CSL vs. GD: Carlisle vs. General Dynamics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD) 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

Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CSL is classified in Building Products while GD is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Profile Item	CSL	GD
Name	Carlisle Companies Incorporated	General Dynamics Corp.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Building Products	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Building Products	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	14.52 billion USD	95.68 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSL

GSPC

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD), 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 Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	CSL	GD
Total Return (1Y)	24.99%	6.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	15.85%	16.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	12.02%	14.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSL

GSPC

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD), 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 Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	CSL	GD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	38.46%	23.03%
Beta (5Y)	0.76	0.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-37.72%	-22.55%
Avg. Volume (3M)	509.16K	1.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CSL and GD 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 Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	CSL	GD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.54	0.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.87	0.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 42.34% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than General Dynamics (GD) at 18.01%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

42.34%

CSL: 42.34%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

GD

Capital Goods industry group

18.01%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
GD: 18.01%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 13.78% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of General Dynamics (GD) at 8.24%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

13.78%

Max: 27.47%
CSL: 13.78%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

GD

Capital Goods industry group

8.24%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
GD: 8.24%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 20.21% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of General Dynamics (GD) at 10.49%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

20.21%

Max: 36.60%
CSL: 20.21%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

GD

Capital Goods industry group

10.49%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
GD: 10.49%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	CSL	GD
ROE (TTM)	42.34%	18.01%
ROA (TTM)	10.20%	6.23%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.78%	8.24%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.21%	10.49%
Gross Margin (TTM)	34.66%	15.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

General Dynamics (GD) at 10.13% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Carlisle (CSL) at 0.33% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

General Dynamics (GD) at 13.35% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Carlisle (CSL) at -38.46% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	CSL	GD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	0.33%	10.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-2.70%	10.07%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-38.46%	13.35%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-0.84%	8.22%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Carlisle (CSL) at 2.41 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while General Dynamics (GD) at 1.43 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for GD.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.41

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
CSL: 2.41
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

GD

Capital Goods industry group

1.43

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
GD: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

General Dynamics (GD) at 0.33 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Carlisle (CSL) at 2.01 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.01

Max: 2.33
CSL: 2.01
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

GD

Capital Goods industry group

0.33

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
GD: 0.33
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	CSL	GD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.41	1.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.01	0.33
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.93	0.68

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Carlisle (CSL) at 1.20% and General Dynamics (GD) at 1.76% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

1.20%

Max: 2.66%
CSL: 1.20%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GD

Capital Goods industry group

1.76%

Max: 2.66%
GD: 1.76%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Carlisle (CSL) at 25.50% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while General Dynamics (GD) at 36.90% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

25.50%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
CSL: 25.50%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GD

Capital Goods industry group

36.90%

Max: 67.39%
GD: 36.90%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	CSL	GD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.20%	1.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.50%	36.90%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Carlisle (CSL) at 21.06 and General Dynamics (GD) at 20.84 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

21.06

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
CSL: 21.06
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

GD

Capital Goods industry group

20.84

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
GD: 20.84
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Carlisle (CSL) at 2.79 and General Dynamics (GD) at 1.69 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

2.79

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
CSL: 2.79
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

GD

Capital Goods industry group

1.69

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
GD: 1.69
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

General Dynamics (GD) at 3.50 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Carlisle (CSL) at 10.11 prices above its benchmark range — CSL looks rich relative to book.

CSL

Capital Goods industry group

10.11

CSL: 10.11
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

GD

Capital Goods industry group

3.50

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
GD: 3.50
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Carlisle (CSL) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Carlisle (CSL) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	CSL	GD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.06	20.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.79	1.69
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	10.11	3.50
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.01%	4.76%