AVAV
AeroVironment, Inc.
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$8.71B
5Y Perf.+146.2%
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Stock Comparison
AVAV vs LHX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LHX
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$56.45B
5Y Perf.+51.5%
AVAV vs LHX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AVAV | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $8.71B | $56.45B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.61B | $22.48B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-224M | $1.73B |
| Gross Margin | 21.8% | 24.5% |
| Operating Margin | -8.3% | 10.0% |
| Forward P/E | 60.6x | 26.1x |
| Total Debt | $64M | $10.44B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $41M | $1.07B |
AVAV vs LHX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AVAV
LHX
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) | 100 | 246.2 | +146.2% |
| L3Harris Technologi… (LHX) | 100 | 151.5 | +51.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AVAV vs LHX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LHX leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. AeroVironment, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AVAV
AeroVironment, Inc.
The Growth Play
AVAV is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 14.5%, EPS growth -28.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.6%
- 5.1% 10Y total return vs LHX's 353.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.57, Low D/E 7.3%, current ratio 3.52x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
LHX
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
The Income Pick
LHX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.39, yield 1.6%
- Beta 0.39, yield 1.6%, current ratio 1.19x
- Lower P/E (26.1x vs 60.6x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AVAV | 14.5% revenue growth vs LHX's 2.5% |
| Value | LHX | Lower P/E (26.1x vs 60.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | LHX | 7.7% margin vs AVAV's -13.9% |
| Stability / Safety | LHX | Beta 0.39 vs AVAV's 1.57 |
| Dividends | LHX | 1.6% yield; 6-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LHX | +42.0% vs AVAV's +10.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LHX | 4.2% ROA vs AVAV's -5.0%, ROIC 5.4% vs 3.6% |
AVAV vs LHX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
AVAV vs LHX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLHXLAGGINGAVAV
AVAVAeroVironment, Inc.
1leads
LHXL3Harris Technologies…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs AVAVMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LHX5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
LHX5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LHX6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AVAV4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
LHX2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LHX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LHX is the larger business by revenue, generating $22.5B annually — 14.0x AVAV's $1.6B. LHX is the more profitable business, keeping 7.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AVAV's -13.9%. On growth, AVAV holds the edge at +143.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AVAVAeroVironment, In… | LHXL3Harris Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $22.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $82M | $3.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$224M | $1.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$183M | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | +24.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -8.3% | +10.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -13.9% | +7.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -11.3% | +11.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +143.4% | +11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -51.5% | +33.3% |
LHX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
LHX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, LHX trades at a 69% valuation discount to AVAV's 112.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LHX's 19.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AVAV's 106.7x.
| Metric | AVAVAeroVironment, In… | LHXL3Harris Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $8.7B | $56.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.7B | $65.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 112.50x | 35.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 60.56x | 26.09x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.38x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 106.74x | 19.25x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 10.61x | 2.58x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.54x | 2.90x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 21.05x |
LHX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LHX leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LHX delivers a 8.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-6 for AVAV. AVAV carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LHX's 0.53x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LHX scores 9/9 vs AVAV's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AVAVAeroVironment, In… | LHXL3Harris Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -6.4% | +8.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -5.0% | +4.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.6% | +5.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.5% | +6.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.07x | 0.53x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $23M | $9.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $41M | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $64M | $10.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -5.99x | 4.41x |
LHX leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AVAV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AVAV five years ago would be worth $15,939 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,977 for LHX. Over the past 12 months, LHX leads with a +42.0% total return vs AVAV's +10.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AVAV at 19.1% vs LHX's 19.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AVAVAeroVironment, In… | LHXL3Harris Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -31.9% | -0.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.0% | +42.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +69.1% | +68.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +59.4% | +49.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +512.0% | +353.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.1% | +19.1% |
AVAV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LHX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LHX is the less volatile stock with a 0.39 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AVAV's 1.57 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LHX currently trades 79.7% from its 52-week high vs AVAV's 41.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AVAVAeroVironment, In… | LHXL3Harris Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.57x | 0.39x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $417.86 | $379.23 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $154.39 | $214.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +41.7% | +79.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 34.8 | 24.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 1.4M |
LHX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AVAV as "Buy" and LHX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 97.1% upside for AVAV (target: $344) vs 16.6% for LHX (target: $352). LHX is the only dividend payer here at 1.59% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | AVAVAeroVironment, In… | LHXL3Harris Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $343.60 | $352.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $4.79 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
LHX leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). AVAV leads in 1 (Total Returns).
Best OverallL3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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AVAV vs LHX: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AVAV or LHX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, AeroVironment, Inc.
(AVAV) is the stronger pick with 14. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 5% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX). L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) offers the better valuation at 35. 4x trailing P/E (26. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 — AVAV or LHX?
On trailing P/E, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the cheapest at 35. 4x versus AeroVironment, Inc. at 112. 5x. On forward P/E, L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 26. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AVAV or LHX?
Over the past 5 years, AeroVironment, Inc.
(AVAV) delivered a total return of +59. 4%, compared to +49. 8% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AVAV returned +512. 0% versus LHX's +353. 9%. 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 — AVAV or LHX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus AeroVironment, Inc. 's 1. 57β — meaning AVAV is approximately 303% more volatile than LHX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 53% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AVAV or LHX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), AeroVironment, Inc.
(AVAV) is pulling ahead at 14. 5% versus 2. 5% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: L3Harris Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 8. 4% year-over-year, compared to -28. 9% for AeroVironment, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AVAV leads at 22. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — AVAV or LHX?
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 3% net margin versus 5. 3% for AeroVironment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LHX leads at 10. 0% versus 5. 0% for AVAV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AVAV leads at 39. 4%, 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 AVAV or LHX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) trades at 26. 1x forward P/E versus 60. 6x for AeroVironment, Inc. — 34. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVAV: 97. 1% to $343. 60.
08Which pays a better dividend — AVAV or LHX?
In this comparison, LHX (1.
6% yield) pays a dividend. AVAV does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is AVAV or LHX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 1. 6% yield, +353. 9% 10Y return). AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) carries a higher beta of 1. 57 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LHX: +353. 9%, AVAV: +512. 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 AVAV and LHX?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
LHX pays a dividend while AVAV 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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%
(AVAV: 143.4% · LHX: 11.9%)P/E Ratio<
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