Aerospace & Defense
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RTX vs SPIR vs BA vs LHX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Business Services
Aerospace & Defense
Aerospace & Defense
RTX vs SPIR vs BA vs LHX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Specialty Business Services | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $238.01B | $601.52B | $181.25B | $56.45B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $90.37B | $72M | $92.18B | $22.48B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $7.26B | $-25.02B | $2.27B | $1.73B |
| Gross Margin | 20.2% | 40.8% | 4.8% | 24.5% |
| Operating Margin | 10.4% | -121.4% | -5.9% | 10.0% |
| Forward P/E | 25.5x | 11.4x | 4955.4x | 26.1x |
| Total Debt | $39.51B | $8.76B | $54.43B | $10.44B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $7.43B | $24.81B | $10.92B | $1.07B |
RTX vs SPIR vs BA vs LHX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Nov 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX Corporation (RTX) | 100 | 246.4 | +146.4% |
| Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) | 100 | 23.2 | -76.8% |
| The Boeing Company (BA) | 100 | 109.1 | +9.1% |
| L3Harris Technologi… (LHX) | 100 | 157.4 | +57.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RTX vs SPIR vs BA vs LHX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
RTX has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in quality and efficiency.
- 8.0% margin vs SPIR's -349.6%
- 4.3% ROA vs SPIR's -47.3%, ROIC 6.7% vs -0.1%
SPIR is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if value and momentum is your priority.
- Lower P/E (11.4x vs 4955.4x)
- +93.2% vs BA's +23.6%
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 SPIR's -35.2%
LHX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.39, yield 1.6%
- 353.9% 10Y total return vs RTX's 231.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.39, Low D/E 53.2%, current ratio 1.19x
- Beta 0.39, yield 1.6%, current ratio 1.19x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 34.5% revenue growth vs SPIR's -35.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.4x vs 4955.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 8.0% margin vs SPIR's -349.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.39 vs SPIR's 2.93 | |
| Dividends | 1.6% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs RTX's 1.5%, (1 stock pays no dividend) | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +93.2% vs BA's +23.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.3% ROA vs SPIR's -47.3%, ROIC 6.7% vs -0.1% |
RTX vs SPIR vs BA vs LHX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
RTX vs SPIR vs BA vs LHX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
LHX leads in 2 of 6 categories
SPIR leads 2 • RTX leads 0 • BA leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — RTX and SPIR each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BA is the larger business by revenue, generating $92.2B annually — 1288.3x SPIR's $72M. RTX is the more profitable business, keeping 8.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SPIR's -349.6%. On growth, BA holds the edge at +14.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $90.4B | $72M | $92.2B | $22.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $13.8B | -$74M | -$3.4B | $3.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7.3B | -$25.0B | $2.3B | $1.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $8.4B | -$16.2B | -$1.0B | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.2% | +40.8% | +4.8% | +24.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.4% | -121.4% | -5.9% | +10.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | -349.6% | +2.5% | +7.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.2% | -227.0% | -1.1% | +11.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.7% | -26.9% | +14.0% | +11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +32.5% | +59.5% | +31.3% | +33.3% |
Valuation Metrics
LHX leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.4x trailing earnings, SPIR trades at a 88% valuation discount to BA's 92.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LHX's 19.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than RTX's 21.0x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $238.0B | $601.5B | $181.3B | $56.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $270.1B | $585.5B | $224.8B | $65.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 35.63x | 11.37x | 92.71x | 35.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.54x | — | 4955.39x | 26.09x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | 3.38x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.96x | — | — | 19.25x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.69x | 8406.65x | 2.03x | 2.58x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.57x | 5.18x | 32.12x | 2.90x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 29.98x | — | — | 21.05x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SPIR leads this category, winning 4 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 $-88 for SPIR. SPIR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.08x 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 SPIR's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.9% | -88.4% | +2.9% | +8.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.3% | -47.3% | +1.4% | +4.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.7% | -0.1% | -9.5% | +5.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.9% | -0.1% | -9.1% | +6.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.59x | 0.08x | 9.97x | 0.53x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $32.1B | -$16.1B | $43.5B | $9.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7.4B | $24.8B | $10.9B | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $39.5B | $8.8B | $54.4B | $10.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.58x | 9.20x | 1.89x | 4.41x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SPIR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RTX five years ago would be worth $22,270 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,311 for SPIR. Over the past 12 months, SPIR leads with a +93.2% total return vs BA's +23.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPIR at 50.1% vs BA's 5.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -5.2% | +134.3% | +0.9% | -0.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.0% | +93.2% | +23.6% | +42.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.9% | +238.4% | +16.6% | +68.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.7% | -76.9% | +0.1% | +49.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +231.2% | -75.9% | +92.1% | +353.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.5% | +50.1% | +5.2% | +19.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BA and LHX 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 SPIR's 2.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BA currently trades 90.4% from its 52-week high vs SPIR's 77.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.51x | 2.93x | 0.97x | 0.39x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $214.50 | $23.59 | $254.35 | $379.23 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $126.03 | $6.60 | $176.77 | $214.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +82.4% | +77.6% | +90.4% | +79.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 29.7 | 48.9 | 52.2 | 24.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.3M | 1.6M | 6.5M | 1.4M |
Analyst Outlook
LHX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: RTX as "Buy", SPIR as "Buy", BA as "Buy", LHX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 27.2% upside for RTX (target: $225) vs -5.7% for SPIR (target: $17). 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 | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $224.89 | $17.25 | $263.67 | $352.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 12 | 54 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | — | +0.2% | +1.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | — | 0 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.63 | — | $0.43 | $4.79 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | +2.0% |
LHX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). SPIR leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
RTX vs SPIR vs BA vs LHX: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX 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 -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate RTX Corporation (RTX) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 — RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX?
On trailing P/E, Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the cheapest at 11. 4x versus The Boeing Company at 92. 7x. On forward P/E, RTX Corporation is actually cheaper at 25. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX?
Over the past 5 years, RTX Corporation (RTX) delivered a total return of +122.
7%, compared to -76. 9% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LHX returned +353. 9% versus SPIR's -75. 9%. 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 — RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Spire Global, Inc. 's 2. 93β — meaning SPIR is approximately 655% more volatile than LHX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 10% for The Boeing Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Boeing Company (BA) is pulling ahead at 34.
5% versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Spire Global, Inc. grew EPS 137. 8% 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 — RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX?
Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the more profitable company, earning 71. 7% net margin versus 2. 5% for The Boeing Company — meaning it keeps 71. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LHX leads at 10. 0% versus -121. 4% for SPIR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SPIR leads at 40. 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.
07Is RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, RTX Corporation (RTX) trades at 25.
5x forward P/E versus 4955. 4x for The Boeing Company — 4929. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RTX: 27. 2% to $224. 89.
08Which pays a better dividend — RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX?
In this comparison, LHX (1.
6% yield), RTX (1. 5% yield), BA (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. SPIR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is RTX or SPIR or BA or LHX 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, +353. 9% 10Y return). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a higher beta of 2. 93 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LHX: +353. 9%, SPIR: -75. 9%), 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 RTX and SPIR and BA and LHX?
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: RTX is a large-cap quality compounder stock; SPIR is a large-cap deep-value stock; BA is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LHX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. RTX, LHX pay a dividend while SPIR, BA do 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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