Aerospace & Defense
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CDRE vs AXON
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Aerospace & Defense
CDRE vs AXON — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $1.26B | $34.40B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $610M | $2.98B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $44M | $206M |
| Gross Margin | 42.5% | 59.3% |
| Operating Margin | 12.3% | 1.3% |
| Forward P/E | 23.8x | 55.0x |
| Total Debt | $322M | $1.91B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $123M | $1.20B |
CDRE vs AXON — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Nov 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) | 100 | 147.5 | +47.5% |
| Axon Enterprise, In… (AXON) | 100 | 252.9 | +152.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CDRE vs AXON
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CDRE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for value and quality.
- Lower P/E (23.8x vs 55.0x)
- 7.2% margin vs AXON's 6.9%
- 1.2% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
AXON is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.19
- Rev growth 33.5%, EPS growth -68.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 32.7%
- 22.0% 10Y total return vs CDRE's 106.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 33.5% revenue growth vs CDRE's 7.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (23.8x vs 55.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 7.2% margin vs AXON's 6.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.19 vs CDRE's 1.48, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.2% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | -14.5% vs AXON's -29.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 5.9% ROA vs AXON's 3.1%, ROIC 11.9% vs -1.3% |
CDRE vs AXON — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CDRE vs AXON — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CDRE and AXON each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AXON is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.0B annually — 4.9x CDRE's $610M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 7.2% (CDRE) to 6.9% (AXON). On growth, AXON holds the edge at +33.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $610M | $3.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $94M | $97M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $44M | $206M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $57M | $20M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +42.5% | +59.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.3% | +1.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.2% | +6.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.3% | +0.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.0% | +33.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -15.6% | +89.8% |
Valuation Metrics
CDRE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 29.3x trailing earnings, CDRE trades at a 90% valuation discount to AXON's 282.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CDRE's 15.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AXON's 1664.9x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.3B | $34.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.5B | $35.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 29.30x | 282.71x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.76x | 54.97x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.53x | 1664.88x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.06x | 12.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.08x | 13.16x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.17x | 458.11x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CDRE leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CDRE delivers a 13.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $7 for AXON. AXON carries lower financial leverage with a 0.59x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CDRE's 1.01x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AXON scores 6/9 vs CDRE's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.5% | +6.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.9% | +3.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.9% | -1.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.3% | -1.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.01x | 0.59x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $199M | $709M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $123M | $1.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $322M | $1.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.34x | 1.18x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AXON leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AXON five years ago would be worth $31,683 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $20,628 for CDRE. Over the past 12 months, CDRE leads with a -14.5% total return vs AXON's -29.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AXON at 24.4% vs CDRE's 14.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -26.8% | -24.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -14.5% | -29.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.3% | +92.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +106.3% | +216.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +106.3% | +2200.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.3% | +24.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CDRE and AXON each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AXON is the less volatile stock with a 1.19 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CDRE's 1.48 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CDRE currently trades 61.3% from its 52-week high vs AXON's 48.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.48x | 1.19x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $48.76 | $885.92 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $27.33 | $339.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +61.3% | +48.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.8 | 40.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 417K | 1.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CDRE as "Buy" and AXON as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 72.3% upside for CDRE (target: $52) vs 70.2% for AXON (target: $727). CDRE is the only dividend payer here at 1.19% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $51.50 | $726.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.2% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.36 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
CDRE leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AXON leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
CDRE vs AXON: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CDRE or AXON a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Axon Enterprise, Inc.
(AXON) is the stronger pick with 33. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 5% for Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE). Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) offers the better valuation at 29. 3x trailing P/E (23. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) a "Buy" — based on 9 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CDRE or AXON?
On trailing P/E, Cadre Holdings, Inc.
(CDRE) is the cheapest at 29. 3x versus Axon Enterprise, Inc. at 282. 7x. On forward P/E, Cadre Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 23. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CDRE or AXON?
Over the past 5 years, Axon Enterprise, Inc.
(AXON) delivered a total return of +216. 8%, compared to +106. 3% for Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AXON returned +22. 0% versus CDRE's +106. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CDRE or AXON?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Axon Enterprise, Inc.
(AXON) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 19β versus Cadre Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning CDRE is approximately 24% more volatile than AXON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Axon Enterprise, Inc. (AXON) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 101% for Cadre Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CDRE or AXON?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Axon Enterprise, Inc.
(AXON) is pulling ahead at 33. 5% versus 7. 5% for Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cadre Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 13. 3% year-over-year, compared to -68. 5% for Axon Enterprise, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AXON leads at 32. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CDRE or AXON?
Cadre Holdings, Inc.
(CDRE) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 2% net margin versus 4. 5% for Axon Enterprise, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CDRE leads at 12. 3% versus -2. 2% for AXON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AXON leads at 59. 7%, 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.
07Is CDRE or AXON more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cadre Holdings, Inc.
(CDRE) trades at 23. 8x forward P/E versus 55. 0x for Axon Enterprise, Inc. — 31. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CDRE: 72. 3% to $51. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — CDRE or AXON?
In this comparison, CDRE (1.
2% yield) pays a dividend. AXON does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CDRE or AXON better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Cadre Holdings, Inc.
(CDRE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 2% yield, +106. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CDRE: +106. 3%, AXON: +22. 0%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CDRE and AXON?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: CDRE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AXON is a mid-cap high-growth stock. CDRE pays a dividend while AXON 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.
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