WWD vs CW vs DRS

For growth investors, Leonardo DRS, Inc.

(DRS) is the stronger pick with 12. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 3% for Woodward, Inc. (WWD). Leonardo DRS, Inc. (DRS) offers the better valuation at 40. 6x trailing P/E (33. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Woodward, Inc. (WWD) a "Buy" — based on 20 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, Leonardo DRS, Inc.

(DRS) is the cheapest at 40. 6x versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation at 57. 7x. On forward P/E, Leonardo DRS, Inc. is actually cheaper at 33. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Curtiss-Wright Corporation wins at 2. 26x versus Woodward, Inc. 's 3. 06x.

Over the past 5 years, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) delivered a total return of +475.

4%, compared to +206. 2% for Woodward, Inc. (WWD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DRS returned +56. 1% versus WWD's +617. 2%. 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), Leonardo DRS, Inc.

(DRS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 1. 23β — meaning CW is approximately 30% more volatile than DRS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Leonardo DRS, Inc. (DRS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 52% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Leonardo DRS, Inc.

(DRS) is pulling ahead at 12. 8% versus 7. 3% for Woodward, Inc. (WWD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Leonardo DRS, Inc. grew EPS 28. 7% year-over-year, compared to 19. 6% for Woodward, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WWD leads at 14. 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.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

8% net margin versus 7. 6% for Leonardo DRS, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CW leads at 18. 2% versus 9. 5% for DRS. 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, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 26x versus Woodward, Inc. 's 3. 06x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Leonardo DRS, Inc. (DRS) trades at 33. 3x forward P/E versus 49. 3x for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — 16. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DRS: 26. 8% to $53. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Leonardo DRS, Inc. (DRS) offers the highest yield at 0. 9%, versus 0. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Leonardo DRS, Inc.

(DRS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 95), 0. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DRS: +56. 1%, WWD: +617. 2%), 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.

DRS pays a dividend while WWD, 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.