LIVE
VRT
Vertiv Holdings Co · Industrials
$303.95
-4.93% this month
VERSUS
⟷
COMPARE
ETN
Eaton Corporation plc · Industrials
$402.68
-0.91% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
VRT
3
ETN
1
Comparison scoreboard
VRT LEADS 3/5AI Score
VRT ✓65.9
ETN 60.1
1Y Return
VRT ✓+145.79%
ETN +17.62%
Fwd P/E
VRT 34.35
ETN ✓26.83
Target Up.
VRT ✓+24.02%
ETN +7.10%
Op. Margin
VRT N/A
ETN 16.10%
Metrics last refreshed: 6/28/2026
Quick take
VRT vs ETN: Vertiv vs Eaton Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Vertiv is the pure-play AI data center infrastructure company with direct exposure to power and cooling for GPU-dense environments. Eaton is a diversified power management leader with data center exposure alongside utility, industrial, and vehicle markets. Vertiv has more concentrated AI upside; Eaton has more diversification and balance sheet strength.
Use this VRT vs ETN comparison to evaluate two ways to invest in AI data center power infrastructure. Vertiv offers pure-play data center power and cooling exposure; Eaton offers broader power management diversification with data center growth as one of several drivers.
Live analysis · updated 6/28/2026
VRT holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. VRT has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+145.79% vs +17.62%), though ETN trades at the lower forward P/E (26.83x vs 34.35x). Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for VRT (+24.02%) than for ETN (+7.10%).
Normalized 1Y performance
VRT
ETN
Recent returns
VRT
ETN
Analyst price targets & sentiment
VRT · 25 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Strong Buy (1.5/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$236.00
analyst high$500.00
analyst mean$376.96
current price$303.95
+24.0% upside to analyst mean
ETN
Price target range
analyst mean$451.73
current price$402.68
+7.1% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
VRT may suit investors who:
- →Want the most direct pure-play exposure to AI data center power and cooling infrastructure
- →Believe liquid cooling for GPU-dense racks is a massive growth opportunity that Vertiv leads
- →Value Vertiv's massive order backlog as providing multi-year revenue visibility
- →Are comfortable with higher leverage and more concentrated data center exposure
ETN may suit investors who:
- →Prefer diversified power management exposure across data centers, utilities, industrial, and vehicles
- →Value Eaton's stronger balance sheet, longer dividend history, and more conservative financial profile
- →Want AI data center exposure alongside grid modernization and infrastructure mega project tailwinds
- →Prefer a blue-chip industrial with more defensive characteristics during potential data center spending slowdowns
Performance & AI score
| Metric | VRT | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 65.9 | 60.1 |
| AI rank | #54 | #142 |
| Latest close | $303.95 | $402.68 |
| 1M return | -4.93% | -0.91% |
| 6M return | +82.23% | +24.41% |
| 1Y return | +145.79% | +17.62% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | VRT | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $24.61K (+146.1%) started 2025-06-26 | $11.57K (+15.7%) started 2025-06-26 |
| 5Y ago | $113.31K (+1033.1%) started 2021-06-28 | $31.57K (+215.7%) started 2021-06-28 |
| 10Y ago | $307.48K (+2974.8%) started 2018-08-02 | $111.14K (+1011.4%) started 2016-06-27 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | VRT | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $116.75B | $163.77B |
| Trailing P/E | 76.37 | 41.31 |
| Forward P/E | 34.35 | 26.83 |
| Price/Sales | 10.77 | N/A |
| EV/Revenue | 10.84 | 6.48 |
| Analyst target | $376.96 | $451.73 |
| Target upside | +24.02% | +7.10% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | VRT | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 30.10% | 16.80% |
| Earnings growth | 135.70% | -9.40% |
| EPS growth | +135.70% | -9.40% |
| FCF margin | +18.12% | +9.28% |
| Operating margin | N/A | 16.10% |
| Profit margin | 14.37% | 13.99% |
| ROIC proxy | 45.10% | 20.84% |
| Return on equity | 45.10% | 20.84% |
| Dividend yield | 0.08% | 1.04% |
| Beta | 2.04 | 1.19 |
| Debt/equity | 76.91 | 110.46 |
| Current ratio | 1.49 | 1.19 |
| Quick ratio | 1.06 | 0.69 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
VRT max drawdown25.32%
ETN max drawdown19.59%
VRT max wkly drop17.59%
ETN max wkly drop10.86%
5Y risk snapshot
VRT max drawdown71.24%
ETN max drawdown34.46%
VRT max wkly drop43.58%
ETN max wkly drop14.45%
10Y risk snapshot
VRT max drawdown71.24%
ETN max drawdown44.55%
VRT max wkly drop47.70%
ETN max wkly drop24.11%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | VRT | ETN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +145.79% | +15.67% |
| CAGR | +145.94% | +15.69% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.72 | 0.47 | |
| Max drawdown | 25.32% | 19.59% | |
| Max daily drop | 11.07% | 7.36% | |
| Max wkly drop | 17.59% | 10.86% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +1027.78% | +194.24% |
| CAGR | +62.44% | +24.12% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.03 | 0.72 | |
| Max drawdown | 71.24% | 34.46% | |
| Max daily drop | 36.74% | 15.56% | |
| Max wkly drop | 43.58% | 14.45% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +2958.72% | +787.75% |
| CAGR | +54.20% | +24.41% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.99 | 0.73 | |
| Max drawdown | 71.24% | 44.55% | |
| Max daily drop | 36.74% | 15.56% | |
| Max wkly drop | 47.70% | 24.11% |
Business comparison
| Category | VRT | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Vertiv Holdings Co | Eaton Corporation plc |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | Critical digital infrastructure provider offering power management (UPS, switchgear), thermal management (cooling systems), and IT management solutions for data centers, communication networks, and commercial facilities. | Diversified power management company providing electrical distribution, power quality, UPS systems, circuit protection, and vehicle components for data centers, utilities, industrial, and commercial buildings. |
| Investor focus | AI data center order growth, liquid cooling adoption, power density solutions, backlog-to-revenue conversion, and margin expansion from operating leverage. | Data center electrical distribution growth, grid modernization revenue, mega project backlog (reshoring, infrastructure), vehicle electrification, and margin expansion. |
VRT strengths
- →Pure-play critical infrastructure provider with the most direct exposure to AI data center power and cooling buildout
- →Liquid cooling leadership — Vertiv's rear-door and direct-to-chip cooling solutions are essential for high-density GPU racks
- →Massive order backlog driven by hyperscaler and enterprise data center capacity expansion provides multi-year revenue visibility
ETN strengths
- →Diversified power management leader serving data centers, utilities, industrial, commercial, and transportation markets
- →Electrical Americas segment is directly exposed to AI data center buildout, grid modernization, and infrastructure mega projects
- →Stronger balance sheet and more consistent dividend growth history than pure-play data center infrastructure companies
Risks to watch — VRT
- →Execution risk in converting large backlog to revenue — supply chain constraints could delay delivery timelines
- →Cyclical exposure to data center capital spending — any slowdown in hyperscaler capex would impact orders
- →Higher leverage than Eaton — Vertiv's balance sheet is more aggressive post-PE ownership
Risks to watch — ETN
- →Less pure-play data center exposure than Vertiv — broader industrial diversification dilutes the AI theme
- →Vehicle segment faces EV adoption uncertainty and cyclical commercial vehicle demand
- →Premium valuation for an industrial company — requires sustained growth execution across all segments
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