volatility 29.8%RRX: 1.8% a year, volatility 41.7%FLS: 15.4% a year, volatility 36.6%ETN: 20.4% a year, volatility 32.1%IR: 8.1% a year, volatility 30.4%BA: −2.5% a year, volatility 36.8%CAT: 31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%HWM: 47.3% a year, volatility 32.5%RTX: 18.6% a year, volatility 24.3%AME: 14.4% a year, volatility 22.1%NDSN: 7.1% a year, volatility 25.2%IEX: 2.7% a year, volatility 24.0%EMR: 12.7% a year, volatility 27.7%ITW: 6.7% a year, volatility 21.4%GGG: 3.5% a year, volatility 22.9%AOS: −0.4% a year, volatility 27.6%DOV: 4.4% a year, volatility 25.1%HON: 1.5% a year, volatility 22.8%XYL: −2.5% a year, volatility 26.5%PHSPY (S&P 500)CWSWKDEROKTKRDHRITTRRXFLSETNIRBACATHWMRTXAMENDSNIEXEMRITWGGGAOSDOVHONXYL15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityPH: 27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%CW: 30.8% a year, volatility 28.7%SWK: −9.6% a year, volatility 38.3%DE: 14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%ROK: 7.8% a year, volatility 32.3%TKR: 11.2% a year, volatility 33.1%DHR: −3.8% a year, volatility 29.1%ITT: 17.1% a year, volatility 29.8%RRX: 1.8% a year, volatility 41.7%FLS: 15.4% a year, volatility 36.6%ETN: 20.4% a year, volatility 32.1%IR: 8.1% a year, volatility 30.4%BA: −2.5% a year, volatility 36.8%CAT: 31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%HWM: 47.3% a year, volatility 32.5%RTX: 18.6% a year, volatility 24.3%AME: 14.4% a year, volatility 22.1%NDSN: 7.1% a year, volatility 25.2%IEX: 2.7% a year, volatility 24.0%EMR: 12.7% a year, volatility 27.7%ITW: 6.7% a year, volatility 21.4%GGG: 3.5% a year, volatility 22.9%AOS: −0.4% a year, volatility 27.6%DOV: 4.4% a year, volatility 25.1%HON: 1.5% a year, volatility 22.8%XYL: −2.5% a year, volatility 26.5%PHSPY (S&P 500)CWSWKDEROKTKRDHRITTRRXFLSETNIRBACATHWMRTXNDSNIEXITWGGGAOSXYL
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
HWM Howmet Aerospace Inc.+47.3%32.5%
CAT Caterpillar Inc.+31.1%31.9%
CW Curtiss-Wright Corporation+30.8%28.7%
PH This pageParker-Hannifin Corporation+27.4%28.8%
ETN Eaton Corporation plc+20.4%32.1%
RTX RTX Corporation+18.6%24.3%
ITT ITT Inc.+17.1%29.8%
FLS Flowserve Corporation+15.4%36.6%
AME AMETEK, Inc.+14.4%22.1%
DE Deere & Company+14.4%29.9%
EMR Emerson Electric Co.+12.7%27.7%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
TKR The Timken Company+11.2%33.1%
IR Ingersoll Rand Inc.+8.1%30.4%
ROK Rockwell Automation, Inc.+7.8%32.3%
NDSN Nordson Corporation+7.1%25.2%
ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc.+6.7%21.4%
DOV Dover Corporation+4.4%25.1%
GGG Graco Inc.+3.5%22.9%
IEX IDEX Corporation+2.7%24.0%
RRX Regal Rexnord Corporation+1.8%41.7%
HON Honeywell International Inc.+1.5%22.8%
AOS A. O. Smith Corporation−0.4%27.6%
XYL Xylem Inc.−2.5%26.5%
BA The Boeing Company−2.5%36.8%
DHR Danaher Corporation−3.8%29.1%
SWK Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.−9.6%38.3%
Open these 27 in EasyCompare

