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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.

Company profile comparison for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
Profile ItemHONARKLB
NameHoneywell Aerospace Inc.Rocket Lab Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization48.48 billion USD33.93 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 15, 2026November 24, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HONA
RKLB
GSPC
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB), 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 Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricHONARKLB
Total Return (1Y)--12.96%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)--138.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--31.49%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HONA
RKLB
GSPC
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB), 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 Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

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.

Risk profile metrics for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricHONARKLB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)84.07%95.71%
Beta (5Y)-5.783.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)-44.59%-78.32%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.58M19.51M

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

Risk-adjusted metrics for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricHONARKLB
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%
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): HONA does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; RKLB is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

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%
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

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%
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricHONARKLB
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.

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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricHONARKLB
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
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

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
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): HONA does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; RKLB is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricHONARKLB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.645.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.04
Net Debt / EBITDA3.43--

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%
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

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%
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricHONARKLB
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
--
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): RKLB does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; HONA is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

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
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

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
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Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Honeywell Aerospace (HONA) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricHONARKLB
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.32--
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.6944.12
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-18.859.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)---0.74%