HII
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$12.39B
5Y Perf.+57.4%
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Stock Comparison
HII vs GE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
GE
GE Aerospace
Aerospace & Defense
Market Cap$316.20B
5Y Perf.+825.2%
HII vs GE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HII | GE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $12.39B | $316.20B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $12.85B | $48.35B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $605M | $8.66B |
| Gross Margin | 12.4% | 34.8% |
| Operating Margin | 4.9% | 18.5% |
| Forward P/E | 18.2x | 40.0x |
| Total Debt | $3.15B | $20.49B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $774M | $12.39B |
HII vs GE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HII
GE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Ingalls … (HII) | 100 | 157.4 | +57.4% |
| GE Aerospace (GE) | 100 | 925.2 | +825.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HII vs GE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: GE leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HII
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
HII is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 13 yrs, beta 0.69, yield 1.7%
- 130.7% 10Y total return vs GE's 121.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.69, Low D/E 62.0%, current ratio 1.13x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
GE
GE Aerospace
The Growth Play
GE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 18.5%, EPS growth 36.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 16.3%
- 18.5% revenue growth vs HII's 8.2%
- 17.9% margin vs HII's 4.7%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GE | 18.5% revenue growth vs HII's 8.2% |
| Value | HII | Lower P/E (18.2x vs 40.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | GE | 17.9% margin vs HII's 4.7% |
| Stability / Safety | HII | Beta 0.69 vs GE's 1.14, lower leverage |
| Dividends | HII | 1.7% yield, 13-year raise streak, vs GE's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GE | +44.9% vs HII's +39.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GE | 6.8% ROA vs HII's 4.9%, ROIC 24.7% vs 6.2% |
HII vs GE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
HII vs GE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLGELAGGINGHII
HIIHuntington Ingalls In…
2leads
GEGE Aerospace
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HIIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
GE5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HII6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
GE5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
GE5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
HII2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GE is the larger business by revenue, generating $48.4B annually — 3.8x HII's $12.8B. GE is the more profitable business, keeping 17.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HII's 4.7%. On growth, GE holds the edge at +24.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HIIHuntington Ingall… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.8B | $48.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $953M | $9.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $605M | $8.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.1B | $7.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +34.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.9% | +18.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.7% | +17.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.2% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +13.4% | +24.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | -1.1% |
GE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HII leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 20.4x trailing earnings, HII trades at a 45% valuation discount to GE's 37.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HII's 15.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GE's 32.5x.
| Metric | HIIHuntington Ingall… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $12.4B | $316.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $14.8B | $324.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 20.45x | 37.09x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.15x | 40.02x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.14x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.76x | 32.46x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.99x | 6.90x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.44x | 17.09x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.61x | 43.53x |
HII leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GE leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GE delivers a 45.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $46 in annual profit, vs $12 for HII. HII carries lower financial leverage with a 0.62x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GE's 1.08x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HII scores 9/9 vs GE's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HIIHuntington Ingall… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.0% | +45.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.9% | +6.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.2% | +24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.4% | +9.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 9 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.62x | 1.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.4B | $8.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $774M | $12.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.1B | $20.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.86x | 11.69x |
GE leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
GE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GE five years ago would be worth $46,249 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,671 for HII. Over the past 12 months, GE leads with a +44.9% total return vs HII's +39.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GE at 56.0% vs HII's 19.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HIIHuntington Ingall… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -9.6% | -5.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +39.1% | +44.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +70.2% | +280.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.7% | +362.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +130.7% | +121.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.4% | +56.0% |
GE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HII and GE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HII is the less volatile stock with a 0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GE's 1.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GE currently trades 86.8% from its 52-week high vs HII's 68.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HIIHuntington Ingall… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.69x | 1.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $460.00 | $348.48 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $215.05 | $208.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.4% | +86.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 21.9 | 56.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 476K | 5.7M |
Evenly matched — HII and GE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
HII leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HII as "Hold" and GE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 33.5% upside for HII (target: $420) vs 27.6% for GE (target: $386). For income investors, HII offers the higher dividend yield at 1.72% vs GE's 0.45%.
| Metric | HIIHuntington Ingall… | GEGE Aerospace |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $420.00 | $386.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.7% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 13 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.42 | $1.36 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.4% |
HII leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
GE leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HII leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallGE Aerospace (GE)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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HII vs GE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HII or GE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, GE Aerospace (GE) is the stronger pick with 18.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 2% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII). Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) offers the better valuation at 20. 4x trailing P/E (18. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate GE Aerospace (GE) 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 — HII or GE?
On trailing P/E, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
(HII) is the cheapest at 20. 4x versus GE Aerospace at 37. 1x. On forward P/E, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HII or GE?
Over the past 5 years, GE Aerospace (GE) delivered a total return of +362.
5%, compared to +56. 7% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HII returned +130. 7% 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.
04Which is safer — HII or GE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
(HII) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 69β versus GE Aerospace's 1. 14β — meaning GE is approximately 66% more volatile than HII relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 62% versus 108% for GE Aerospace — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HII or GE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), GE Aerospace (GE) is pulling ahead at 18.
5% versus 8. 2% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: GE Aerospace grew EPS 36. 2% year-over-year, compared to 10. 2% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GE leads at 16. 3% 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 — HII or GE?
GE Aerospace (GE) is the more profitable company, earning 19.
0% net margin versus 4. 8% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GE leads at 19. 1% versus 4. 9% for HII. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GE leads at 36. 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 HII or GE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
(HII) trades at 18. 2x forward P/E versus 40. 0x for GE Aerospace — 21. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HII: 33. 5% to $420. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — HII or GE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 0. 4% for GE Aerospace (GE).
09Is HII or GE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
(HII) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 69), 1. 7% yield, +130. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HII: +130. 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.
10What are the main differences between HII and GE?
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: HII is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; GE is a large-cap high-growth stock. HII pays a dividend while GE does 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(HII: 13.4% · GE: 24.7%)Net Margin>
%
(HII: 4.7% · GE: 17.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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