SXI vs CW vs RBC vs HEI vs NN

For growth investors, HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the stronger pick with 16.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -19. 3% for NextNav Inc. (NN). 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 Standex International Corporation (SXI) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the cheapest at 56.

2x versus RBC Bearings Incorporated at 79. 5x. On forward P/E, Standex International Corporation is actually cheaper at 30. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Curtiss-Wright Corporation wins at 2. 20x versus RBC Bearings Incorporated's 5. 74x.

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

0%, compared to +96. 1% for NextNav Inc. (NN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RBC returned +867. 2% versus NN's +100. 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), HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

04β versus Standex International Corporation's 1. 40β — meaning SXI is approximately 35% more volatile than HEI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, RBC Bearings Incorporated (RBC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 82% for Standex International Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), HEICO Corporation (HEI) is pulling ahead at 16.

3% versus -19. 3% for NextNav Inc. (NN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HEICO Corporation grew EPS 33. 5% year-over-year, compared to -69. 0% for NextNav Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HEI leads at 26. 6% 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.

HEICO Corporation (HEI) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

4% net margin versus -41. 4% for NextNav Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HEI leads at 22. 7% versus -1535. 8% for NN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RBC leads at 44. 4%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 20x versus RBC Bearings Incorporated's 5. 74x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Standex International Corporation (SXI) trades at 30. 8x forward P/E versus 51. 6x for HEICO Corporation — 20. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NN: 35. 0% to $26. 33.

In this comparison, SXI (0.

5% yield), CW (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. RBC, HEI, NN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

05), +867. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RBC: +867. 2%, NN: +100. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SXI (Industrials) and CW (Industrials) and RBC (Industrials) and HEI (Industrials) and NN (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SXI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; RBC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HEI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; NN is a small-cap quality compounder 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.