HWM vs TDG 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). TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) offers the better valuation at 37. 1x trailing P/E (30. 7x 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, TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the cheapest at 37.

1x versus Howmet Aerospace Inc. at 65. 4x. On forward P/E, TransDigm Group Incorporated is actually cheaper at 30. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: TransDigm Group Incorporated wins at 0. 99x versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 2. 22x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Howmet Aerospace Inc.

(HWM) delivered a total return of +653. 7%, compared to +136. 7% for TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HWM returned +1028% versus TDG's +567. 7%. 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), TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

79β versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 1. 23β — meaning CW is approximately 57% more volatile than TDG 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, TDG leads at 17. 6% 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.

TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

5% net margin versus 13. 8% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — meaning it keeps 23. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TDG leads at 47. 2% versus 18. 2% for CW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TDG leads at 60. 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.

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, TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 99x versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 2. 22x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) trades at 30. 7x forward P/E versus 52. 2x for Howmet Aerospace Inc. — 21. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TDG: 35. 8% to $1617. 88.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) offers the highest yield at 13. 9%, versus 0. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW).

For long-horizon retirement investors, TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

79), 13. 9% yield, +567. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TDG: +567. 7%, CW: +824. 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.

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: HWM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; TDG is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; CW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. TDG pays a dividend while HWM, CW do 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.