Aerospace & Defense
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CAE vs TDG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Aerospace & Defense
CAE vs TDG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $8.70B | $69.67B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.83B | $9.11B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $436M | $1.97B |
| Gross Margin | 28.1% | 59.0% |
| Operating Margin | 16.4% | 46.5% |
| Forward P/E | 22.6x | 32.0x |
| Total Debt | $3.47B | $30.03B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $294M | $2.81B |
CAE vs TDG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAE Inc. (CAE) | 100 | 179.7 | +79.7% |
| TransDigm Group Inc… (TDG) | 100 | 292.4 | +192.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CAE vs TDG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CAE is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 1.16
- Lower P/E (22.6x vs 32.0x)
- +6.3% vs TDG's -4.9%
TDG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 11.2%, EPS growth 25.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 17.6%
- 6.0% 10Y total return vs CAE's 137.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.79, current ratio 3.21x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.2% revenue growth vs CAE's 9.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (22.6x vs 32.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 21.6% margin vs CAE's 9.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.79 vs CAE's 1.16 | |
| Dividends | 13.4% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +6.3% vs TDG's -4.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 8.6% ROA vs CAE's 3.9%, ROIC 20.9% vs 7.1% |
CAE vs TDG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CAE vs TDG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TDG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TDG is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.1B annually — 1.9x CAE's $4.8B. TDG is the more profitable business, keeping 21.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CAE's 9.0%. On growth, TDG holds the edge at +13.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.8B | $9.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $4.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $436M | $2.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $414M | $1.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +28.1% | +59.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.4% | +46.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +21.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +20.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.8% | +13.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +35.3% | -13.1% |
Valuation Metrics
CAE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 28.9x trailing earnings, CAE trades at a 25% valuation discount to TDG's 38.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), TDG offers better value at 1.24x vs CAE's 15.82x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $8.7B | $69.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.0B | $96.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 28.92x | 38.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.57x | 32.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 15.82x | 1.24x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.11x | 21.38x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.51x | 7.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.36x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 26.12x | 38.36x |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — CAE and TDG each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.4% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.9% | +8.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.1% | +20.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.1% | +20.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.70x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.2B | $27.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $294M | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.5B | $30.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.59x | 2.55x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TDG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in TDG five years ago would be worth $24,241 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,742 for CAE. Over the past 12 months, CAE leads with a +6.3% total return vs TDG's -4.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TDG at 22.9% vs CAE's 6.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.6% | -9.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +6.3% | -4.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +21.5% | +85.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -12.6% | +142.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +137.0% | +596.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.7% | +22.9% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CAE and TDG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TDG is the less volatile stock with a 0.79 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CAE's 1.16 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.16x | 0.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $34.24 | $1623.83 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.88 | $1123.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.9% | +76.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.3 | 49.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 721K | 371K |
Analyst Outlook
CAE leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CAE as "Buy" and TDG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.1% upside for TDG (target: $1618) vs -0.1% for CAE (target: $27). TDG is the only dividend payer here at 13.41% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.00 | $1617.88 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 39 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +13.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $165.45 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +0.7% |
TDG leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). CAE leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
CAE vs TDG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CAE or TDG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the stronger pick with 11.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 9% for CAE Inc. (CAE). CAE Inc. (CAE) offers the better valuation at 28. 9x trailing P/E (22. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CAE Inc. (CAE) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 — CAE or TDG?
On trailing P/E, CAE Inc.
(CAE) is the cheapest at 28. 9x versus TransDigm Group Incorporated at 38. 5x. On forward P/E, CAE Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: TransDigm Group Incorporated wins at 1. 03x versus CAE Inc. 's 12. 34x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CAE or TDG?
Over the past 5 years, TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) delivered a total return of +142.
4%, compared to -12. 6% for CAE Inc. (CAE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TDG returned +595. 3% versus CAE's +139. 4%. 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 — CAE or TDG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
79β versus CAE Inc. 's 1. 16β — meaning CAE is approximately 47% more volatile than TDG relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — CAE or TDG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is pulling ahead at 11.
2% versus 9. 9% for CAE Inc. (CAE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CAE Inc. grew EPS 224. 5% year-over-year, compared to 25. 2% for TransDigm Group Incorporated. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CAE or TDG?
TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the more profitable company, earning 23.
5% net margin versus 8. 6% for CAE Inc. — 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 15. 5% for CAE. 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.
07Is CAE or TDG more undervalued right now?
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 1. 03x versus CAE Inc. 's 12. 34x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, CAE Inc. (CAE) trades at 22. 6x forward P/E versus 32. 0x for TransDigm Group Incorporated — 9. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TDG: 31. 1% to $1617. 88.
08Which pays a better dividend — CAE or TDG?
In this comparison, TDG (13.
4% yield) pays a dividend. CAE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CAE or TDG better for a retirement portfolio?
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. 4% yield, +595. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TDG: +595. 3%, CAE: +139. 4%), 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 CAE and TDG?
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: CAE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TDG is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. TDG pays a dividend while CAE 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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