HWM vs CW

For growth investors, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the stronger pick with 12.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 1% for Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM). Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) offers the better valuation at 57. 7x trailing P/E (49. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) a "Buy" — based on 23 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, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the cheapest at 57.

7x versus Howmet Aerospace Inc. at 69. 1x. On forward P/E, Curtiss-Wright Corporation is actually cheaper at 49. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Howmet Aerospace Inc. wins at 1. 09x versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 2. 26x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) delivered a total return of +699. 6%, compared to +475. 4% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HWM returned +1089% versus CW's +837. 8%. 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), Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 93β versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 1. 23β — meaning CW is approximately 32% more volatile than HWM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% versus 57% for Howmet Aerospace Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is pulling ahead at 12.

1% versus 11. 1% for Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Howmet Aerospace Inc. grew EPS 32. 0% year-over-year, compared to 22. 0% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HWM leads at 13. 4% 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.

Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 3% net margin versus 13. 8% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — meaning it keeps 18. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HWM leads at 25. 8% versus 18. 2% for CW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CW leads at 37. 2%, 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, Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 09x versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 2. 26x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) trades at 49. 3x forward P/E versus 55. 2x for Howmet Aerospace Inc. — 5. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HWM: 7. 1% to $274. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) offers the highest yield at 0. 2%, versus 0. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 93), +1089% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HWM: +1089%, CW: +837. 8%), 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.