BWXT vs. XYL: BWX Technologies vs. Xylem Stock Comparison
How do BWX Technologies (BWXT) and Xylem (XYL) 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 Xylem (XYL) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but BWXT is classified in Aerospace & Defense while XYL is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | BWXT | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | BWX Technologies, Inc. | Xylem Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 10.95 billion USD | 22.44 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 2, 2010 | October 13, 2011 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -33.33% | -33.10% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 20.43% | 2.29% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 20.57% | -4.47% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 45.97% | 30.74% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.73 | 0.96 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -51.64% | -44.89% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.19M | 2.60M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.82 | -1.22 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.11 | -1.48 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 28.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Xylem (XYL) at 9.76% 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%
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
9.76%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- XYL
- 9.76%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 10.41% and Xylem (XYL) at 11.94% 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%
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
11.94%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- XYL
- 11.94%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 11.55% and Xylem (XYL) at 15.95% 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%
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
15.95%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- XYL
- 15.95%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 28.27% | 9.76% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.49% | 5.07% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.41% | 11.94% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 11.55% | 15.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 22.61% | 39.32% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 18.30% and Xylem (XYL) at 5.52% 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 Xylem (XYL) at 7.40% 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 | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 18.30% | 5.52% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.73% | 17.84% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 16.61% | 7.40% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.25% | 25.99% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 1.88 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Xylem (XYL) at 1.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for XYL.
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
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
1.39
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- XYL
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Xylem (XYL) at 0.29 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
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
0.29
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- XYL
- 0.29
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.88 | 1.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.43 | 0.29 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.92 | 1.18 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Xylem (XYL) at 1.69% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 0.92% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, XYL 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%
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
1.69%
- Max
- 2.66%
- XYL
- 1.69%
- 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 Xylem (XYL) at 37.47% 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%
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
37.47%
- Max
- 67.39%
- XYL
- 37.47%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.92% | 1.69% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 26.04% | 37.47% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 29.37 and Xylem (XYL) at 21.69 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
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
21.69
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- XYL
- 21.69
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both BWX Technologies (BWXT) at 3.04 and Xylem (XYL) at 2.48 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
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
2.48
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- XYL
- 2.48
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Xylem (XYL) at 2.19 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
XYL
Capital Goods industry group
2.19
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- XYL
- 2.19
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BWXT | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 29.37 | 21.69 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.04 | 2.48 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.72 | 2.19 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.64% | 5.39% |