CW
Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$27.41B
5Y Perf.+640.4%
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Stock Comparison
CW vs RTX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
RTX
RTX Corporation
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$238.01B
5Y Perf.+173.9%
CW vs RTX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CW | RTX |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $27.41B | $238.01B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.50B | $90.37B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $484M | $7.26B |
| Gross Margin | 37.2% | 20.2% |
| Operating Margin | 18.2% | 10.4% |
| Forward P/E | 49.3x | 25.5x |
| Total Debt | $1.31B | $39.51B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $371M | $7.43B |
CW vs RTX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CW
RTX
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curtiss-Wright Corp… (CW) | 100 | 740.4 | +640.4% |
| RTX Corporation (RTX) | 100 | 273.9 | +173.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CW vs RTX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CW leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. RTX Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CW
Curtiss-Wright Corporation
The Growth Play
CW carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 12.1%, EPS growth 22.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.0%
- 8.4% 10Y total return vs RTX's 231.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.23, Low D/E 51.9%, current ratio 1.44x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
RTX
RTX Corporation
The Income Pick
RTX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.51, yield 1.5%
- Beta 0.51, yield 1.5%, current ratio 1.03x
- Lower P/E (25.5x vs 49.3x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CW | 12.1% revenue growth vs RTX's 9.7% |
| Value | RTX | Lower P/E (25.5x vs 49.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CW | 13.8% margin vs RTX's 8.0% |
| Stability / Safety | RTX | Beta 0.51 vs CW's 1.23 |
| Dividends | CW | 0.1% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs RTX's 1.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CW | +104.7% vs RTX's +40.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CW | 9.5% ROA vs RTX's 4.3%, ROIC 14.1% vs 6.7% |
CW vs RTX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CW vs RTX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCWLAGGINGRTX
RTXRTX Corporation
1leads
CWCurtiss-Wright Corpor…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs RTXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CW5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
RTX6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CW8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CW6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CW leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RTX is the larger business by revenue, generating $90.4B annually — 25.8x CW's $3.5B. CW is the more profitable business, keeping 13.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RTX's 8.0%. On growth, CW holds the edge at +14.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CWCurtiss-Wright Co… | RTXRTX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.5B | $90.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $729M | $13.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $484M | $7.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $554M | $8.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.2% | +20.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.2% | +10.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +8.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | +9.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.9% | +8.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.4% | +32.5% |
CW leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
RTX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 35.6x trailing earnings, RTX trades at a 38% valuation discount to CW's 57.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, RTX's 21.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CW's 44.4x.
| Metric | CWCurtiss-Wright Co… | RTXRTX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $27.4B | $238.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $28.4B | $270.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 57.70x | 35.63x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 49.30x | 25.54x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.65x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 44.44x | 20.96x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.83x | 2.69x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 11.03x | 3.57x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 49.50x | 29.98x |
RTX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CW leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CW delivers a 18.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $11 for RTX. CW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.52x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RTX's 0.59x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RTX scores 8/9 vs CW's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CWCurtiss-Wright Co… | RTXRTX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.7% | +10.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.5% | +4.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.1% | +6.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.6% | +7.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.52x | 0.59x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $943M | $32.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $371M | $7.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.3B | $39.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.24x | 5.58x |
CW leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CW leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CW five years ago would be worth $57,540 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $22,270 for RTX. Over the past 12 months, CW leads with a +104.7% total return vs RTX's +40.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CW at 66.2% vs RTX's 24.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CWCurtiss-Wright Co… | RTXRTX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +29.8% | -5.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +104.7% | +40.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +358.9% | +92.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +475.4% | +122.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +837.8% | +231.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +66.2% | +24.5% |
CW leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CW and RTX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RTX is the less volatile stock with a 0.51 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CW's 1.23 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CW currently trades 99.1% from its 52-week high vs RTX's 82.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CWCurtiss-Wright Co… | RTXRTX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.23x | 0.51x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $749.00 | $214.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $352.03 | $126.03 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.1% | +82.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.9 | 29.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 302K | 5.3M |
Evenly matched — CW and RTX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CW and RTX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CW as "Buy" and RTX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 27.2% upside for RTX (target: $225) vs -4.6% for CW (target: $709). For income investors, RTX offers the higher dividend yield at 1.49% vs CW's 0.12%.
| Metric | CWCurtiss-Wright Co… | RTXRTX Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $708.50 | $224.89 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.1% | +1.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.92 | $2.63 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.7% | +0.0% |
Evenly matched — CW and RTX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CW leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). RTX leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallCurtiss-Wright Corporation (CW)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CW vs RTX: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CW or RTX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the stronger pick with 12.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 7% for RTX Corporation (RTX). RTX Corporation (RTX) offers the better valuation at 35. 6x trailing P/E (25. 5x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CW or RTX?
On trailing P/E, RTX Corporation (RTX) is the cheapest at 35.
6x versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation at 57. 7x. On forward P/E, RTX Corporation is actually cheaper at 25. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CW or RTX?
Over the past 5 years, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) delivered a total return of +475.
4%, compared to +122. 7% for RTX Corporation (RTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CW returned +837. 8% versus RTX's +231. 2%. 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 — CW or RTX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), RTX Corporation (RTX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
51β versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 1. 23β — meaning CW is approximately 142% more volatile than RTX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% versus 59% for RTX Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CW or RTX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is pulling ahead at 12.
1% versus 9. 7% for RTX Corporation (RTX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RTX Corporation grew EPS 39. 7% year-over-year, compared to 22. 0% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CW leads at 11. 0% 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 — CW or RTX?
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
8% net margin versus 7. 6% for RTX Corporation — 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. 0% for RTX. 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.
07Is CW or RTX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, RTX Corporation (RTX) trades at 25.
5x forward P/E versus 49. 3x for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — 23. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RTX: 27. 2% to $224. 89.
08Which pays a better dividend — CW or RTX?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
RTX Corporation (RTX) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 0. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW).
09Is CW or RTX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, RTX Corporation (RTX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
51), 1. 5% yield, +231. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RTX: +231. 2%, 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.
10What are the main differences between CW and RTX?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
RTX pays a dividend while CW 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(CW: 14.9% · RTX: 8.7%)Net Margin>
%
(CW: 13.8% · RTX: 8.0%)P/E Ratio<
x
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