GD vs LMT

For growth investors, General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is the stronger pick with 10.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). General Dynamics Corporation (GD) offers the better valuation at 22. 5x trailing P/E (21. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate General Dynamics Corporation (GD) a "Buy" — based on 34 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, General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is the cheapest at 22.

5x versus Lockheed Martin Corporation at 23. 9x. On forward P/E, Lockheed Martin Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, General Dynamics Corporation (GD) delivered a total return of +94.

3%, compared to +48. 5% for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GD returned +174. 3% versus LMT's +157. 0%. 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), Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus General Dynamics Corporation's 0. 56β — meaning GD is approximately 354% more volatile than LMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, General Dynamics Corporation (GD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 3% for Lockheed Martin Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is pulling ahead at 10.

1% versus 5. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: General Dynamics Corporation grew EPS 13. 4% year-over-year, compared to -3. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, GD leads at 10. 1% 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.

General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

0% net margin versus 6. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation — meaning it keeps 8. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LMT leads at 10. 3% versus 10. 2% for GD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GD leads at 15. 1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) trades at 17.

2x forward P/E versus 21. 1x for General Dynamics Corporation — 3. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LMT: 23. 5% to $635. 11.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 1. 7% for General Dynamics Corporation (GD).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), 2. 6% yield, +157. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LMT: +157. 0%, GD: +174. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.