TDY vs HII vs GD vs LMT vs RTX

For growth investors, General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is the stronger pick with 10.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) offers the better valuation at 20. 4x trailing P/E (18. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY) a "Buy" — based on 18 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, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

(HII) is the cheapest at 20. 4x versus RTX Corporation at 35. 6x. On forward P/E, Lockheed Martin Corporation is actually cheaper at 17. 1x — 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: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated wins at 2. 14x versus General Dynamics Corporation's 2. 99x.

Over the past 5 years, RTX Corporation (RTX) delivered a total return of +120.

1%, compared to +44. 7% for Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TDY returned +573. 5% versus HII's +130. 7%. 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), Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus Teledyne Technologies Incorporated's 0. 95β — meaning TDY is approximately 665% more volatile than LMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 25% versus 3% for Lockheed Martin Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is pulling ahead at 10.

1% versus 5. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RTX Corporation grew EPS 39. 7% year-over-year, compared to -3. 7% for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, GD leads at 10. 1% 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.

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY) is the more profitable company, earning 14.

6% net margin versus 4. 8% for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TDY leads at 18. 8% versus 4. 9% for HII. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TDY leads at 39. 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.

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, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 14x versus General Dynamics Corporation's 2. 99x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) trades at 17. 1x forward P/E versus 26. 2x for Teledyne Technologies Incorporated — 9. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HII: 33. 5% to $420. 00.

In this comparison, LMT (2.

6% yield), HII (1. 7% yield), GD (1. 7% yield), RTX (1. 5% yield) pay a dividend. TDY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), 2. 6% yield, +156. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LMT: +156. 2%, TDY: +573. 5%), 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 (TDY (Technology) and HII (Industrials) and GD (Industrials) and LMT (Industrials) and RTX (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

HII, GD, LMT, RTX pay a dividend while TDY does 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.