HEI vs GE vs RTX vs TDG

For growth investors, GE Aerospace (GE) is the stronger pick with 18.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 7% for RTX Corporation (RTX). RTX Corporation (RTX) offers the better valuation at 35. 6x trailing P/E (25. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HEICO Corporation (HEI) a "Buy" — based on 34 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, RTX Corporation (RTX) is the cheapest at 35.

6x versus HEICO Corporation at 59. 1x. On forward P/E, RTX Corporation is actually cheaper at 25. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: TransDigm Group Incorporated wins at 1. 03x versus GE Aerospace's 3. 39x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, GE Aerospace (GE) delivered a total return of +362.

5%, compared to +105. 2% for HEICO Corporation (HEI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HEI returned +823. 0% versus GE's +121. 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), RTX Corporation (RTX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

51β versus GE Aerospace's 1. 14β — meaning GE is approximately 124% more volatile than RTX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HEICO Corporation (HEI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 50% versus 108% for GE Aerospace — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), GE Aerospace (GE) is pulling ahead at 18.

5% versus 9. 7% for RTX Corporation (RTX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RTX Corporation grew EPS 39. 7% year-over-year, compared to 25. 2% for TransDigm Group Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, HEI leads at 26. 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.

TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

5% net margin versus 7. 6% for RTX Corporation — 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 10. 0% for RTX. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 03x versus GE Aerospace's 3. 39x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, RTX Corporation (RTX) trades at 25. 5x forward P/E versus 51. 6x for HEICO Corporation — 26. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TDG: 30. 3% to $1617. 88.

In this comparison, TDG (13.

3% yield), RTX (1. 5% yield), GE (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. HEI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

51), 1. 5% yield, +234. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RTX: +234. 7%, GE: +121. 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.

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: HEI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; GE is a large-cap high-growth stock; RTX is a large-cap quality compounder stock; TDG is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. RTX, TDG pay a dividend while HEI, GE 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.