GE vs. LMT: GE Aerospace vs. Lockheed Martin Stock Comparison
How do GE Aerospace (GE) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) 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
GE Aerospace (GE) and Lockheed Martin (LMT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but GE is classified in Industrial Conglomerates while LMT is classified in Aerospace & Defense.
| Profile Item | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | General Electric Company | Lockheed Martin Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Industrial Conglomerates | Aerospace & Defense |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Conglomerates | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Capitalization | 335.82 billion USD | 120.98 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 15.54% | 14.23% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 53.37% | 10.52% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 39.15% | 11.62% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
GE Aerospace (GE) has an aggressive beta of 1.38, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Lockheed Martin (LMT) is defensive at 0.08 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.00% | 28.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.38 | 0.08 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.94% | -31.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.11M | 1.21M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.34 | 0.36 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.49 | 0.56 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 48.23% and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 89.17% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
48.23%
- GE
- 48.23%
- Max
- 40.35%
- Q3
- 18.69%
- Median
- 11.55%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -19.86%
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
89.17%
- LMT
- 89.17%
- Max
- 40.35%
- Q3
- 18.69%
- Median
- 11.55%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -19.86%
Net Margin (TTM)
GE Aerospace (GE) at 17.72% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 8.16%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
17.72%
- Max
- 27.47%
- GE
- 17.72%
- Q3
- 11.71%
- Median
- 5.78%
- Q1
- 0.77%
- Min
- -14.15%
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
8.16%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 11.71%
- LMT
- 8.16%
- Median
- 5.78%
- Q1
- 0.77%
- Min
- -14.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)
GE Aerospace (GE) at 20.57% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 11.96%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
20.57%
- Max
- 35.46%
- GE
- 20.57%
- Q3
- 17.39%
- Median
- 10.58%
- Q1
- 4.59%
- Min
- -12.63%
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
11.96%
- Max
- 35.46%
- Q3
- 17.39%
- LMT
- 11.96%
- Median
- 10.58%
- Q1
- 4.59%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 48.23% | 89.17% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.07% | 8.64% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.72% | 8.16% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.57% | 11.96% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.05% | 11.80% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 18.48% and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 5.64% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
GE Aerospace (GE) at 35.89% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Lockheed Martin (LMT) at -3.68% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GE.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 18.48% | 5.64% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.32% | 4.38% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 35.89% | -3.68% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 446.03% | -0.26% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.98 and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 1.19 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
0.98
- Max
- 5.28
- Q3
- 2.99
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.45
- GE
- 0.98
- Min
- 0.76
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
1.19
- Max
- 5.28
- Q3
- 2.99
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.45
- LMT
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.76
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but LMT is more stretched: GE Aerospace (GE) at 1.13 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 2.34 is above its industry benchmark range.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
1.13
- Max
- 2.15
- GE
- 1.13
- Q3
- 1.09
- Median
- 0.57
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.00
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
2.34
- LMT
- 2.34
- Max
- 2.15
- Q3
- 1.09
- Median
- 0.57
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.98 | 1.19 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.13 | 2.34 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.90 | 1.73 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 2.57% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.51% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, LMT the richer one.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
0.51%
- Max
- 2.75%
- Q3
- 1.11%
- GE
- 0.51%
- Median
- 0.18%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
2.57%
- Max
- 2.75%
- LMT
- 2.57%
- Q3
- 1.11%
- Median
- 0.18%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.58% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 50.33% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
19.58%
- Max
- 72.00%
- Q3
- 28.86%
- GE
- 19.58%
- Median
- 6.13%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
50.33%
- Max
- 72.00%
- LMT
- 50.33%
- Q3
- 28.86%
- Median
- 6.13%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.51% | 2.57% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 19.58% | 50.33% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 19.34 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 38.17 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for LMT, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
38.17
- Max
- 66.10
- Q3
- 40.43
- GE
- 38.17
- Median
- 29.30
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 1.09
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
19.34
- Max
- 66.10
- Q3
- 40.43
- Median
- 29.30
- Q1
- 21.19
- LMT
- 19.34
- Min
- 1.09
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 1.57 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 6.63 sits in the pricier quartile — GE costs more per dollar of sales.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
6.63
- Max
- 9.06
- GE
- 6.63
- Q3
- 4.40
- Median
- 2.41
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.05
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
1.57
- Max
- 9.06
- Q3
- 4.40
- Median
- 2.41
- LMT
- 1.57
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.04 and Lockheed Martin (LMT) at 13.75 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
GE
Capital Goods industry group
19.04
- GE
- 19.04
- Max
- 11.10
- Q3
- 5.63
- Median
- 3.31
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- -3.52
LMT
Capital Goods industry group
13.75
- LMT
- 13.75
- Max
- 11.10
- Q3
- 5.63
- Median
- 3.31
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- -3.52
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GE | LMT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 38.17 | 19.34 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.63 | 1.57 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 19.04 | 13.75 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.96% | 4.60% |