CW vs HEI

For growth investors, HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the stronger pick with 16.

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 Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) a "Buy" — based on 25 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 HEICO Corporation at 60. 5x. On forward P/E, Curtiss-Wright Corporation is actually cheaper at 49. 3x. 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 HEICO Corporation's 3. 21x.

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

4%, compared to +115. 4% for HEICO Corporation (HEI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HEI returned +842. 3% versus CW's +837. 8%. 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), HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

04β versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 1. 23β — meaning CW is approximately 19% more volatile than HEI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HEICO Corporation (HEI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 50% versus 52% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), HEICO Corporation (HEI) is pulling ahead at 16.

3% versus 12. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HEICO Corporation grew EPS 33. 5% year-over-year, compared to 22. 0% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HEI leads at 26. 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.

HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

4% net margin versus 13. 8% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — meaning it keeps 15. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HEI leads at 22. 7% versus 18. 2% for CW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HEI leads at 39. 8%, 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 HEICO Corporation's 3. 21x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) trades at 49. 3x forward P/E versus 52. 8x for HEICO Corporation — 3. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HEI: 25. 2% to $371. 00.

In this comparison, CW (0.

1% yield) pays a dividend. HEI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

04), +842. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HEI: +842. 3%, CW: +837. 8%), 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: CW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HEI is a mid-cap high-growth 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.