Aerospace & Defense
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LHX vs BA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Aerospace & Defense
LHX vs BA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $56.26B | $182.12B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $22.48B | $92.18B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.73B | $2.27B |
| Gross Margin | 24.5% | 4.8% |
| Operating Margin | 10.0% | -5.9% |
| Forward P/E | 26.0x | 4979.1x |
| Total Debt | $10.44B | $54.43B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.07B | $10.92B |
LHX vs BA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| L3Harris Technologi… (LHX) | 100 | 151.0 | +51.0% |
| The Boeing Company (BA) | 100 | 158.4 | +58.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LHX vs BA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LHX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.39, yield 1.6%
- 346.1% 10Y total return vs BA's 94.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.39, Low D/E 53.2%, current ratio 1.19x
BA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 34.5%, EPS growth 113.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 10.3%
- 34.5% revenue growth vs LHX's 2.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 34.5% revenue growth vs LHX's 2.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (26.0x vs 4979.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 7.7% margin vs BA's 2.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.39 vs BA's 0.97, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.6% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs BA's 0.2% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +40.4% vs BA's +24.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.2% ROA vs BA's 1.4%, ROIC 5.4% vs -9.5% |
LHX vs BA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LHX vs BA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LHX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BA is the larger business by revenue, generating $92.2B annually — 4.1x LHX's $22.5B. LHX is the more profitable business, keeping 7.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BA's 2.5%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $22.5B | $92.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.3B | -$3.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.7B | $2.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | -$1.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.5% | +4.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.0% | -5.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.7% | +2.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | -1.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.9% | +14.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +33.3% | +31.3% |
Valuation Metrics
LHX leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 35.3x trailing earnings, LHX trades at a 62% valuation discount to BA's 93.2x P/E.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $56.3B | $182.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $65.6B | $225.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 35.31x | 93.16x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 26.00x | 4979.09x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.37x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.20x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.57x | 2.04x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.89x | 32.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.98x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
LHX leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BA delivers a 2.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $9 for LHX. LHX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.53x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BA's 9.97x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LHX scores 9/9 vs BA's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | +2.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.2% | +1.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | -9.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.4% | -9.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 9 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.53x | 9.97x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9.4B | $43.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.1B | $10.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $10.4B | $54.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.41x | 1.89x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LHX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LHX five years ago would be worth $14,776 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,811 for BA. Over the past 12 months, LHX leads with a +40.4% total return vs BA's +24.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LHX at 19.0% vs BA's 5.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.7% | +1.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.4% | +24.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +68.4% | +17.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +47.8% | -1.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +346.1% | +94.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.0% | +5.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LHX and BA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LHX is the less volatile stock with a 0.39 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BA's 0.97 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BA currently trades 90.8% from its 52-week high vs LHX's 79.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.39x | 0.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $379.23 | $254.35 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $214.10 | $176.77 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +79.4% | +90.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 24.2 | 56.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 6.5M |
Analyst Outlook
LHX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LHX as "Buy" and BA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.0% upside for LHX (target: $352) vs 14.1% for BA (target: $264). For income investors, LHX offers the higher dividend yield at 1.59% vs BA's 0.19%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $352.25 | $263.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 32 | 54 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.6% | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.79 | $0.43 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.1% | 0.0% |
LHX leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
LHX vs BA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LHX or BA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Boeing Company (BA) is the stronger pick with 34.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 5% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX). L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) offers the better valuation at 35. 3x trailing P/E (26. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — LHX or BA?
On trailing P/E, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the cheapest at 35. 3x versus The Boeing Company at 93. 2x. On forward P/E, L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 26. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LHX or BA?
Over the past 5 years, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) delivered a total return of +47. 8%, compared to -1. 9% for The Boeing Company (BA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LHX returned +346. 1% versus BA's +94. 6%. 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 — LHX or BA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus The Boeing Company's 0. 97β — meaning BA is approximately 149% more volatile than LHX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 10% for The Boeing Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — LHX or BA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Boeing Company (BA) is pulling ahead at 34.
5% versus 2. 5% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Boeing Company grew EPS 113. 5% year-over-year, compared to 8. 4% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BA leads at 10. 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 — LHX or BA?
L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 3% net margin versus 2. 5% for The Boeing Company — meaning it keeps 7. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LHX leads at 10. 0% versus -6. 1% for BA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LHX leads at 25. 7%, 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 LHX or BA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) trades at 26. 0x forward P/E versus 4979. 1x for The Boeing Company — 4953. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LHX: 17. 0% to $352. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — LHX or BA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 0. 2% for The Boeing Company (BA).
09Is LHX or BA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 1. 6% yield, +346. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LHX: +346. 1%, BA: +94. 6%), 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 LHX and BA?
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: LHX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BA is a mid-cap high-growth stock. LHX pays a dividend while BA 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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