SPR vs CW

For growth investors, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the stronger pick with 12.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 4% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR). Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) offers the better valuation at 56. 2x trailing P/E (48. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) a "Buy" — based on 25 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 forward P/E, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 31. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) delivered a total return of +449.

0%, compared to -10. 3% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CW returned +823. 2% versus SPR's -11. 1%. 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), Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.

(SPR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 68β versus Curtiss-Wright Corporation's 1. 24β — meaning CW is approximately 82% more volatile than SPR relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is pulling ahead at 12.

1% versus 4. 4% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Curtiss-Wright Corporation grew EPS 22. 0% year-over-year, compared to -208. 4% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SPR leads at 16. 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.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

8% net margin versus -33. 9% for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CW leads at 18. 2% versus -28. 3% for SPR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CW leads at 37. 2%, 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, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.

(SPR) trades at 31. 5x forward P/E versus 48. 0x for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — 16. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SPR: 16. 8% to $46. 15.

In this comparison, CW (0.

1% yield) pays a dividend. SPR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

24), +823. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CW: +823. 2%, SPR: -11. 1%), 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.

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.