Has PH consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares PH with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than PH helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than PH over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
PH Parker-Hannifin Corporation (this page)—−1.4%−0.4%−4.8%+6.3%+28.7%+161%+235%+789%28.8%0.99−54.7%—$119B—
CAT Agricultural - MachineryCaterpillar Inc.2/5 short3/3 long−11.2%−15.9%−8.8%+22.2%+37.7%+203%+288%+936%31.9%1.01−43.4%—$333B—
HWM Aerospace & DefenseHowmet Aerospace Inc.0/5 short3/3 long−6.9%−22.1%−17.1%+0.1%+10.2%+391%+594%+1,028%32.5%1.36−68.9%—$84B—
RTX Aerospace & DefenseRTX Corporation2/5 short1/3 long−0.5%−0.2%−0.5%+4.4%+22.1%+183%+135%+317%24.3%0.83−52.0%—$261B—
CW Aerospace & DefenseCurtiss-Wright Corporation0/5 short1/3 long−12.8%−30.1%−32.1%−13.4%−11.6%+148%+283%+512%28.7%1.08−48.7%—$18B—
AME Electrical Equipment & PartsAMETEK, Inc.5/5 short0/3 long+2.5%+5.3%+4.8%+18.8%+32.8%+78.1%+96.1%+481%22.1%0.72−42.7%—$57B—
NDSN Industrial - MachineryNordson Corporation5/5 short0/3 long+4.0%+15.0%+16.2%+36.9%+40.5%+57.7%+40.9%+262%25.2%0.40−44.2%—$18B—
IEX Industrial - MachineryIDEX Corporation5/5 short0/3 long+5.1%+5.7%+14.1%+32.0%+41.9%+26.1%+14.1%+205%24.0%0.23−35.5%—$17B—
SWK Manufacturing - Tools & AccessoriesStanley Black & Decker, Inc.5/5 short0/3 long+6.1%+8.5%+27.7%+26.8%+42.0%+36.2%−39.7%+2.0%38.3%-0.07−71.3%—$14B—
DE Agricultural - MachineryDeere & Company4/5 short0/3 long−7.5%+8.1%+6.9%+36.5%+38.3%+75.4%+96.1%+755%29.9%0.60−37.9%—$170B—
EMR Industrial - MachineryEmerson Electric Co.4/5 short0/3 long+5.8%+17.9%+10.1%+19.5%+25.0%+84.9%+82.1%+309%27.7%0.57−50.8%—$90B—
ITW Industrial - MachineryIllinois Tool Works Inc.4/5 short0/3 long+3.5%+1.9%+2.1%+12.3%+11.7%+32.1%+38.4%+208%21.4%0.41−37.9%—$78B—
ROK Industrial - MachineryRockwell Automation, Inc.3/5 short0/3 long+0.7%−6.4%+4.1%+8.4%+22.9%+68.9%+45.6%+335%32.3%0.40−45.1%—$48B—
TKR Manufacturing - Tools & AccessoriesThe Timken Company3/5 short0/3 long−1.3%−15.5%+5.1%+32.5%+52.9%+70.5%+70.1%+303%33.1%0.49−58.3%—$7.9B—
DHR Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchDanaher Corporation3/5 short0/3 long+4.0%+11.6%+15.0%−2.2%+8.3%+10.8%−17.6%+232%29.1%0.01−43.8%—$157B—
ITT Industrial - MachineryITT Inc.2/5 short0/3 long−4.6%+2.8%−9.8%+13.3%+14.6%+112%+121%+539%29.8%0.68−49.5%—$18B—
GGG Industrial - MachineryGraco Inc.2/5 short0/3 long+6.3%+10.5%−6.3%−0.5%−0.1%+20.3%+18.5%+263%22.9%0.26−30.6%—$13B—
RRX Industrial - MachineryRegal Rexnord Corporation2/5 short0/3 long+3.8%−23.9%−24.7%+7.4%+8.5%+30.6%+9.3%+212%41.7%0.25−48.1%—$10B—
FLS Industrial - MachineryFlowserve Corporation2/5 short0/3 long−6.1%+5.1%−15.7%−0.3%+38.1%+97.4%+104%+94.5%36.6%0.57−64.8%—$8.9B—
AOS Industrial - MachineryA. O. Smith Corporation2/5 short0/3 long+4.5%+1.7%−8.2%−11.4%−12.8%−5.4%−1.8%+46.1%27.6%0.12−46.8%—$8.1B—
ETN Electrical Equipment & PartsEaton Corporation plc1/5 short0/3 long−12.3%−4.6%−5.8%+17.7%+2.3%+104%+153%+657%32.1%0.74−44.5%—$148B—
DOV Industrial - MachineryDover Corporation1/5 short0/3 long+5.9%−5.7%−10.7%+1.5%+17.9%+51.3%+24.2%+320%25.1%0.30−45.2%—$27B—
HON ConglomeratesHoneywell International Inc.1/5 short0/3 long+3.3%−5.4%−10.7%+5.2%+6.8%+27.0%+7.5%+160%22.8%0.18−43.0%—$68B—
