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HEI vs SPIR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Business Services
HEI vs SPIR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Specialty Business Services |
| Market Cap | $24.95B | $601.52B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.63B | $72M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $713M | $-25.02B |
| Gross Margin | 30.4% | 40.8% |
| Operating Margin | 22.8% | -121.4% |
| Forward P/E | 52.8x | 11.4x |
| Total Debt | $2.19B | $8.76B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $218M | $24.81B |
HEI vs SPIR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Nov 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEICO Corporation (HEI) | 100 | 239.8 | +139.8% |
| Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) | 100 | 23.2 | -76.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HEI vs SPIR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
HEI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 10 yrs, beta 1.04, yield 0.1%
- Rev growth 16.3%, EPS growth 33.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 26.6%
- 8.4% 10Y total return vs SPIR's -75.9%
SPIR is the clearest fit if your priority is value and momentum.
- Lower P/E (11.4x vs 52.8x)
- +93.2% vs HEI's +12.6%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 16.3% revenue growth vs SPIR's -35.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.4x vs 52.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 15.4% margin vs SPIR's -349.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.04 vs SPIR's 2.93 | |
| Dividends | 0.1% yield; 10-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +93.2% vs HEI's +12.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 7.9% ROA vs SPIR's -47.3%, ROIC 12.6% vs -0.1% |
HEI vs SPIR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
HEI vs SPIR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HEI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HEI is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.6B annually — 64.8x SPIR's $72M. HEI is the more profitable business, keeping 15.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SPIR's -349.6%. On growth, HEI holds the edge at +14.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.6B | $72M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | -$74M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $713M | -$25.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $841M | -$16.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +30.4% | +40.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.8% | -121.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.4% | -349.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.1% | -227.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.4% | -26.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.5% | +59.5% |
Valuation Metrics
SPIR leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.4x trailing earnings, SPIR trades at a 81% valuation discount to HEI's 60.5x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $25.0B | $601.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $26.9B | $585.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 60.49x | 11.37x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 52.79x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.68x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 22.16x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.56x | 8406.65x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.53x | 5.18x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 28.97x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
HEI leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HEI delivers a 12.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $-88 for SPIR. SPIR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.08x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HEI's 0.50x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HEI scores 6/9 vs SPIR's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.9% | -88.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.9% | -47.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.6% | -0.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +14.0% | -0.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.50x | 0.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.0B | -$16.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $218M | $24.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.2B | $8.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.32x | 9.20x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SPIR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HEI five years ago would be worth $21,539 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,311 for SPIR. Over the past 12 months, SPIR leads with a +93.2% total return vs HEI's +12.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPIR at 50.1% vs HEI's 20.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.0% | +134.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +12.6% | +93.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +75.8% | +238.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +115.4% | -76.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +842.3% | -75.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +20.7% | +50.1% |
Risk & Volatility
HEI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HEI is the less volatile stock with a 1.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPIR's 2.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HEI currently trades 81.9% from its 52-week high vs SPIR's 77.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.04x | 2.93x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $361.69 | $23.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $256.11 | $6.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.9% | +77.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.1 | 48.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 699K | 1.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HEI as "Buy" and SPIR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 25.2% upside for HEI (target: $371) vs -5.7% for SPIR (target: $17).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $371.00 | $17.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 34 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.1% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.23 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | 0.0% |
HEI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). SPIR leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns).
HEI vs SPIR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HEI or SPIR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the stronger pick with 16.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E, 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.
02Which has the better valuation — HEI or SPIR?
On trailing P/E, Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the cheapest at 11. 4x versus HEICO Corporation at 60. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HEI or SPIR?
Over the past 5 years, HEICO Corporation (HEI) delivered a total return of +115.
4%, compared to -76. 9% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HEI returned +842. 3% versus SPIR's -75. 9%. 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 — HEI or SPIR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
04β versus Spire Global, Inc. 's 2. 93β — meaning SPIR is approximately 183% more volatile than HEI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 50% for HEICO Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HEI or SPIR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), HEICO Corporation (HEI) is pulling ahead at 16.
3% versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Spire Global, Inc. grew EPS 137. 8% year-over-year, compared to 33. 5% for HEICO Corporation. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HEI or SPIR?
Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the more profitable company, earning 71. 7% net margin versus 15. 4% for HEICO Corporation — meaning it keeps 71. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HEI leads at 22. 7% versus -121. 4% for SPIR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SPIR leads at 40. 8%, 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 HEI or SPIR more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HEI: 25.
2% to $371. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — HEI or SPIR?
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.
09Is HEI or SPIR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
04), +842. 3% 10Y return). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a higher beta of 2. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HEI: +842. 3%, SPIR: -75. 9%), 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 HEI and SPIR?
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; SPIR is a large-cap deep-value 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.
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