Aerospace & Defense
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SARO vs SPIR vs LHX vs BA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Business Services
Aerospace & Defense
Aerospace & Defense
SARO vs SPIR vs LHX vs BA — 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 | $8.36B | $607.77B | $55.97B | $187.11B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.25B | $72M | $22.48B | $92.18B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $294M | $-25.02B | $1.73B | $2.27B |
| Gross Margin | 15.1% | 40.8% | 24.5% | 4.8% |
| Operating Margin | 9.0% | -121.4% | 10.0% | -5.9% |
| Forward P/E | 19.8x | 11.5x | 25.8x | 95.7x |
| Total Debt | $2.45B | $8.76B | $10.44B | $54.43B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $290M | $24.81B | $1.07B | $10.92B |
SARO vs SPIR vs LHX vs BA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Oct 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| StandardAero, Inc. (SARO) | 100 | 87.1 | -12.9% |
| Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) | 100 | 186.8 | +86.8% |
| L3Harris Technologi… (LHX) | 100 | 121.1 | +21.1% |
| The Boeing Company (BA) | 100 | 159.0 | +59.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SARO vs SPIR vs LHX vs BA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
SARO is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 15.8%, EPS growth 20.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 13.5%
- 4.5% ROA vs SPIR's -47.3%, ROIC 8.7% 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 (11.5x vs 95.7x)
- +93.8% vs SARO's -9.7%
LHX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.37, yield 1.6%
- 344.0% 10Y total return vs BA's 99.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.37, Low D/E 53.2%, current ratio 1.19x
- Beta 0.37, yield 1.6%, current ratio 1.19x
BA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth.
- 34.5% revenue growth vs SPIR's -35.2%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 34.5% revenue growth vs SPIR's -35.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.5x vs 95.7x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 7.7% margin vs SPIR's -349.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.37 vs SPIR's 3.10 | |
| Dividends | 1.6% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs BA's 0.2%, (2 stocks pay no dividend) | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +93.8% vs SARO's -9.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.5% ROA vs SPIR's -47.3%, ROIC 8.7% vs -0.1% |
SARO vs SPIR vs LHX vs BA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
SARO vs SPIR vs LHX vs BA — 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
SARO leads 2 • SPIR leads 1 • BA leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LHX leads this category, winning 3 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. LHX is the more profitable business, keeping 7.7% 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 | $6.3B | $72M | $22.5B | $92.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $709M | -$74M | $3.3B | -$3.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $294M | -$25.0B | $1.7B | $2.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $133M | -$16.2B | $2.6B | -$1.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +15.1% | +40.8% | +24.5% | +4.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | -121.4% | +10.0% | -5.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.7% | -349.6% | +7.7% | +2.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.1% | -227.0% | +11.5% | -1.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +13.3% | -26.9% | +11.9% | +14.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +26.3% | +59.5% | +33.3% | +31.3% |
Valuation Metrics
SARO leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.5x trailing earnings, SPIR trades at a 88% valuation discount to BA's 95.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SARO's 13.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LHX's 19.1x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $8.4B | $607.8B | $56.0B | $187.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.5B | $591.7B | $65.3B | $230.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 30.29x | 11.48x | 35.13x | 95.71x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.79x | — | 25.78x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | 3.35x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.94x | — | 19.11x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.38x | 8493.94x | 2.56x | 2.09x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.15x | 5.23x | 2.88x | 33.16x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 35.69x | — | 20.87x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
SARO 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 | +11.3% | -88.4% | +8.9% | +2.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | -47.3% | +4.2% | +1.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.7% | -0.1% | +5.4% | -9.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.8% | -0.1% | +6.4% | -9.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.92x | 0.08x | 0.53x | 9.97x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.2B | -$16.1B | $9.4B | $43.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $290M | $24.8B | $1.1B | $10.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.4B | $8.8B | $10.4B | $54.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.50x | 9.20x | 4.41x | 1.89x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SPIR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LHX five years ago would be worth $14,857 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,337 for SPIR. Over the past 12 months, SPIR leads with a +93.8% total return vs SARO's -9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPIR at 50.7% vs SARO's -8.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -15.2% | +136.7% | -1.2% | +4.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -9.7% | +93.8% | +39.4% | +23.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -23.2% | +242.0% | +67.5% | +20.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -23.2% | -76.6% | +48.6% | +1.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -23.2% | -75.7% | +344.0% | +99.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -8.4% | +50.7% | +18.8% | +6.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LHX and BA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LHX is the less volatile stock with a 0.37 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPIR's 3.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BA currently trades 93.3% from its 52-week high vs SARO's 72.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.26x | 3.10x | 0.37x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $34.48 | $23.59 | $379.23 | $254.35 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.83 | $6.60 | $214.10 | $176.77 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.9% | +78.4% | +79.0% | +93.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.8 | 47.7 | 23.8 | 57.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.1M | 1.6M | 1.4M | 6.6M |
Analyst Outlook
LHX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: SARO as "Hold", SPIR as "Buy", LHX as "Buy", BA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 49.2% upside for SARO (target: $38) vs -6.7% for SPIR (target: $17). For income investors, LHX offers the higher dividend yield at 1.60% vs BA's 0.18%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $37.50 | $17.25 | $352.25 | $267.36 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 12 | 32 | 54 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | +1.6% | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | $4.79 | $0.43 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | +2.1% | 0.0% |
LHX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Analyst Outlook). SARO leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
SARO vs SPIR vs LHX vs BA: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA 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. 5x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA?
On trailing P/E, Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the cheapest at 11. 5x versus The Boeing Company at 95. 7x. On forward P/E, StandardAero, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA?
Over the past 5 years, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) delivered a total return of +48. 6%, compared to -76. 6% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LHX returned +344. 0% versus SPIR's -75. 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 — SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
(LHX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus Spire Global, Inc. 's 3. 10β — meaning SPIR is approximately 735% 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 — SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA?
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: StandardAero, Inc. grew EPS 20. 9% year-over-year, compared to 8. 4% for L3Harris Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SARO leads at 13. 5% 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 — SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA?
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 SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, StandardAero, Inc.
(SARO) trades at 19. 8x forward P/E versus 25. 8x for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SARO: 49. 2% to $37. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA?
In this comparison, LHX (1.
6% yield), BA (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. SARO, SPIR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is SARO or SPIR or LHX or BA 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. 37), 1. 6% yield, +344. 0% 10Y return). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a higher beta of 3. 10 — 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: +344. 0%, SPIR: -75. 7%), 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 SARO and SPIR and LHX and BA?
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: SARO is a small-cap high-growth stock; SPIR is a large-cap deep-value stock; LHX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BA is a mid-cap high-growth stock. LHX pays a dividend while SARO, 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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