LTM vs GE

For growth investors, GE Aerospace (GE) is the stronger pick with 18.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 2% for LATAM Airlines Group S. A. (LTM). LATAM Airlines Group S. A. (LTM) offers the better valuation at 10. 4x trailing P/E (11. 1x 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.

On trailing P/E, LATAM Airlines Group S.

A. (LTM) is the cheapest at 10. 4x versus GE Aerospace at 37. 5x. On forward P/E, LATAM Airlines Group S. A. is actually cheaper at 11. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, GE Aerospace (GE) delivered a total return of +370.

5%, compared to +122. 1% for LATAM Airlines Group S. A. (LTM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LTM returned +1728% versus GE's +121. 3%. 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), GE Aerospace (GE) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

14β versus LATAM Airlines Group S. A. 's 1. 29β — meaning LTM is approximately 13% more volatile than GE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, GE Aerospace (GE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 108% versus 6% for LATAM Airlines Group S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), GE Aerospace (GE) is pulling ahead at 18.

5% versus 11. 2% for LATAM Airlines Group S. A. (LTM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: LATAM Airlines Group S. A. grew EPS 56. 3% year-over-year, compared to 36. 2% for GE Aerospace. 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.

GE Aerospace (GE) is the more profitable company, earning 19.

0% net margin versus 10. 2% for LATAM Airlines Group S. A. — 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 16. 4% for LTM. 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.

On forward earnings alone, LATAM Airlines Group S.

A. (LTM) trades at 11. 1x forward P/E versus 40. 4x for GE Aerospace — 29. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LTM: 32. 5% to $68. 70.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

LATAM Airlines Group S. A. (LTM) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 0. 4% for GE Aerospace (GE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, LATAM Airlines Group S.

A. (LTM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 29), 4. 0% yield, +1728% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LTM: +1728%, GE: +121. 3%), 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.

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: LTM is a mid-cap deep-value stock; GE is a large-cap high-growth stock. LTM 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.