IR Industrial - MachineryIngersoll Rand Inc.1/5 short0/3 long+8.7%−2.0%−8.6%−1.4%+0.3%+30.4%+47.6%—30.4%0.41−49.1%—$30B—
XYL Industrial - MachineryXylem Inc.0/5 short0/3 long−2.1%−12.6%−12.1%−22.5%−27.4%+18.7%−11.7%+143%26.5%0.04−46.7%—$25B—
BA Aerospace & DefenseThe Boeing Company0/5 short0/3 long−5.3%−9.1%−15.4%−16.4%−12.2%+5.8%−11.9%+52.4%36.8%0.12−77.9%—$151B—
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How did PH do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where PH ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with PH and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of PH; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places PH among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of PH20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997
PH This pageParker-Hannifin Corporation—+39.5%+39.6%+60.8%−6.9%+18.3%+34.8%+40.7%−24.0%+44.3%+47.6%−23.1%+2.0%+53.9%+13.7%−10.1%+62.7%+29.4%−42.5%+48.6%+18.0%−11.8%+28.9%+31.2%+2.1%+5.7%−12.5%+59.3%−27.5%+80.2%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 9 of 295 of 265 of 261 of 2615 of 2617 of 266 of 2612 of 2622 of 2610 of 253 of 2522 of 2516 of 258 of 2519 of 2518 of 244 of 2417 of 2416 of 243 of 2411 of 2424 of 2410 of 2416 of 2411 of 2415 of 2419 of 243 of 2418 of 241 of 24
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF10 of 29+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%−9.8%+20.4%+28.7%+33.5%
CAT Caterpillar Inc.14 of 29+60.3%+24.7%+25.9%+18.6%+16.0%+27.0%+19.5%−17.6%+75.0%+42.1%−23.0%+3.5%+3.4%+1.6%−1.5%+68.5%+33.2%−36.8%+20.5%+7.8%+20.7%+19.7%+86.1%−9.8%+13.7%+4.1%+4.7%−3.0%+31.2%
HWM Howmet Aerospace Inc.12 of 29+87.9%+103%+37.8%+24.2%+11.7%−7.2%+83.6%−37.5%+48.4%−11.5%−36.3%+50.9%+25.6%+2.9%−42.9%−2.8%+51.3%−67.4%+26.4%+5.5%−1.8%−14.1%+75.3%−33.1%+9.8%−15.9%+133%+7.0%+11.8%
RTX RTX Corporation15 of 29+61.4%+40.8%−14.4%+20.0%+23.3%−16.7%+44.1%−14.5%+19.3%+17.3%−14.3%+3.4%+42.0%+15.3%−4.8%+16.4%+33.4%−28.4%+24.6%+13.8%+10.2%+10.9%+55.5%−2.6%−16.8%+22.7%+21.1%+51.8%+11.7%
CW Curtiss-Wright Corporation16 of 29+55.7%+59.7%+34.0%+21.0%+19.9%−16.8%+38.7%−15.8%+24.5%+44.4%−2.2%+14.3%+91.4%−6.0%+7.5%+7.1%−5.2%−32.9%+36.2%+36.9%−4.3%+28.4%+42.3%+34.9%+3.9%+27.8%−1.8%+6.3%+46.4%
AME AMETEK, Inc.15 of 29+14.7%+10.0%+18.8%−4.3%+22.3%+22.2%+48.3%−5.9%+50.0%−8.6%+2.5%+0.5%+41.0%+34.6%+7.9%+54.8%+27.6%−35.1%+47.9%+13.0%+20.0%+48.9%+26.4%+21.4%+23.7%+37.7%−13.6%−16.8%+22.4%
NDSN Nordson Corporation14 of 29+17.0%−20.2%+12.4%−5.9%+28.1%+24.5%+37.9%−17.6%+31.8%+76.8%−16.7%+6.0%+18.8%+54.8%−9.5%+52.0%+93.0%−43.5%+17.9%+24.9%+3.0%+17.7%+42.9%−3.8%+5.8%+8.0%−4.2%+14.1%−26.9%
IEX IDEX Corporation14 of 29−13.7%−2.4%−3.8%−2.2%+19.8%+17.2%+37.9%−3.2%+48.5%+19.5%0.0%+7.0%+61.3%+27.9%−3.5%+27.8%+31.5%−32.1%+15.8%+16.8%+2.7%+48.2%+29.3%−3.6%+6.1%+11.2%+26.6%−28.5%+33.4%
SWK Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.10 of 29−3.2%−15.2%+35.5%−58.9%+7.3%+9.7%+41.2%−28.1%+49.2%+9.6%+13.4%+21.9%+11.8%+12.4%+3.6%+32.9%+56.6%−27.5%−1.5%+7.2%+0.5%+32.7%+13.5%−23.8%+53.0%+7.3%+11.8%−39.9%+77.9%
DE Deere & Company15 of 29+11.4%+7.6%−5.5%+26.6%+28.9%+58.0%+18.3%−2.9%+54.8%+39.0%−11.3%−0.5%+8.2%+14.3%−5.0%+56.3%+44.8%−58.1%+98.6%+42.3%−6.6%+16.3%+44.4%+7.1%−2.6%+8.1%+34.8%−42.3%+46.1%
