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MESA vs GE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Aerospace & Defense
MESA vs GE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Airlines, Airports & Air Services | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $879M | $319.54B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $381M | $48.35B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-166M | $8.66B |
| Gross Margin | 10.8% | 34.8% |
| Operating Margin | -44.6% | 18.5% |
| Forward P/E | 30.9x | 40.4x |
| Total Debt | $103M | $20.49B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $42M | $12.39B |
MESA vs GE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | Jan 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Air Group, Inc. (MESA) | 100 | 646.2 | +546.2% |
| GE Aerospace (GE) | 100 | 941.7 | +841.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MESA vs GE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MESA is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.82
- Lower volatility, beta 0.82, current ratio 0.67x
- Beta 0.82, current ratio 0.67x
GE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 18.5%, EPS growth 36.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 16.3%
- 121.3% 10Y total return vs MESA's 78.7%
- 18.5% revenue growth vs MESA's -19.9%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 18.5% revenue growth vs MESA's -19.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (30.9x vs 40.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 17.9% margin vs MESA's -43.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.82 vs GE's 1.14 | |
| Dividends | 0.4% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +19.6% vs GE's +47.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.8% ROA vs MESA's -71.1%, ROIC 24.7% vs -62.9% |
MESA vs GE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MESA vs GE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
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 — 126.8x MESA's $381M. GE is the more profitable business, keeping 17.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MESA's -43.6%. On growth, GE holds the edge at +24.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $381M | $48.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$150M | $9.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$166M | $8.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$53M | $7.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +10.8% | +34.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -44.6% | +18.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -43.6% | +17.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -14.0% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -21.3% | +24.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +43.3% | -1.1% |
Valuation Metrics
MESA leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $879M | $319.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.2B | $327.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.04x | 37.48x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 30.88x | 40.44x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.17x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 32.80x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.85x | 6.97x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.03x | 17.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 63.13x | 43.99x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GE leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GE delivers a 45.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $46 in annual profit, vs $-5 for MESA. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GE scores 6/9 vs MESA's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -5.3% | +45.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -71.1% | +6.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -62.9% | +24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -86.2% | +9.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $61M | $8.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $42M | $12.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $103M | $20.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -8.18x | 11.69x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MESA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GE five years ago would be worth $47,052 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,970 for MESA. Over the past 12 months, MESA leads with a +1958.8% total return vs GE's +47.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MESA at 118.6% vs GE's 56.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | 0.0% | -4.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +1958.8% | +47.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +944.8% | +284.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +89.7% | +370.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +78.7% | +121.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +118.6% | +56.6% |
Risk & Volatility
MESA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MESA is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 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. MESA currently trades 100.0% from its 52-week high vs GE's 87.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 1.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $21.00 | $348.48 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.90 | $205.92 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +100.0% | +87.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 98.1 | 45.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 0 | 5.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MESA as "Hold" and GE as "Buy". GE is the only dividend payer here at 0.45% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $386.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.36 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.4% |
MESA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). GE leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency).
MESA vs GE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MESA 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 -19. 9% for Mesa Air Group, Inc. (MESA). GE Aerospace (GE) offers the better valuation at 37. 5x trailing P/E (40. 4x 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 — MESA or GE?
On forward P/E, Mesa Air Group, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 30. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MESA or GE?
Over the past 5 years, GE Aerospace (GE) delivered a total return of +370.
5%, compared to +89. 7% for Mesa Air Group, Inc. (MESA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GE returned +121. 3% versus MESA's +78. 7%. 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 — MESA or GE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Mesa Air Group, Inc.
(MESA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus GE Aerospace's 1. 14β — meaning GE is approximately 40% more volatile than MESA relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — MESA or GE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), GE Aerospace (GE) is pulling ahead at 18.
5% versus -19. 9% for Mesa Air Group, Inc. (MESA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: GE Aerospace grew EPS 36. 2% year-over-year, compared to -82. 4% for Mesa Air Group, 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 — MESA or GE?
GE Aerospace (GE) is the more profitable company, earning 19.
0% net margin versus -39. 9% for Mesa Air Group, 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 -46. 5% for MESA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MESA leads at 99. 1%, 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 MESA or GE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Mesa Air Group, Inc.
(MESA) trades at 30. 9x forward P/E versus 40. 4x for GE Aerospace — 9. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — MESA or GE?
In this comparison, GE (0.
4% yield) pays a dividend. MESA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is MESA or GE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Mesa Air Group, Inc.
(MESA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MESA: +78. 7%, 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.
10What are the main differences between MESA 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: MESA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GE is a large-cap high-growth stock. 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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