SafetyMargin.ioSafetyMargin.io
BlogWatchlistCompare
Compare Stocks › IEX vs PFE

IDEX Corporation (IEX) vs Pfizer Inc. (PFE): Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

As of 2026-09-17, IEX is overvalued at $223, with a DCF intrinsic value of $180 and a margin of safety of -24%. PFE is overvalued at $28, with an intrinsic value of $22 and a margin of safety of -23%. Of the two, PFE has the wider margin of safety.

IEX
IDEX Corporation
$222.64
VS
PFE
Pfizer Inc.
$27.66

Rewards

IEX
  • ★IDEX Corporation scores 84/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • ★Altman Z-Score of 4.68 indicates very low bankruptcy risk — the company is firmly in the safe zone.
PFE
  • ★Gross margin of 74.7% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Insiders have bought $3.0M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant skin in the game.

Risks

IEX
    PFE
    • ⚠ROIC has declined by 15.9 percentage points over the past 4 years, which may signal competitive erosion.
    • ⚠FCF yield of 7.9% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
    • ⚠PEG ratio of 12.56 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.

    Key Valuation Metrics

    Learn more →
    IEX
    PFE
    Valuation
    $555.61M
    Free Cash Flow
    $12.49B
    3.39%
    FCF Yield
    7.92%
    31.99
    Trailing P/E
    36.40
    23.13
    Forward P/E
    9.55
    Quality & Moat
    10.66%
    ROIC
    9.42%
    12.96%
    ROE
    5.01%
    44.73%
    Gross Margin
    74.72%
    1.68
    PEG Ratio
    12.56
    Balance Sheet Safety
    0.32
    Net Debt / Equity
    0.61
    N/A
    Interest Coverage
    N/A
    1.31
    Net Debt / EBITDA
    2.04
    1.32%
    Dividend Yield
    6.26%
    IEX: 6Ties: 1PFE: 5
    IEXPFE

    Historical Fundamentals

    Learn more →
    IEX

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    PFE

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    $1 Retained Earnings Test

    Learn more →
    IEX
    $-4.09
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Market Cap Declined
    Σ Retained
    $975.7M
    Δ Market Cap
    $-3.99B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
    PFE
    N/A
    Net losses over 3 years — test not applicable
    Company had negative cumulative retained earnings
    Σ Retained
    $-10.61B
    Δ Market Cap
    $-146.18B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

    Learn more →
    IEX
    23.7% Overvalued
    Price is 23.7% above estimated fair value
    Current Price: $222.64
    Fair Value: $179.94
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued
    PFE
    23.3% Overvalued
    Price is 23.3% above estimated fair value
    Current Price: $27.66
    Fair Value: $22.43
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued

    Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

    Learn more →
    IEX

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $223?

    +12.4%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +14.0%

    The market implies +12.4% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

    Standard FCF implies a demanding +14.0%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

    PFE

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $28?

    +6.2%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +5.3%

    The market implies +6.2% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

    Standard FCF implies a demanding +5.3%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

    Economic Moat Score

    Learn more →
    IEX
    84/100
    Wide Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Margin Stability is the standout factor.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
    PFE
    35/100
    No Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    No durable moat detected, though reinvestment efficiency shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.

    Forensic Accounting

    Learn more →
    IEX
    -2.53
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
    PFE
    -2.53
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Ownership Breakdown

    Learn more →
    IEX
    Insiders 0.2%Institutions 105.4%
    No. of Institutional Holders1,015
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
    PFE
    Insiders 0.1%Institutions 69.1%Retail & Other 30.8%
    No. of Institutional Holders3,645
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    Insider Buying Activity

    Learn more →
    IEX
    0
    Buys (3M)
    1
    Buys (12M)
    Total value (12M): $101,647
    CHRISTENSON CARL R
    Director
    $101,647
    @ $169.41 · 2025-11-05
    HELMKAMP KATRINA L.
    Director
    $399,026
    @ $159.61 · 2025-08-07
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
    PFE
    3
    Buys (3M)
    3
    Buys (12M)
    Total value (12M): $2.96M
    BOURLA ALBERT
    Chief Executive Officer
    $1.00M
    @ $26.34 · 2026-08-12
    BLAYLOCK RONALD E
    Director
    $998,821
    @ $25.46 · 2026-08-05
    BUCKLEY MORTIMER J.
    Director
    $960,369
    @ $25.52 · 2026-08-05
    BLAYLOCK RONALD E
    Director
    $499,072
    @ $25.65 · 2025-02-13
    GOTTLIEB SCOTT
    Director
    $28,240
    @ $28.24 · 2024-10-30
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

    Insider Selling Activity

    Learn more →
    IEX
    1
    Sells (3M)
    2
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $3.40M
    ANDERSON LISA M
    General Counsel
    $91,859
    @ $238.59 · 2026-08-12
    ASHLEMAN ERIC D
    Chief Executive Officer
    $3.31M
    @ $215.22 · 2026-05-11
    MAHENDRA AKHIL
    Chief Financial Officer
    $45,222
    @ $180.89 · 2025-06-05
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
    PFE
    1
    Sells (3M)
    2
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $134,661
    DAMICO JENNIFER B.
    Officer
    $83,261
    @ $25.40 · 2026-08-05
    DAMICO JENNIFER B.
    Officer
    $51,400
    @ $25.70 · 2026-06-09
    DAMICO JENNIFER B.
    Officer
    $64,825
    @ $25.93 · 2025-03-04
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

    🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

    Learn more →
    IEX
    FearGreed
    😐Neutral(56/100)

    "Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
    PFE
    FearGreed
    😐Neutral(60/100)

    "Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    ⚖️ Buffett Signal

    Learn more →
    IEX
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (56)
    PFE
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (60)
    View IEX Full AnalysisView PFE Full Analysis

    Frequently Asked Questions: IEX vs PFE

    Is IDEX Corporation or Pfizer Inc. more undervalued in 2026?▼

    Based on our discounted cash flow model, PFE trades at a -23.3% margin of safety (intrinsic value $22 vs. price $28), compared to IEX's -23.7% margin of safety (intrinsic $180 vs. $223).

    Which stock has a wider economic moat, IDEX Corporation or Pfizer Inc.?▼

    IEX scores 84/100 (Wide moat), while PFE scores 35/100 (None moat). The moat score measures competitive advantage durability across ROIC consistency, margin stability, revenue predictability, and reinvestment efficiency.

    Is Pfizer Inc. in financial distress?▼

    PFE's Altman Z-Score of 2.1 places it in the Grey zone, signaling elevated bankruptcy risk. IEX scores 4.7 (Safe zone). The Altman Z-Score is a five-factor model that predicts insolvency within two years; scores below 1.81 indicate significant distress.

    Which company has better free cash flow, IDEX Corporation or Pfizer Inc.?▼

    Pfizer Inc. (PFE) generates a 7.9% free cash flow yield, compared to IDEX Corporation's 3.4%. A higher FCF yield means the business converts more of its market value into cash that can be returned to shareholders or reinvested.

    Which stock has higher return on invested capital, IDEX Corporation or Pfizer Inc.?▼

    IEX earns 10.7% ROIC versus PFE's 9.4%. A higher ROIC means the company generates more profit per dollar of capital employed, a hallmark of durable competitive advantage in Buffett-style analysis.

    Which dividend is safer, IDEX Corporation's or Pfizer Inc.'s?▼

    IEX's dividend earns a safety score of 94/100 (Very Safe), compared to PFE's 24/100 (Unsafe). IEX has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years.

    IEX vs PFE: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026? | SafetyMargin.io