EMR Emerson Electric Co.9 of 29+8.9%+29.7%+3.8%+5.7%+18.2%+8.6%+31.6%−11.9%+29.1%+21.0%−19.7%−9.6%+36.1%+17.3%−16.3%+37.8%+20.7%−33.6%+31.5%+20.7%+9.2%+11.0%+31.4%−8.3%−25.7%+40.8%−3.0%+9.2%+19.1%
ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc.12 of 29−0.4%−1.0%+21.6%−8.5%+23.6%+16.4%+45.6%−22.1%+38.9%+35.0%+0.1%+15.0%+41.4%+33.6%−10.0%+14.4%+41.4%−32.7%+18.0%+7.1%−3.7%+11.7%+31.1%−2.9%+15.2%−10.6%+17.6%−2.6%+51.9%
ROK Rockwell Automation, Inc.14 of 29+38.4%−6.2%+22.6%−24.8%+41.2%+26.2%+37.9%−21.8%+48.9%+34.5%−5.5%−3.9%+43.8%+17.2%+4.5%+56.1%+50.9%−51.9%+14.9%+4.7%+21.3%+41.8%+76.5%+20.0%−11.3%+5.5%+168%−1.9%+37.1%
TKR The Timken Company12 of 29+20.0%−9.5%+15.4%+3.9%−9.0%+40.4%+54.7%−22.2%+26.7%+43.2%−31.1%+11.9%+17.1%+26.1%−17.5%+105%+24.1%−38.5%+15.0%−7.0%+25.9%+32.6%+8.4%+21.5%+11.8%−22.6%+12.3%−43.6%+53.4%
DHR Danaher Corporation17 of 29+0.4%−0.4%−1.2%−19.0%+48.6%+45.4%+49.5%+11.8%+20.0%+73.2%+9.3%+11.6%+38.3%+19.1%−0.1%+25.7%+33.0%−35.4%+21.3%+30.1%−2.7%+25.3%+39.7%+9.1%−11.7%+41.5%−11.0%+72.4%+35.2%
ITT ITT Inc.13 of 29+22.5%+20.8%+48.9%−19.5%+33.9%+5.5%+54.6%−8.6%+40.1%+7.6%−9.1%−5.9%+87.4%+23.4%−1.5%+6.7%+10.0%−29.6%+17.1%+11.3%+22.5%+14.8%+23.3%+21.3%+31.9%+17.8%−14.7%+28.4%+30.7%
GGG Graco Inc.15 of 29−1.5%−1.7%+30.6%−15.5%+12.6%+41.0%+25.9%−6.3%+65.6%+17.4%−8.6%+4.2%+54.1%+28.4%+5.8%+41.6%+24.3%−34.8%−4.4%+10.1%−0.8%+49.2%+41.5%+11.1%+43.8%+17.3%+23.6%+20.3%+54.9%
RRX Regal Rexnord Corporation13 of 29−8.6%+5.7%+24.6%−28.7%+46.6%+45.5%+24.1%−7.2%+12.1%+20.2%−21.1%+3.2%+5.8%+39.8%−22.7%+29.9%+38.9%−14.1%−13.3%+50.1%+25.8%+32.6%+9.0%−2.8%+31.1%−14.9%−8.2%−20.7%+53.3%
FLS Flowserve Corporation13 of 29+22.5%+41.9%+37.3%+3.1%−15.0%−23.9%+33.7%−8.2%−11.2%+16.0%−28.6%−23.4%+62.6%+49.6%−15.6%+27.6%+86.1%−45.8%+92.3%+27.4%+43.8%+32.0%+41.0%−44.4%+24.3%+25.8%+6.1%−39.5%+5.0%
AOS A. O. Smith Corporation13 of 29+0.1%−15.9%+46.7%−32.1%+59.3%+17.5%+13.7%−29.4%+30.8%+25.0%+37.4%+5.9%+73.1%+59.1%+6.8%+34.9%+50.3%−13.6%−4.9%+8.7%+19.8%−12.7%+32.7%+41.4%+17.3%−20.1%−8.9%−10.5%+43.2%
ETN Eaton Corporation plc13 of 29−2.8%+39.5%+56.2%−7.2%+46.7%+31.0%+42.8%−10.0%+21.5%+33.8%−20.7%−8.2%+44.2%+28.6%−11.8%+64.0%+33.3%−47.1%+31.6%+14.4%−5.4%+36.5%+41.1%+7.6%+40.8%+6.0%+5.3%−19.0%+30.7%
DOV Dover Corporation13 of 29+5.2%+23.4%+15.2%−24.3%+45.7%+11.5%+65.8%−11.0%+37.7%+25.4%−12.4%−8.8%+49.5%+15.7%+1.4%+43.7%+30.3%−26.9%−4.4%+22.9%−1.8%+7.2%+38.7%−20.1%−7.3%−9.7%+25.4%+2.5%+44.6%
HON Honeywell International Inc.10 of 29−6.3%+10.2%+0.1%+5.0%−0.2%+23.1%+36.9%−7.5%+35.2%+14.3%+4.9%+10.6%+45.8%+18.5%+3.8%+37.8%+21.9%−45.9%+37.5%+23.1%+6.6%+7.3%+41.6%−28.0%−27.7%−17.2%+31.0%+15.1%+16.7%
IR Ingersoll Rand Inc.2 of 8−12.3%+17.1%+48.2%−15.4%+35.9%+27.0%+92.8%−35.3%—————————————————————
XYL Xylem Inc.4 of 14+18.8%+2.6%+4.8%−6.6%+18.9%+30.9%+19.6%−1.0%+39.5%+37.6%−2.6%+11.6%+29.8%+7.1%———————————————
BA The Boeing Company10 of 29+22.7%−32.1%+36.8%−5.4%−5.9%−33.9%+3.3%+11.5%+94.7%+11.3%+14.1%−2.5%+84.7%+5.2%+15.2%+23.6%+31.8%−50.1%−0.1%+28.4%+37.9%+24.9%+30.4%−13.4%−40.4%+61.2%+28.7%−32.5%−7.1%
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Risk and diversification

