BWXT vs CW

For growth investors, BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) is the stronger pick with 18. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW). 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 BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 BWX Technologies, Inc. at 59. 9x. On forward P/E, BWX Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 46. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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 BWX Technologies, Inc. 's 10. 88x.

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

4%, compared to +236. 3% for BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CW returned +837. 8% versus BWXT's +574. 3%. 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), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

23β versus BWX Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 60β — meaning BWXT is approximately 30% more volatile than CW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% versus 163% for BWX Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) is pulling ahead at 18. 3% versus 12. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Curtiss-Wright Corporation grew EPS 22. 0% year-over-year, compared to 16. 9% for BWX Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BWXT leads at 12. 7% 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 10. 3% for BWX Technologies, 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 10. 1% for BWXT. 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 BWX Technologies, Inc. 's 10. 88x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) trades at 46. 7x forward P/E versus 49. 3x for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — 2. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BWXT: -2. 4% to $210. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) offers the highest yield at 0. 5%, versus 0. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

23), +837. 8% 10Y return). BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) carries a higher beta of 1. 60 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CW: +837. 8%, BWXT: +574. 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.

In terms of investment character: BWXT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.