BWXT vs LDOS

For growth investors, BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) is the stronger pick with 18. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 1% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) a "Buy" — based on 16 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the cheapest at 12. 1x versus BWX Technologies, Inc. at 59. 9x. On forward P/E, Leidos Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Leidos Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 55x versus BWX Technologies, Inc. 's 10. 88x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) delivered a total return of +236. 3%, compared to +37. 1% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BWXT returned +574. 3% versus LDOS's +230. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 42β versus BWX Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 60β — meaning BWXT is approximately 278% more volatile than LDOS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 119% versus 163% for BWX Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) is pulling ahead at 18. 3% versus 3. 1% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Leidos Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 20. 7% year-over-year, compared to 16. 9% for BWX Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BWXT leads at 12. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 3% net margin versus 8. 5% for Leidos Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LDOS leads at 12. 3% versus 10. 1% for BWXT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BWXT leads at 22. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 55x versus BWX Technologies, Inc. 's 10. 88x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 46. 7x for BWX Technologies, Inc. — 35. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LDOS: 51. 2% to $204. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 0. 5% for BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Leidos Holdings, Inc.

(LDOS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 42), 1. 2% yield, +230. 5% 10Y return). BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) carries a higher beta of 1. 60 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LDOS: +230. 5%, BWXT: +574. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (BWXT (Industrials) and LDOS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: BWXT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LDOS is a mid-cap deep-value stock. LDOS pays a dividend while BWXT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.