How PH has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were PH's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents PH's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means PH fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringPH fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
2008 financial crisis−66.9%−50.6%May 2008Mar 200910 monthsNov 201020 months
No named crash−57.6%—Oct 1987Oct 19903 yearsApr 19943.5 years
Covid crash−54.7%−33.4%Feb 2020Mar 20201 monthSep 20206 months
No named crash−47.3%−8.3%Apr 1998Sep 19985 monthsDec 199915 months
Dot-com bust−38.3%+0.4%Jan 2000Aug 20007 monthsFeb 200218 months

How did PH do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far PH, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than PH.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
PH This pageParker-Hannifin Corporation—−8.4%−27.3%−54.7%−25.6%−8.1%−23.7%−30.4%−3.5%−66.9%−36.5%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF9 of 10−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
CAT Caterpillar Inc.3 of 10−9.7%−30.1%−33.1%−28.5%−7.3%−26.0%−33.2%−2.2%−73.3%−42.5%
HWM Howmet Aerospace Inc.2 of 10−8.5%−20.2%−64.8%−30.8%−16.0%−38.4%−43.5%0.0%−87.3%−58.3%
RTX RTX Corporation8 of 10−1.5%−21.9%−50.5%−27.7%−7.1%−15.4%−23.1%−2.5%−52.0%−52.1%
CW Curtiss-Wright Corporation8 of 10−4.4%−20.5%−47.8%−29.6%−9.6%−12.9%−19.3%−1.7%−59.2%−33.7%
AME AMETEK, Inc.9 of 10−3.7%−26.4%−42.0%−22.1%−6.7%−21.9%−30.3%−1.2%−53.3%−34.9%
NDSN Nordson Corporation7 of 10−4.4%−21.5%−42.1%−23.8%−5.7%−28.4%−33.9%−2.9%−73.6%−34.8%
IEX IDEX Corporation7 of 10−2.0%−26.1%−34.3%−23.8%−7.9%−13.1%−33.3%−3.3%−58.3%−33.9%
SWK Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.4 of 10−4.5%−60.7%−55.3%−29.7%−6.7%−18.2%−31.3%−4.0%−58.9%−41.3%
DE Deere & Company6 of 10−6.7%−33.8%−37.4%−17.5%−6.9%−24.9%−24.2%0.0%−73.3%−37.3%
EMR Emerson Electric Co.8 of 10−4.3%−25.4%−47.2%−28.8%−5.9%−15.9%−25.8%0.0%−56.1%−43.6%
ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc.8 of 10−2.9%−28.0%−37.9%−19.3%−8.4%−14.0%−29.0%−1.1%−54.9%−30.8%
ROK Rockwell Automation, Inc.3 of 10−5.4%−43.8%−42.4%−27.5%−7.9%−23.6%−37.5%−1.4%−74.7%−42.0%
TKR The Timken Company2 of 10−8.7%−30.0%−53.6%−33.5%−12.1%−29.2%−36.3%−2.8%−72.5%−44.8%
DHR Danaher Corporation9 of 10−3.2%−22.8%−25.9%−13.4%−9.8%−14.0%−21.8%−0.6%−45.7%−33.7%
ITT ITT Inc.5 of 10−7.7%−37.8%−46.4%−25.9%−8.7%−25.4%−28.3%−3.4%−52.4%−20.6%
GGG Graco Inc.7 of 10−3.9%−27.4%−30.6%−20.1%−8.6%−16.5%−35.8%0.0%−64.7%−24.8%
RRX Regal Rexnord Corporation6 of 10−6.7%−37.1%−40.8%−21.7%−6.5%−31.6%−37.2%−1.3%−50.4%−44.7%
FLS Flowserve Corporation1 of 10−7.1%−33.4%−58.5%−35.3%−9.4%−26.6%−36.7%−3.6%−73.1%−76.8%
AOS A. O. Smith Corporation4 of 10−2.4%−42.1%−21.9%−30.3%−6.8%−23.3%−31.6%−3.8%−54.1%−47.9%
ETN Eaton Corporation plc7 of 10−4.5%−26.3%−44.5%−26.0%−6.7%−22.3%−34.6%−1.4%−68.5%−31.6%
DOV Dover Corporation7 of 10−5.9%−35.6%−45.0%−25.1%−6.8%−20.9%−32.8%−1.5%−58.2%−54.1%
HON Honeywell International Inc.9 of 10−1.4%−22.7%−42.2%−22.1%−6.8%−14.4%−25.3%−1.8%−62.2%−65.8%
IR Ingersoll Rand Inc.2 of 5−8.0%−34.3%−49.1%−34.4%−7.6%—————
XYL Xylem Inc.5 of 6−3.8%−37.9%−35.9%−24.2%−7.2%−12.9%————
BA The Boeing Company5 of 10−2.9%−48.7%−71.9%−24.7%−5.7%−26.8%−20.5%−1.8%−70.0%−57.1%
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How closely does PH move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares PH with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than PH's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
