LHX vs CAT vs KO

For growth investors, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is the stronger pick with 4. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 9% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). The Coca-Cola Company (KO) offers the better valuation at 26. 1x trailing P/E (24. 3x 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.

On trailing P/E, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the cheapest at 26.

1x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 52. 4x. On forward P/E, The Coca-Cola Company is actually cheaper at 24. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Caterpillar Inc. wins at 1. 42x versus L3Harris Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 42x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) delivered a total return of +384. 5%, compared to +45. 2% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1247% versus KO's +115. 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), The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

23β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 64β — meaning CAT is approximately -801% more volatile than KO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caterpillar Inc.

(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus 1. 9% for The Coca-Cola Company (KO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Coca-Cola Company grew EPS 23. 6% year-over-year, compared to -14. 6% for Caterpillar Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LHX leads at 8. 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.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the more profitable company, earning 27.

3% net margin versus 7. 3% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 27. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KO leads at 28. 7% versus 10. 0% for LHX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KO leads at 61. 6%, 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, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 42x versus L3Harris Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 42x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) trades at 24. 3x forward P/E versus 40. 0x for Caterpillar Inc. — 15. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LHX: 17. 8% to $347. 33.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 0. 6% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).

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

23), 2. 6% yield, +115. 0% 10Y return). Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) carries a higher beta of 1. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KO: +115. 0%, CAT: +1247%), 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 (LHX (Industrials) and CAT (Industrials) and KO (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.