CW vs. VRT: Curtiss-Wright vs. Vertiv Stock Comparison
How do Curtiss-Wright (CW) and Vertiv (VRT) 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 Vertiv (VRT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CW is classified in Aerospace & Defense while VRT is classified in Electrical Equipment.
| Profile Item | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Curtiss-Wright Corporation | Vertiv Holdings Co Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Electrical Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Electrical Components & Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 16.81 billion USD | 70.41 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | August 2, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -15.83% | 11.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 33.49% | 71.14% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 29.54% | 49.38% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Vertiv (VRT) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.15, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Curtiss-Wright (CW) is closer to market-like at 0.93 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 38.26% | 71.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.93 | 2.15 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -45.25% | -69.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 427.49K | 5.90M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.53 | 0.10 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.71 | 0.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Vertiv (VRT) at 46.57% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.82% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
46.57%
- VRT
- 46.57%
- Max
- 40.55%
- 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 16.00% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
16.00%
- Max
- 27.47%
- VRT
- 16.00%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 19.87% and Vertiv (VRT) at 23.77% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
23.77%
- Max
- 36.60%
- VRT
- 23.77%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.82% | 46.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.90% | 11.94% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.86% | 16.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 19.87% | 23.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 38.07% | 38.12% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 27.69% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 12.08% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for VRT.
EPS Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 166.41% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.99%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.08% | 27.69% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.01% | 21.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 21.99% | 166.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 19.09% | 340.11% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 1.42 and Vertiv (VRT) at 1.39 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
1.39
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- VRT
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.45 and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.61 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.61
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- VRT
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 1.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.45 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.00 | -0.11 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.23% and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.11% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.11%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- VRT
- 0.11%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.67% and Vertiv (VRT) at 4.67% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
4.67%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- VRT
- 4.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.23% | 0.11% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.67% | 4.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 30.92 and Vertiv (VRT) at 34.18 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
34.18
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- VRT
- 34.18
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 4.50 and Vertiv (VRT) at 5.37 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
5.37
- Max
- 7.54
- VRT
- 5.37
- 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 12.80 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
12.80
- VRT
- 12.80
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CW | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.92 | 34.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.50 | 5.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.64 | 12.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.86% | 4.21% |