PH This pageParker-Hannifin Corporation141%126%1.111.43
DE Deere & Company110%66%1.670.98
ETN Eaton Corporation plc114%80%1.431.16
CW Curtiss-Wright Corporation103%77%1.331.20
HWM Howmet Aerospace Inc.142%115%1.231.41
CAT Caterpillar Inc.148%122%1.211.27
AME AMETEK, Inc.111%101%1.101.15
RTX RTX Corporation94%91%1.020.89
DHR Danaher Corporation84%84%1.010.75
ITT ITT Inc.135%138%0.981.42
GGG Graco Inc.90%92%0.980.78
NDSN Nordson Corporation102%112%0.910.98
ROK Rockwell Automation, Inc.122%138%0.881.46
RRX Regal Rexnord Corporation95%110%0.861.18
TKR The Timken Company123%145%0.851.45
DOV Dover Corporation114%133%0.851.27
EMR Emerson Electric Co.124%153%0.811.39
ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc.94%116%0.811.04
IEX IDEX Corporation97%121%0.801.03
HON Honeywell International Inc.90%118%0.771.00
XYL Xylem Inc.90%123%0.731.03
FLS Flowserve Corporation119%188%0.631.49
BA The Boeing Company93%152%0.611.42
AOS A. O. Smith Corporation82%139%0.591.12
SWK Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.101%198%0.511.30
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What diversifies PH?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with PH's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing PH with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which PH lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% PH and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2022201820152011200820052000199880/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
PH Parker-Hannifin Corporation (this page)1.00+235%0.99−6.9%−24.0%−23.1%−10.1%−42.5%−11.8%−12.5%−27.5%27.4%+29.5%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.44+225%1.34+6.0%−19.8%+7.7%−16.1%−20.8%———23.1%+29.5%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF0.40+323%0.97−33.5%−9.1%−0.3%+6.8%−44.7%+10.8%——25.5%+32.1%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.03+126%0.96−0.8%−1.9%−10.7%+9.6%+4.9%+17.8%——22.3%+28.1%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF0.32+177%0.93+64.4%−18.2%−21.5%+2.8%−39.0%+40.1%+24.4%—24.1%+29.1%
EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF0.29+153%0.89−28.9%−9.9%−12.9%−21.8%−45.3%+4.7%——23.9%+28.8%
IDV InternationaliShares International Select Dividend ETF0.44+82.6%0.86−6.5%−10.4%−10.7%−7.2%−52.1%———23.6%+26.7%
EDIV InternationalState Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF0.39+69.9%0.84−15.3%−6.2%−27.4%—————23.1%+26.2%
PTLC Broad MarketPacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF0.43+57.4%0.83−8.6%+1.5%——————23.0%+26.0%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2022201820152011200820052000199880/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
PH Parker-Hannifin Corporation (this page)1.00+235%0.99−6.9%−24.0%−23.1%−10.1%−42.5%−11.8%−12.5%−27.5%27.4%+29.5%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.46+479%1.55+54.1%−24.5%+12.6%+8.1%−39.6%+18.7%+108%+51.7%24.8%+31.9%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.37+3,143%1.47+1.3%−16.3%−6.0%−24.4%−20.5%−25.2%−2.3%—28.4%+45.7%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.27+413%1.44+51.8%−28.4%−4.5%+11.8%−40.4%+64.9%+61.2%+46.9%23.8%+31.4%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.21+690%1.41+86.6%−8.2%+17.4%—————24.1%+34.5%
ATI Manufacturing - Metal FabricationATI Inc.0.48+1,008%1.34+87.5%−9.8%−66.7%−12.2%−70.0%+68.2%−26.5%—27.8%+37.2%
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Common questions

