BWXT vs. HWM: BWX Technologies vs. Howmet Aerospace Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) 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

BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Profile Item	BWXT	HWM
Name	BWX Technologies, Inc.	Howmet Aerospace Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	10.95 billion USD	81.84 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	August 2, 2010	November 1, 2016
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BWXT

HWM

GSPC

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM), 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Metric	BWXT	HWM
Total Return (1Y)	-33.33%	5.06%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.43%	64.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	20.57%	46.04%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BWXT

HWM

GSPC

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM), 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

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Metric	BWXT	HWM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	45.97%	37.60%
Beta (5Y)	0.73	1.27
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.64%	-36.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.19M	3.47M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BWXT and HWM 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 BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Metric	BWXT	HWM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.82	0.02
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.11	0.03

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 28.27% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

28.27%

Max: 40.55%
BWXT: 28.27%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

37.65%

Max: 40.55%
HWM: 37.65%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 21.10% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 10.41%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

10.41%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
BWXT: 10.41%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

21.10%

Max: 27.47%
HWM: 21.10%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 11.55%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

11.55%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
BWXT: 11.55%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

28.78%

Max: 36.60%
HWM: 28.78%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Metric	BWXT	HWM
ROE (TTM)	28.27%	37.65%
ROA (TTM)	5.49%	13.97%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.41%	21.10%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.55%	28.78%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.61%	36.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 18.30% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 11.06% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 16.61% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for HWM.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Metric	BWXT	HWM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	18.30%	11.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	12.73%	13.37%
EPS Growth (YoY)	16.61%	32.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.25%	49.51%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 1.88 and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.88

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
BWXT: 1.88
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

1.86

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
HWM: 1.86
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 1.43 uses more debt funding than most peers.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

1.43

Max: 2.33
BWXT: 1.43
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

0.80

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
HWM: 0.80
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Metric	BWXT	HWM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.88	1.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.43	0.80
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.92	1.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 0.92% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.25% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

0.92%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
BWXT: 0.92%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

0.25%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
HWM: 0.25%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 26.04% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 9.80% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

26.04%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
BWXT: 26.04%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

9.80%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
HWM: 9.80%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Metric	BWXT	HWM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.92%	0.25%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	26.04%	9.80%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 29.37 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 40.35 sits in the richer quartile — HWM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

29.37

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
BWXT: 29.37
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

40.35

Max: 59.38
HWM: 40.35
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 3.04 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 8.41 clears its benchmark range — HWM looks notably rich on sales.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

3.04

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
BWXT: 3.04
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

8.41

HWM: 8.41
Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 7.72 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 prices even higher, above its industry range.

BWXT

Capital Goods industry group

7.72

Max: 9.66
BWXT: 7.72
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

14.20

HWM: 14.20
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

BWX Technologies (BWXT) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM)
Metric	BWXT	HWM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	29.37	40.35
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.04	8.41
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.72	14.20
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.64%	1.58%