WLFC vs GE vs RTX vs TDG

For growth investors, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is the stronger pick with 18.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 7% for RTX Corporation (RTX). Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) offers the better valuation at 14. 7x trailing P/E (16. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is the cheapest at 14.

7x versus TransDigm Group Incorporated at 38. 7x. On forward P/E, Willis Lease Finance Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Willis Lease Finance Corporation wins at 0. 23x versus GE Aerospace's 3. 39x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) delivered a total return of +440.

7%, compared to +120. 1% for RTX Corporation (RTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WLFC returned +879. 9% versus GE's +121. 0%. 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), RTX Corporation (RTX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

51β versus Willis Lease Finance Corporation's 1. 66β — meaning WLFC is approximately 225% more volatile than RTX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, RTX Corporation (RTX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 4% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is pulling ahead at 18.

7% versus 9. 7% for RTX Corporation (RTX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RTX Corporation grew EPS 39. 7% year-over-year, compared to 0. 3% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, WLFC leads at 29. 4% 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.

TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

5% net margin versus 7. 6% for RTX Corporation — meaning it keeps 23. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TDG leads at 47. 2% versus 10. 0% for RTX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WLFC leads at 65. 7%, 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, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 23x versus GE Aerospace's 3. 39x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) trades at 16. 3x forward P/E versus 40. 0x for GE Aerospace — 23. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TDG: 30. 3% to $1617. 88.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG) offers the highest yield at 13. 3%, versus 0. 4% for Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC).

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

51), 1. 5% yield, +234. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RTX: +234. 7%, GE: +121. 0%), 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.

In terms of investment character: WLFC is a small-cap high-growth stock; GE is a large-cap high-growth stock; RTX is a large-cap quality compounder stock; TDG is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. RTX, TDG pay a dividend while WLFC, GE 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.