What was PH's worst drawdown?

PH's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 66.9%, from May 2008 to March 2009. It took 20 months from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were PH's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, PH's best year was 1997, when it returned 80.1%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -42.6%.

Is there a better investment than PH?

Among PH's popular alternatives, CW earned more than PH over the past 5 years with similar volatility: 30.8% a year at 28.7% volatility, against 27.4% a year at 28.8%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, ESLT (aerospace & defense) earned more for the risk it took than PH over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 35.4%, against 54.7% for PH.

Is PH more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. PH's volatility over the past 5 years was 28.8%, 1.7 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, PH's return lands within 28.8% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is PH's Sharpe ratio?

PH's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.99, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so PH earned more for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is PH with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, PH's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.64 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against PH instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a PH holding.

What are the best alternatives to PH?

None of the 25 popular alternatives we compared outperformed PH in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, which says more about PH's strength than about its alternatives.

Did PH outperform the S&P 500?

PH finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 19 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +39.5%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did PH do in stock market crashes?

PH fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in one of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in nine. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when PH fell 54.7% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.

What diversifies PH?

These had a low correlation with PH over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.44), SMH (correlation 0.40) and GLD (correlation 0.03); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.46), CLS (correlation 0.37) and MCK (correlation 0.27). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

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Popular alternatives to PH