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CW vs. IEX: Curtiss-Wright vs. IDEX Stock Comparison

How do Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CW is classified in Aerospace & Defense while IEX is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
Profile ItemCWIEX
NameCurtiss-Wright CorporationIDEX Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization16.81 billion USD16.67 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980June 2, 1989
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CW
IEX
GSPC
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX), 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
MetricCWIEX
Total Return (1Y)-15.83%42.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)33.49%8.92%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)29.54%1.31%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CW
IEX
GSPC
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX), 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
MetricCWIEX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.26%22.98%
Beta (5Y)0.930.95
Max Drawdown (5Y)-45.25%-34.60%
Avg. Volume (3M)427.49K666.74K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CW and IEX 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
MetricCWIEX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.531.66
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.712.64

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while IDEX (IEX) at 13.35% 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%

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
IEX
13.35%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 14.86% and IDEX (IEX) at 14.65% 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%

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

14.65%

Max
27.47%
IEX
14.65%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 19.87% and IDEX (IEX) at 22.33% 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%

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

22.33%

Max
36.60%
IEX
22.33%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
MetricCWIEX
ROE (TTM)21.82%13.35%
ROA (TTM)8.90%7.06%
Net Margin (TTM)14.86%14.65%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.87%22.33%
Gross Margin (TTM)38.07%44.91%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 12.08% and IDEX (IEX) at 5.77% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.99% and IDEX (IEX) at -3.46% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
MetricCWIEX
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.08%5.77%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.01%2.81%
EPS Growth (YoY)21.99%-3.46%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)19.09%-5.97%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

IDEX (IEX) at 2.78 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

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

2.78

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
IEX
2.78
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.45 and IDEX (IEX) at 0.44 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

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

0.44

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
IEX
0.44
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
MetricCWIEX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.422.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.450.44
Net Debt / EBITDA1.001.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

IDEX (IEX) at 1.30% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.23% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, IEX the richer one.

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%

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

1.30%

Max
2.66%
IEX
1.30%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.67% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while IDEX (IEX) at 50.14% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

50.14%

Max
67.39%
IEX
50.14%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
MetricCWIEX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.23%1.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)6.67%50.14%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 30.92 and IDEX (IEX) at 31.53 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

31.53

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
IEX
31.53
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 4.50 and IDEX (IEX) at 4.56 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

4.56

Max
7.54
IEX
4.56
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

IDEX (IEX) at 4.17 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.64 carries an above-peer premium to book — CW is pricier on assets.

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

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

4.17

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
IEX
4.17
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. IDEX (IEX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and IDEX (IEX)
MetricCWIEX
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.9231.53
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.504.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.644.17
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.86%3.50%