BWXT vs HII

For growth investors, BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) is the stronger pick with 18. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 2% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII). Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) offers the better valuation at 20. 4x trailing P/E (18. 2x 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, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

(HII) is the cheapest at 20. 4x versus BWX Technologies, Inc. at 58. 4x. On forward P/E, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) delivered a total return of +224. 9%, compared to +56. 7% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BWXT returned +551. 5% versus HII's +130. 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), Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

(HII) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 69β versus BWX Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 60β — meaning BWXT is approximately 133% more volatile than HII relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 62% 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 8. 2% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BWX Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 16. 9% year-over-year, compared to 10. 2% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, 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.

BWX Technologies, Inc.

(BWXT) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 3% net margin versus 4. 8% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BWXT leads at 10. 1% versus 4. 9% for HII. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BWXT leads at 22. 9%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

(HII) trades at 18. 2x forward P/E versus 45. 5x for BWX Technologies, Inc. — 27. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HII: 33. 5% to $420. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 0. 5% for BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

(HII) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 69), 1. 7% yield, +130. 7% 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 (HII: +130. 7%, BWXT: +551. 5%), 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; HII is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. HII pays a dividend while BWXT 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.