BWXT vs. LHX: BWX Technologies vs. L3Harris Stock Comparison
How do BWX Technologies (BWXT) and L3Harris (LHX) 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 L3Harris (LHX) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | BWX Technologies, Inc. | L3Harris Technologies, 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 | 48.39 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 2, 2010 | December 31, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -33.33% | -5.21% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 20.43% | 16.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 20.57% | 5.91% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 45.97% | 29.75% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.73 | 0.46 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -51.64% | -38.16% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.19M | 1.70M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.82 | -0.32 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.11 | -0.45 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 28.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while L3Harris (LHX) at 10.03% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BWXT.
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%
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
10.03%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- LHX
- 10.03%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 10.41% and L3Harris (LHX) at 8.76% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
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%
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
8.76%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- LHX
- 8.76%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 11.55% and L3Harris (LHX) at 14.34% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
14.34%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- LHX
- 14.34%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 28.27% | 10.03% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.49% | 4.56% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.41% | 8.76% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 11.55% | 14.34% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 22.61% | 25.55% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 18.30% and L3Harris (LHX) at 2.53% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 16.61% and L3Harris (LHX) at 8.39% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 18.30% | 2.53% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.73% | 8.62% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 16.61% | 8.39% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.25% | 15.82% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 1.88 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while L3Harris (LHX) at 1.20 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LHX.
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
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
1.20
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- LHX
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
L3Harris (LHX) at 0.52 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
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
0.52
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- LHX
- 0.52
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.88 | 1.20 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.43 | 0.52 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.92 | 1.88 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
L3Harris (LHX) at 1.92% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 0.92% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, LHX the richer one.
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%
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
1.92%
- Max
- 2.66%
- LHX
- 1.92%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 26.04% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while L3Harris (LHX) at 46.09% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
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%
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
46.09%
- Max
- 67.39%
- LHX
- 46.09%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.92% | 1.92% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 26.04% | 46.09% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 29.37 and L3Harris (LHX) at 24.20 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
24.20
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- LHX
- 24.20
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 3.04 and L3Harris (LHX) at 2.07 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
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
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
2.07
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- LHX
- 2.07
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
L3Harris (LHX) at 2.39 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 7.72 carries an above-peer premium to book — BWXT is pricier on assets.
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
LHX
Capital Goods industry group
2.39
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- LHX
- 2.39
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | LHX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 29.37 | 24.20 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.04 | 2.07 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.72 | 2.39 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.64% | 7.09% |