GD vs. PWR: General Dynamics vs. Quanta Services Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR) 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

General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GD is classified in Aerospace & Defense while PWR is classified in Construction & Engineering.

Company profile comparison for General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Profile Item	GD	PWR
Name	General Dynamics Corp.	Quanta Services, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Construction & Engineering
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Construction & Engineering
Market Capitalization	95.68 billion USD	81.50 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	February 12, 1998
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PWR

GSPC

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR), 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 General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Metric	GD	PWR
Total Return (1Y)	6.52%	32.97%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	16.95%	51.81%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.65%	38.19%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PWR

GSPC

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR), 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 General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Metric	GD	PWR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	23.03%	50.22%
Beta (5Y)	0.30	1.29
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.55%	-35.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.19M	1.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

GD and PWR 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 General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Metric	GD	PWR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.10	0.57
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.15	0.87

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 18.01% and Quanta Services (PWR) at 18.02% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

18.02%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
PWR: 18.02%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 8.24% and Quanta Services (PWR) at 4.51% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

4.51%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
PWR: 4.51%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 10.49% and Quanta Services (PWR) at 8.63% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

8.63%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
PWR: 8.63%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Metric	GD	PWR
ROE (TTM)	18.01%	18.02%
ROA (TTM)	6.23%	5.72%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.24%	4.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)	10.49%	8.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)	15.42%	15.76%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Quanta Services (PWR) at 20.31% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while General Dynamics (GD) at 10.13% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PWR.

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 13.35% and Quanta Services (PWR) at 12.77% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Metric	GD	PWR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	10.13%	20.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.07%	18.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)	13.35%	12.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.22%	27.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 1.43 and Quanta Services (PWR) at 1.16 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

1.16

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
PWR: 1.16
Min: 0.36

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 0.33 and Quanta Services (PWR) at 0.71 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

0.71

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
PWR: 0.71
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Metric	GD	PWR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.43	1.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.33	0.71
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.68	1.43

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

General Dynamics (GD) at 1.76% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Quanta Services (PWR) at 0.09% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GD the richer one.

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%

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

0.09%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
PWR: 0.09%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Quanta Services (PWR) at 3.98% 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.

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%

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

3.98%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
PWR: 3.98%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Metric	GD	PWR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.76%	0.09%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	36.90%	3.98%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

General Dynamics (GD) at 20.84 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Quanta Services (PWR) at 48.95 sits in the richer quartile — PWR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

48.95

Max: 59.38
PWR: 48.95
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both General Dynamics (GD) at 1.69 and Quanta Services (PWR) at 2.19 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

2.19

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
PWR: 2.19
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): 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 Quanta Services (PWR) at 7.73 carries an above-peer premium to book — PWR is pricier on assets.

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

PWR

Capital Goods industry group

7.73

Max: 9.66
PWR: 7.73
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

General Dynamics (GD) vs. Quanta Services (PWR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Quanta Services (PWR)
Metric	GD	PWR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.84	48.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.69	2.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.50	7.73
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.76%	3.78%