CW vs. HWM: Curtiss-Wright vs. Howmet Aerospace Stock Comparison
How do Curtiss-Wright (CW) 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
Curtiss-Wright (CW) 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.
| Profile Item | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Curtiss-Wright Corporation | 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 | 16.81 billion USD | 81.84 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | November 1, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -15.83% | 5.06% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 33.49% | 64.83% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 29.54% | 46.04% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 38.26% | 37.60% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.93 | 1.27 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -45.25% | -36.47% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 427.49K | 3.47M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.53 | 0.02 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.71 | 0.03 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.82% 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.
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%
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%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 14.86% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 21.10% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
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%
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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 19.87% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.82% | 37.65% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.90% | 13.97% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.86% | 21.10% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 19.87% | 28.78% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 38.07% | 36.63% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 12.08% 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.
EPS Growth
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% 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 HWM.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.08% | 11.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.01% | 13.37% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 21.99% | 32.03% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 19.09% | 49.51% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CW.
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
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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.45 and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 1.86 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.45 | 0.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.00 | 1.35 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.23% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.25% 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%
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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.67% 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.
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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.23% | 0.25% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.67% | 9.80% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 30.92 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.
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
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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 4.50 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 8.41 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.64 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CW | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.92 | 40.35 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.50 | 8.41 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.64 | 14.20 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.86% | 1.58% |