FEIM vs MRCY vs KTOS vs VSAT vs BA

For growth investors, The Boeing Company (BA) is the stronger pick with 34.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 5% for Viasat, Inc. (VSAT). Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEIM) offers the better valuation at 22. 3x trailing P/E (74. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. is actually cheaper at 73. 5x — 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 -1. 9% for The Boeing Company (BA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KTOS returned +1232% versus VSAT's -12. 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), The Boeing Company (BA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

97β versus Viasat, Inc. 's 2. 92β — meaning VSAT is approximately 202% more volatile than BA 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 10% for The Boeing Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Boeing Company (BA) is pulling ahead at 34.

5% versus 5. 5% for Viasat, Inc. (VSAT). 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, VSAT leads at 23. 2% 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 -12. 7% for Viasat, Inc. — meaning it keeps 34. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FEIM leads at 16. 8% versus -6. 1% for BA. 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, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

(KTOS) trades at 73. 5x forward P/E versus 4979. 1x for The Boeing Company — 4905. 6x 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), BA (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. MRCY, KTOS, VSAT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Boeing Company (BA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

97)). Viasat, Inc. (VSAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 92 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BA: +94. 6%, VSAT: -12. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (FEIM (Technology) and MRCY (Industrials) and KTOS (Industrials) and VSAT (Technology) and BA (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; MRCY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KTOS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; VSAT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; BA is a mid-cap high-growth stock. FEIM pays a dividend while MRCY, KTOS, VSAT, BA 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.