FIX vs. HWM: Comfort Systems USA vs. Howmet Aerospace Stock Comparison
How do Comfort Systems USA (FIX) 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
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FIX is classified in Construction & Engineering while HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense.
| Profile Item | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Comfort Systems USA Inc. | Howmet Aerospace Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Construction & Engineering | Aerospace & Defense |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Construction & Engineering | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Capitalization | 35.81 billion USD | 81.84 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 27, 1997 | November 1, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 15.31% | 5.06% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 81.62% | 64.83% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 62.48% | 46.04% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 60.97% | 37.60% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.68 | 1.27 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -53.28% | -36.47% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 471.64K | 3.47M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.18 | 0.02 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.25 | 0.03 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 58.61% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% also sits in the top quartile.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
58.61%
- FIX
- 58.61%
- Max
- 40.55%
- 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 Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 13.01% 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.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
13.01%
- Max
- 27.47%
- FIX
- 13.01%
- 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)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 16.47%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
16.47%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- FIX
- 16.47%
- 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 | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 58.61% | 37.65% |
| ROA (TTM) | 16.88% | 13.97% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 13.01% | 21.10% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 16.47% | 28.78% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 25.70% | 36.63% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 29.52% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 11.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for FIX.
EPS Growth
Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 97.81% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 29.52% | 11.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 30.03% | 13.37% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 97.81% | 32.03% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 61.78% | 49.51% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 1.15 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for FIX.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
1.15
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- FIX
- 1.15
- 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)
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 0.11 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
0.11
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- FIX
- 0.11
- 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 | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.15 | 1.86 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.11 | 0.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.81 | 1.35 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 0.31% and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.25% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
0.31%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- FIX
- 0.31%
- Median
- 0.24%
- 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 Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 6.48% 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.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
6.48%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- FIX
- 6.48%
- 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 | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.31% | 0.25% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.48% | 9.80% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 21.98 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.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
21.98
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- FIX
- 21.98
- 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)
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 2.85 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 8.41 clears its benchmark range — HWM looks notably rich on sales.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
2.85
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- FIX
- 2.85
- 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)
Measured against book value, both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 10.66 and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
10.66
- FIX
- 10.66
- Max
- 9.66
- 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 | FIX | HWM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.98 | 40.35 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.85 | 8.41 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.66 | 14.20 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.94% | 1.58% |