HWM vs. QXO: Howmet Aerospace vs. QXO Stock Comparison
How do Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and QXO (QXO) 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
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and QXO (QXO) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense while QXO is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.
| Profile Item | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Howmet Aerospace Inc. | QXO Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Trading Companies & Distributors |
| Market Capitalization | 81.84 billion USD | 11.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 1, 2016 | April 17, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.06% | -19.11% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 64.83% | -16.39% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 46.04% | -17.91% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
QXO (QXO) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.28, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Howmet Aerospace (HWM) is closer to market-like at 1.27 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 37.60% | 68.10% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.27 | 2.28 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.47% | -95.70% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.47M | 19.01M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.02 | -0.34 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.03 | -0.55 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
QXO (QXO) reports a negative ROE of -4.60%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Howmet Aerospace (HWM) reports 37.65%, ranking against industry peers normally.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
37.65%
- Max
- 40.55%
- HWM
- 37.65%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
-4.60%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- QXO
- -4.60%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
QXO (QXO) reports a negative net margin of -5.17%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Howmet Aerospace (HWM) reports 21.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
21.10%
- Max
- 27.47%
- HWM
- 21.10%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
-5.17%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- QXO
- -5.17%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while QXO (QXO) at 1.29% operates in the bottom quartile.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
28.78%
- Max
- 36.60%
- HWM
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
1.29%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- QXO
- 1.29%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 37.65% | -4.60% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.97% | -0.27% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.10% | -5.17% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.78% | 1.29% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 36.63% | 24.54% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
QXO (QXO) at 11,924.96% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 11.06%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while QXO (QXO) at -672.73% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.06% | 11,924.96% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.37% | 433.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 32.03% | -672.73% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 49.51% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while QXO (QXO) at 4.12 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
1.86
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- HWM
- 1.86
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
4.12
- Max
- 5.22
- QXO
- 4.12
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 and QXO (QXO) at 0.57 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
0.80
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- HWM
- 0.80
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
0.57
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- QXO
- 0.57
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.86 | 4.12 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.57 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.35 | 7.20 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
QXO (QXO) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Howmet Aerospace (HWM) reports a yield of 0.25%, ranking against industry peers normally.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
0.25%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- HWM
- 0.25%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- QXO
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
QXO (QXO) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Howmet Aerospace (HWM) reports a payout of 9.80%, ranking against industry peers normally.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
9.80%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- HWM
- 9.80%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- QXO
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.25% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 9.80% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Howmet Aerospace (HWM) trades at 40.35 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while QXO (QXO) has no P/E ratio this period.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
40.35
- Max
- 59.38
- HWM
- 40.35
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
- QXO
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
QXO (QXO) at 1.21 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 8.41 clears its benchmark range — HWM looks notably rich on sales.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
8.41
- HWM
- 8.41
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
1.21
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- QXO
- 1.21
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
QXO (QXO) at 0.90 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
14.20
- HWM
- 14.20
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
QXO
Capital Goods industry group
0.90
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- QXO
- 0.90
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HWM | QXO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.35 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.41 | 1.21 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.20 | 0.90 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.58% | -21.23% |