HONA vs. RKLB: Honeywell Aerospace vs. Rocket Lab Stock Comparison
How do Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) 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
Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) has traded publicly since November 24, 2020, giving it several years of listed trading history, while Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) only listed on June 15, 2026 and has a limited public-market record.
| Profile Item | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Honeywell Aerospace Inc. | Rocket Lab Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | 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 | 48.48 billion USD | 33.93 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 15, 2026 | November 24, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -- | 12.96% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -- | 138.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -- | 31.49% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) reports a negative beta of -5.78, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. Rocket Lab (RKLB) has a non-negative beta of 3.14.
| Metric | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 84.07% | 95.71% |
| Beta (5Y) | -5.78 | 3.14 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.59% | -78.32% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.58M | 19.51M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both HONA and RKLB need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -- | 0.09 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -- | 0.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) has no ROE value reported for this period; Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative figure of -7.92%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
- HONA
- --
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
-7.92%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- RKLB
- -7.92%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative net margin of -21.51%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) reports 11.25%, ranking against industry peers normally.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
11.25%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- HONA
- 11.25%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
-21.51%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
- RKLB
- -21.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative operating margin of -24.57%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) reports 23.69%, ranking against industry peers normally.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
23.69%
- Max
- 36.60%
- HONA
- 23.69%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
-24.57%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
- RKLB
- -24.57%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | -7.92% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | -4.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.25% | -21.51% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.69% | -24.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 34.64% | 37.26% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 37.96% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) at 12.68% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for RKLB.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) reports EPS growth of -36.80%, ranked against its industry; Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.68% | 37.96% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 41.82% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -36.80% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) at 1.64 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 5.48 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
1.64
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- HONA
- 1.64
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
5.48
- RKLB
- 5.48
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Rocket Lab (RKLB) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04 against its industry range, while Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) reports no figure this period.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
- HONA
- --
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
0.04
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- RKLB
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.64 | 5.48 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.04 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.43 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) nor Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- HONA
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- RKLB
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) nor Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- HONA
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- RKLB
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) trades at 43.32 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no P/E ratio this period.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
43.32
- Max
- 59.38
- HONA
- 43.32
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
- RKLB
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) at 2.69 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 44.12 clears its benchmark range — RKLB looks notably rich on sales.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
2.69
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- HONA
- 2.69
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
44.12
- RKLB
- 44.12
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) reports a negative P/B ratio of -18.85, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports 9.09, ranking against industry peers normally.
HONA
Capital Goods industry group
-18.85
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
- HONA
- -18.85
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
9.09
- Max
- 9.66
- RKLB
- 9.09
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HONA | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 43.32 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.69 | 44.12 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -18.85 | 9.09 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -0.74% |