Aerospace & Defense
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DCO vs TDG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Aerospace & Defense
DCO vs TDG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $2.06B | $70.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $825M | $9.11B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-34M | $1.97B |
| Gross Margin | 26.9% | 59.0% |
| Operating Margin | -3.9% | 46.5% |
| Forward P/E | 32.0x | 32.0x |
| Total Debt | $47M | $30.03B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $45M | $2.81B |
DCO vs TDG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ducommun Incorporat… (DCO) | 100 | 427.0 | +327.0% |
| TransDigm Group Inc… (TDG) | 100 | 292.4 | +192.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DCO vs TDG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
DCO is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 7.6% 10Y total return vs TDG's 6.0%
- Lower P/E (32.0x vs 32.0x)
- +115.9% vs TDG's -3.7%
TDG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.79, yield 13.3%
- Rev growth 11.2%, EPS growth 25.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 17.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.79, current ratio 3.21x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.2% revenue growth vs DCO's 4.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (32.0x vs 32.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 21.6% margin vs DCO's -4.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.79 vs DCO's 1.13 | |
| Dividends | 13.3% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +115.9% vs TDG's -3.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 8.6% ROA vs DCO's -2.9%, ROIC 20.9% vs -3.1% |
DCO vs TDG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
DCO 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 — 11.0x DCO's $825M. TDG is the more profitable business, keeping 21.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DCO's -4.1%. On growth, TDG holds the edge at +13.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $825M | $9.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$32M | $4.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$34M | $2.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$49M | $1.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +26.9% | +59.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.9% | +46.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.1% | +21.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -5.9% | +20.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.4% | +13.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +13.3% | -13.1% |
Valuation Metrics
DCO leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.1B | $70.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $97.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -60.57x | 38.72x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 31.96x | 32.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.24x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 21.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.49x | 7.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.10x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 38.63x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TDG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TDG scores 6/9 vs DCO's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -5.1% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.9% | +8.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -3.1% | +20.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -3.3% | +20.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.07x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2M | $27.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $45M | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $47M | $30.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 2.55x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
DCO 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 $24,023 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $23,705 for DCO. Over the past 12 months, DCO leads with a +115.9% total return vs TDG's -3.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DCO at 41.3% vs TDG's 23.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +42.0% | -8.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +115.9% | -3.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +182.3% | +86.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +137.1% | +140.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +763.6% | +595.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +41.3% | +23.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — DCO 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 DCO's 1.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DCO currently trades 92.4% from its 52-week high vs TDG's 76.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.13x | 0.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $148.82 | $1623.83 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $61.42 | $1123.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.4% | +76.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.4 | 56.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 187K | 370K |
Analyst Outlook
TDG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DCO as "Buy" and TDG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.3% upside for TDG (target: $1618) vs 2.6% for DCO (target: $141). TDG is the only dividend payer here at 13.32% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $141.00 | $1617.88 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 39 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +13.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $165.45 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.7% |
TDG leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). DCO leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
DCO vs TDG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DCO 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 4. 9% for Ducommun Incorporated (DCO). TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) offers the better valuation at 38. 7x trailing P/E (32. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. 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.
02Which has the better valuation — DCO or TDG?
On forward P/E, Ducommun Incorporated is actually cheaper at 32.
0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DCO or TDG?
Over the past 5 years, TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) delivered a total return of +140.
2%, compared to +137. 1% for Ducommun Incorporated (DCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DCO returned +763. 6% versus TDG's +595. 3%. 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 — DCO or TDG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
79β versus Ducommun Incorporated's 1. 13β — meaning DCO is approximately 43% more volatile than TDG relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — DCO or TDG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is pulling ahead at 11.
2% versus 4. 9% for Ducommun Incorporated (DCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TransDigm Group Incorporated grew EPS 25. 2% year-over-year, compared to -208. 1% for Ducommun 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 — DCO or TDG?
TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the more profitable company, earning 23.
5% net margin versus -4. 1% for Ducommun Incorporated — 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 -3. 9% for DCO. 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 DCO or TDG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ducommun Incorporated (DCO) trades at 32.
0x forward P/E versus 32. 0x for TransDigm Group Incorporated — 0. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TDG: 30. 3% to $1617. 88.
08Which pays a better dividend — DCO or TDG?
In this comparison, TDG (13.
3% yield) pays a dividend. DCO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is DCO 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. 3% yield, +595. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TDG: +595. 3%, DCO: +763. 6%), 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 DCO 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: DCO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TDG is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. TDG pays a dividend while DCO 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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