EH vs AVAV vs KTOS vs JOBY

For growth investors, Joby Aviation, Inc.

(JOBY) is the stronger pick with 391. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 14. 5% for AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV). AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) offers the better valuation at 108. 5x trailing P/E (58. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EHang Holdings Limited (EH) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, AeroVironment, Inc.

(AVAV) is the cheapest at 108. 5x versus Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. at 438. 5x. On forward P/E, AeroVironment, Inc. is actually cheaper at 58. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) delivered a total return of +110. 3%, compared to -55. 6% for EHang Holdings Limited (EH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KTOS returned +1232% versus EH's -16. 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), AeroVironment, Inc.

(AVAV) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 57β versus Joby Aviation, Inc. 's 2. 70β — meaning JOBY is approximately 72% more volatile than AVAV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Joby Aviation, Inc. (JOBY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 24% for EHang Holdings Limited — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Joby Aviation, Inc.

(JOBY) is pulling ahead at 391. 8% versus 14. 5% for AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. grew EPS 18. 2% year-over-year, compared to -37. 9% for EHang Holdings Limited. Over a 3-year CAGR, EH leads at 102. 1% 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.

AeroVironment, Inc.

(AVAV) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 3% net margin versus -1740. 5% for Joby Aviation, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AVAV leads at 5. 0% versus -1346. 9% for JOBY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EH leads at 59. 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.

On forward earnings alone, AeroVironment, Inc.

(AVAV) trades at 58. 4x forward P/E versus 73. 5x for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. — 15. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EH: 108. 9% to $21. 75.

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, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1232% 10Y return). Joby Aviation, Inc. (JOBY) carries a higher beta of 2. 70 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KTOS: +1232%, JOBY: -4. 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: EH is a small-cap high-growth stock; AVAV is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KTOS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; JOBY is a small-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.