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GD vs. SNA: General Dynamics vs. Snap-on Stock Comparison

How do General Dynamics (GD) and Snap-on (SNA) 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 Snap-on (SNA) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GD is classified in Aerospace & Defense while SNA is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for General Dynamics (GD) and Snap-on (SNA)
Profile ItemGDSNA
NameGeneral Dynamics Corp.Snap-on Incorporated
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization95.68 billion USD18.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GD
SNA
GSPC
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA), 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 Snap-on (SNA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGDSNA
Total Return (1Y)6.52%12.48%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)16.95%15.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.65%14.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GD
SNA
GSPC
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA), 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 Snap-on (SNA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGDSNA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.03%19.41%
Beta (5Y)0.300.73
Max Drawdown (5Y)-22.55%-20.77%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.19M333.56K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GD and SNA 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGDSNA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.100.42
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.150.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 18.01% and Snap-on (SNA) at 17.32% 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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

17.32%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
SNA
17.32%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 19.21% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of General Dynamics (GD) at 8.24%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

19.21%

Max
27.47%
SNA
19.21%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 24.88% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of General Dynamics (GD) at 10.49%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

24.88%

Max
36.60%
SNA
24.88%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGDSNA
ROE (TTM)18.01%17.32%
ROA (TTM)6.23%9.70%
Net Margin (TTM)8.24%19.21%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.49%24.88%
Gross Margin (TTM)15.42%51.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

General Dynamics (GD) at 10.13% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Snap-on (SNA) at 0.93% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 13.35% and Snap-on (SNA) at -1.64% 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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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGDSNA
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.13%0.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.07%2.11%
EPS Growth (YoY)13.35%-1.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.22%4.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Snap-on (SNA) at 3.55 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while General Dynamics (GD) at 1.43 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.55

Max
5.22
SNA
3.55
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Snap-on (SNA) at 0.21 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while General Dynamics (GD) at 0.33 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

0.21

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
SNA
0.21
Min
0.00
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGDSNA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.433.55
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.330.21
Net Debt / EBITDA0.68-0.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 1.76% and Snap-on (SNA) at 2.66% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

2.66%

SNA
2.66%
Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both General Dynamics (GD) at 36.90% and Snap-on (SNA) at 50.70% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

50.70%

Max
67.39%
SNA
50.70%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGDSNA
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.76%2.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)36.90%50.70%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Snap-on (SNA) at 19.08 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while General Dynamics (GD) at 20.84 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SNA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

19.08

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
SNA
19.08
Min
3.03
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): 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 Snap-on (SNA) at 3.60 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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.60

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
SNA
3.60
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both General Dynamics (GD) at 3.50 and Snap-on (SNA) at 3.11 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

SNA

Capital Goods industry group

3.11

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
SNA
3.11
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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General Dynamics (GD) vs. Snap-on (SNA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for General Dynamics (GD) and Snap-on (SNA)
MetricGDSNA
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.8419.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.693.60
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.503.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.76%5.77%