FEIM vs CW vs KTOS vs MRCY

For growth investors, Frequency Electronics, Inc.

(FEIM) is the stronger pick with 26. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 2% for Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY). Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEIM) offers the better valuation at 22. 3x trailing P/E (87. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEIM) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Frequency Electronics, Inc.

(FEIM) is the cheapest at 22. 3x versus Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. at 438. 5x. On forward P/E, Curtiss-Wright Corporation is actually cheaper at 48. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Frequency Electronics, Inc.

(FEIM) delivered a total return of +471. 5%, compared to +37. 2% for Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KTOS returned +1253% versus MRCY's +347. 0%. 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), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

24β versus Frequency Electronics, Inc. 's 2. 27β — meaning FEIM is approximately 83% more volatile than CW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 52% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Frequency Electronics, Inc.

(FEIM) is pulling ahead at 26. 3% versus 9. 2% for Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Frequency Electronics, Inc. grew EPS 316. 9% year-over-year, compared to 18. 2% for Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KTOS leads at 14. 5% 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.

Frequency Electronics, Inc.

(FEIM) is the more profitable company, earning 34. 1% net margin versus -4. 2% for Mercury Systems, Inc. — meaning it keeps 34. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CW leads at 18. 2% versus -2. 2% for MRCY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FEIM leads at 43. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) trades at 48.

0x forward P/E versus 87. 9x for Mercury Systems, Inc. — 39. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KTOS: 94. 0% to $110. 58.

In this comparison, FEIM (1.

8% yield), CW (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. KTOS, MRCY do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

24), +823. 2% 10Y return). Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY) carries a higher beta of 1. 89 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CW: +823. 2%, MRCY: +347. 0%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (FEIM (Technology) and CW (Industrials) and KTOS (Industrials) and MRCY (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FEIM is a small-cap high-growth stock; CW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KTOS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MRCY is a small-cap quality compounder stock. FEIM pays a dividend while CW, KTOS, MRCY do 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.