CVU vs VSEC vs KTOS vs HAYW

For growth investors, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) is the stronger pick with 18. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 2% for CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CVU). CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CVU) offers the better valuation at 14. 7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate VSE Corporation (VSEC) a "Buy" — based on 11 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, CPI Aerostructures, Inc.

(CVU) is the cheapest at 14. 7x versus Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. at 438. 5x. On forward P/E, Hayward Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, VSE Corporation (VSEC) delivered a total return of +358.

5%, compared to -37. 0% for Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KTOS returned +1232% versus CVU's -42. 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), CPI Aerostructures, Inc.

(CVU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 88β versus VSE Corporation's 1. 93β — meaning VSEC is approximately 120% more volatile than CVU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 79% for CPI Aerostructures, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) is pulling ahead at 18. 5% versus -6. 2% for CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CVU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: VSE Corporation grew EPS 48. 2% year-over-year, compared to -81. 2% for CPI Aerostructures, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, VSEC leads at 18. 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.

Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 5% net margin versus 1. 6% for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HAYW leads at 21. 1% versus 2. 1% for KTOS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HAYW leads at 45. 6%, 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, Hayward Holdings, Inc.

(HAYW) trades at 17. 2x forward P/E versus 73. 5x for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. — 56. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KTOS: 94. 0% to $110. 58.

In this comparison, VSEC (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. CVU, KTOS, HAYW do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CPI Aerostructures, Inc.

(CVU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 88)). VSE Corporation (VSEC) carries a higher beta of 1. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CVU: -42. 7%, VSEC: +517. 9%), 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: CVU is a small-cap deep-value stock; VSEC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KTOS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; HAYW is a small-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.