CW vs. ESLT: Curtiss-Wright vs. Elbit Systems Stock Comparison
How do Curtiss-Wright (CW) and Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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
Curtiss-Wright (CW) and Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Curtiss-Wright Corporation | Elbit Systems Ltd. |
| Country/Region | United States | Israel |
| 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 | 16.81 billion USD | 32.00 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | November 27, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -15.83% | 55.34% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 33.49% | 57.29% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 29.54% | 37.24% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 38.26% | 47.34% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.93 | 0.10 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -45.25% | -35.54% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 427.49K | 88.09K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.53 | 1.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.71 | 1.76 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 15.24% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CW.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
21.82%
- Max
- 40.55%
- CW
- 21.82%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
15.24%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- ESLT
- 15.24%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 14.86% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 7.44%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
14.86%
- Max
- 27.47%
- CW
- 14.86%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
7.44%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- ESLT
- 7.44%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 19.87% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 9.57%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
19.87%
- Max
- 36.60%
- CW
- 19.87%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
9.57%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- ESLT
- 9.57%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.82% | 15.24% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.90% | 3.87% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.86% | 7.44% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 19.87% | 9.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 38.07% | 25.03% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 12.08% and Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 16.27% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 58.64% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.99% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for ESLT.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.08% | 16.27% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.01% | 12.93% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 21.99% | 58.64% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 19.09% | 22.61% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 1.42 and Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 1.40 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
1.42
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- CW
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.36
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
1.40
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- ESLT
- 1.40
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 0.19 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.45 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
0.45
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- CW
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
0.19
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- ESLT
- 0.19
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 1.40 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.45 | 0.19 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.00 | -0.11 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.23% and Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 0.58% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
0.23%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- CW
- 0.23%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
0.58%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- ESLT
- 0.58%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.67% and Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 23.33% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
6.67%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- CW
- 6.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
23.33%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- ESLT
- 23.33%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.23% | 0.58% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.67% | 23.33% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 30.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 51.36 sits in the richer quartile — ESLT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
30.92
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- CW
- 30.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
51.36
- Max
- 59.38
- ESLT
- 51.36
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 3.74 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 4.50 sits in the pricier quartile — CW costs more per dollar of sales.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
4.50
- Max
- 7.54
- CW
- 4.50
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
3.74
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- ESLT
- 3.74
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.64 and Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 7.24 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
CW
Capital Goods industry group
6.64
- Max
- 9.66
- CW
- 6.64
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
ESLT
Capital Goods industry group
7.24
- Max
- 9.66
- ESLT
- 7.24
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CW | ESLT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.92 | 51.36 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.50 | 3.74 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.64 | 7.24 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.86% | -0.12% |