LMT vs PLTR

For growth investors, Palantir Technologies Inc.

(PLTR) is the stronger pick with 56. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) offers the better valuation at 23. 9x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) a "Buy" — based on 37 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, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the cheapest at 23.

9x versus Palantir Technologies Inc. at 212. 4x. On forward P/E, Lockheed Martin Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Palantir Technologies Inc.

(PLTR) delivered a total return of +565. 9%, compared to +48. 5% for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLTR returned +1308% versus LMT's +157. 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), Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus Palantir Technologies Inc. 's 1. 91β — meaning PLTR is approximately 1445% more volatile than LMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 3% for Lockheed Martin Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Palantir Technologies Inc.

(PLTR) is pulling ahead at 56. 2% versus 5. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Palantir Technologies Inc. grew EPS 231. 6% year-over-year, compared to -3. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLTR leads at 32. 9% 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.

Palantir Technologies Inc.

(PLTR) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 3% net margin versus 6. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation — meaning it keeps 36. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLTR leads at 31. 6% versus 10. 3% for LMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLTR leads at 82. 4%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) trades at 17.

2x forward P/E versus 104. 6x for Palantir Technologies Inc. — 87. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PLTR: 45. 4% to $194. 53.

In this comparison, LMT (2.

6% yield) pays a dividend. PLTR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

12), 2. 6% yield, +157. 0% 10Y return). Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) carries a higher beta of 1. 91 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LMT: +157. 0%, PLTR: +1308%), 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 (LMT (Industrials) and PLTR (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LMT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PLTR is a large-cap high-growth stock. LMT pays a dividend while PLTR 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.