WSO vs XYL Stock Comparison
Compare WSO and XYL across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between WSO and XYL?
WSO leads the current stock comparison as Watsco, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from momentum and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Watsco, Inc. vs Xylem Inc.
WSO leads
WSO leads by 7 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum and Quality, and the lead has widened from 4 points over 30 sessions. Wall Street currently favors XYL on target upside.
Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support WSO, its lead is widening, and its current signal state is conflicted.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors WSO over XYL, 57 versus 50 as of Sep 11, 2026. WSO's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum and quality. WSO also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors XYL. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor WSO today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. WSO lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 4 to 7 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Watsco, Inc. and Xylem Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare WSO and XYL against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Momentum46 vs 24WSO +22
- Quality57 vs 52WSO +5
- Risk Resilience74 vs 69WSO +5
- Value57 vs 59Even
3 of 6 evidence groups favor WSO. WSO’s edge is concentrated in momentum and quality.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.
Largest factor move: Momentum +3
New signals
- 52-Week Low Proximity — bearish, risk, long horizon (2.6%)
Largest factor move: Momentum +1
No new signals fired.
WSO's lead was unchanged in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — WSO and XYL both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
WSO (Watsco, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum and quality.
XYL (Xylem Inc.): the counter-case, on technicals, analyst expectations.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
WSOWSO on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
WSOWSO on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
EvenThe two are level on Value.
Momentum
WSOWSO on the Momentum factor, by 22 points.
Lower downside
WSOWSO on Risk Resilience, by 5 points.
Analyst upside
XYLXYL on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors WSO, analyst targets favor XYL. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | WSO | XYL | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +28.6% | +39.9% | XYL has more room |
| Target dispersion | +38.4% | +23.4% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 4 | 8 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor WSO. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | WSO | 57 vs 50 |
| Fundamentals | WSOon balance | revenue growth 37.3% vs 9.9%; EPS growth 116.6% vs 40.5%; TTM ROE 16.8% vs 9.2%; gross margin 27.9% vs 39.2%; operating margin 9.3% vs 14.5% — WSO takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | Even | Value 57 vs 59 |
| Technicals | XYL | Price vs 50-day -7.7% vs -8.5%; vs 200-day -17% vs -13.9% |
| Risk Resilience | WSO | Risk Resilience 74 vs 69 |
| Analyst expectations | XYL | Target upside 28.6% vs 39.9% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of WSO and XYL and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 7 points.
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been widening. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on WSO.
How the comparison changed
119 daily snapshots · May 4 – Sep 10WSO lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 4 to 7 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- WSO +7
- 57 vs 50
- 7 sessions ago
- WSO +9
- 58 vs 49
- 30 sessions ago
- WSO +4
- 56 vs 52
- 90 sessions ago
- XYL +4
- 58 vs 62
The lead changed hands 3 times in this window, most recently on Aug 18 when WSO moved ahead of XYL.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
1 bullish / 3 bearish, conflicted
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (10.05%)
- 52-Week Low Proximity — bearish, risk, long horizon (2.6%)
- Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
0 bullish / 4 bearish
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (5.83%)
- 52-Week Low Proximity — bearish, risk, long horizon (0.4%)
- Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
WSO leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +1.07%, AIQ +1 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +0.38%, AIQ +1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1XYL closes the Momentum gap — currently 22 points behind, the largest single contributor to WSO's edge.
- 2XYL's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
- 3WSO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 3 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
WSO leads on balance| Metric | WSO | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 37.3% | 9.9% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 116.6% | 40.5% |
| Gross margin | 27.9% | 39.2% |
| Operating margin | 9.3% | 14.5% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 16.8% | 9.2% |
| Debt to equity | 0.18 | 0.29 |
Performance
Split across windows| Metric | WSO | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 0.5% | -12.6% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -17.2% | -0.5% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -16.9% | -12.9% |
| Year to date | -7.7% | -21.6% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -24% | -23.9% |
Technicals
XYL has the stronger structure| Metric | WSO | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 46.8 | 31 |
| ADX (14) | 29.9 | 29.3 |
| Price vs 50-day | -7.7% | -8.5% |
| Price vs 200-day | -17% | -13.9% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 25.1% | 24.5% |
Risk
WSO is the more resilient| Metric | WSO | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.12 | 0.81 |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.68 | -1.06 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.92 | -1.42 |
| Max drawdown | -33.8% | -30.9% |
| Current drawdown | -31.9% | -30.3% |
| Annualized volatility | 34.8% | 24.9% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -3.4% | -2.5% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, WSO or XYL?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, WSO is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 57 against XYL's 50. The edge comes from momentum and quality. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is WSO or XYL the better buy right now?
WSO carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor WSO over XYL?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. WSO leads Momentum by 22 points; WSO leads Quality by 5 points; WSO leads Risk Resilience by 5 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, WSO or XYL?
Analyst price targets imply +28.6% upside for WSO and +39.9% for XYL, so the Street currently favors XYL. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors WSO. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, WSO or XYL?
Neither name separates on the peer-relative Value factor. The two are level on Value. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, WSO or XYL?
WSO on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, WSO or XYL?
WSO on the Momentum factor, by 22 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, WSO or XYL?
WSO is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. WSO on Risk Resilience, by 5 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is WSO more profitable than XYL?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 27.9% vs 39.2%; operating margin 9.3% vs 14.5%; ttm roe 16.8% vs 9.2%. WSO leads on one measure and XYL on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is WSO's lead over XYL getting stronger or weaker?
WSO lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 4 to 7 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has changed hands 3 times in that window, most recently on 2026-08-18, when WSO moved ahead of XYL.
What would change the WSO vs XYL verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: XYL closes the Momentum gap — currently 22 points behind, the largest single contributor to WSO's edge; XYL's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; WSO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 3 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about WSO and XYL?
WSO: 1 bullish / 3 bearish, conflicted. XYL: 0 bullish / 4 bearish. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on WSO is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon). On XYL it is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon).
Compare WSO and XYL with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.