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BA vs. RKLB: Boeing vs. Rocket Lab Stock Comparison

How do Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Boeing (BA) has more than two decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, whereas Rocket Lab (RKLB) listed on November 24, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
Profile ItemBARKLB
NameThe Boeing CompanyRocket Lab Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization137.41 billion USD33.93 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962November 24, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BA
RKLB
GSPC
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricBARKLB
Total Return (1Y)-10.22%12.96%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-3.32%138.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-4.57%31.49%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BA
RKLB
GSPC
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricBARKLB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.25%95.71%
Beta (5Y)1.313.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.29%-78.32%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.77M19.51M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BA and RKLB are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricBARKLB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.410.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.600.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Boeing (BA) has no ROE value reported for this period; Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative figure of -7.92%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

--

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
BA
--

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

-7.92%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
RKLB
-7.92%
Min
-17.12%
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): BA does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; RKLB is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative net margin of -21.51%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Boeing (BA) reports 8.07%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

8.07%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
BA
8.07%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

-21.51%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
RKLB
-21.51%
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative operating margin of -24.57%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Boeing (BA) reports 0.30%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.30%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
BA
0.30%
Min
-12.63%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

-24.57%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
RKLB
-24.57%
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricBARKLB
ROE (TTM)---7.92%
ROA (TTM)-0.11%-4.62%
Net Margin (TTM)8.07%-21.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)0.30%-24.57%
Gross Margin (TTM)9.45%37.26%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Boeing (BA) at 34.50% and Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 37.96% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.

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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Neither Boeing (BA) nor Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a EPS growth value for this period, so a direct comparison isn't possible.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricBARKLB
Revenue Growth (YoY)34.50%37.96%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.33%41.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)----
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 5.48 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Boeing (BA) at 1.13 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.13

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
BA
1.13
Min
0.36

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

5.48

RKLB
5.48
Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 0.04 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Boeing (BA) at 7.39 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

7.39

BA
7.39
Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

0.04

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
RKLB
0.04
Min
0.00
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricBARKLB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.135.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)7.390.04
Net Debt / EBITDA13.81--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Boeing (BA) nor Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
BA
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
RKLB
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Boeing (BA) nor Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
BA
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
RKLB
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricBARKLB
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Boeing (BA) trades at 17.89 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no P/E ratio this period.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

17.89

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
BA
17.89
Min
3.03

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

--

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
RKLB
--
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): RKLB does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; BA is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Boeing (BA) at 1.45 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 44.12 clears its benchmark range — RKLB looks notably rich on sales.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

1.45

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
BA
1.45
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

44.12

RKLB
44.12
Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 9.09 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Boeing (BA) at 20.99 prices even higher, above its industry range.

BA

Capital Goods industry group

20.99

BA
20.99
Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

9.09

Max
9.66
RKLB
9.09
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Boeing (BA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Boeing (BA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricBARKLB
P/E Ratio (TTM)17.89--
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.4544.12
P/B Ratio (MRQ)20.999.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.44%-0.74%