DCO vs SPR

For growth investors, Ducommun Incorporated (DCO) is the stronger pick with 4.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 4% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR). Analysts rate Ducommun Incorporated (DCO) a "Buy" — based on 20 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.

Over the past 5 years, Ducommun Incorporated (DCO) delivered a total return of +137.

1%, compared to -10. 3% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DCO returned +763. 6% versus SPR's -11. 1%. 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), Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.

(SPR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 67β versus Ducommun Incorporated's 1. 13β — meaning DCO is approximately 69% more volatile than SPR relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ducommun Incorporated (DCO) is pulling ahead at 4.

9% versus 4. 4% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ducommun Incorporated grew EPS -208. 1% year-over-year, compared to -208. 4% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SPR leads at 16. 9% 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.

Ducommun Incorporated (DCO) is the more profitable company, earning -4.

1% net margin versus -33. 9% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps -4. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DCO leads at -3. 9% versus -28. 3% for SPR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DCO leads at 26. 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, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.

(SPR) trades at 31. 5x forward P/E versus 32. 0x for Ducommun Incorporated — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SPR: 16. 8% to $46. 15.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

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

13), +763. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DCO: +763. 6%, SPR: -11. 1%), 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.

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.