ESLT vs. GD: Elbit Systems vs. General Dynamics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Profile Item	ESLT	GD
Name	Elbit Systems Ltd.	General Dynamics Corp.
Country/Region	Israel	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	32.00 billion USD	95.68 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	November 27, 1996	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ESLT

GSPC

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	ESLT	GD
Total Return (1Y)	55.34%	6.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	57.29%	16.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	37.24%	14.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ESLT

GSPC

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

General Dynamics (GD) trades around 1.19M shares per day on average, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) sees only 88.09K — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.

Risk profile metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	ESLT	GD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	47.34%	23.03%
Beta (5Y)	0.10	0.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-35.54%	-22.55%
Avg. Volume (3M)	88.09K	1.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ESLT 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	ESLT	GD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.08	0.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.76	0.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 15.24% and General Dynamics (GD) at 18.01% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 7.44% and General Dynamics (GD) at 8.24% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 9.57% and General Dynamics (GD) at 10.49% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	ESLT	GD
ROE (TTM)	15.24%	18.01%
ROA (TTM)	3.87%	6.23%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.44%	8.24%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.57%	10.49%
Gross Margin (TTM)	25.03%	15.42%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 16.27% and General Dynamics (GD) at 10.13% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 58.64% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while General Dynamics (GD) at 13.35% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for ESLT.

Elbit Systems (ESLT) vs. General Dynamics (GD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	ESLT	GD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	16.27%	10.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	12.93%	10.07%
EPS Growth (YoY)	58.64%	13.35%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	22.61%	8.22%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 1.40 and General Dynamics (GD) at 1.43 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 0.19 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while General Dynamics (GD) at 0.33 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	ESLT	GD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.40	1.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.19	0.33
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.11	0.68

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

General Dynamics (GD) at 1.76% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 0.58% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GD the richer one.

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%

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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 23.33% 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.

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%

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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	ESLT	GD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.58%	1.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	23.33%	36.90%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

General Dynamics (GD) at 20.84 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.

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

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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 3.74 and General Dynamics (GD) at 1.69 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

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

Elbit Systems (ESLT) 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 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Elbit Systems (ESLT) at 7.24 carries an above-peer premium to book — ESLT is pricier on assets.

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

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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Elbit Systems (ESLT) and General Dynamics (GD)
Metric	ESLT	GD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	51.36	20.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.74	1.69
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.24	3.50
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-0.12%	4.76%