HWM vs. ROK: Howmet Aerospace vs. Rockwell Automation Stock Comparison
How do Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK) 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 Rockwell Automation (ROK) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense while ROK is classified in Electrical Equipment.
| Profile Item | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Howmet Aerospace Inc. | Rockwell Automation Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Electrical Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Electrical Components & Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 81.84 billion USD | 41.82 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 1, 2016 | December 31, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.06% | 6.19% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 64.83% | 16.94% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 46.04% | 4.86% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 37.60% | 34.28% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.27 | 1.54 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.47% | -45.09% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.47M | 799.28K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.02 | 0.06 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.03 | 0.07 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 38.73% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
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%
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
38.73%
- Max
- 40.55%
- ROK
- 38.73%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 21.10% and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 15.68% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
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%
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
15.68%
- Max
- 27.47%
- ROK
- 15.68%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 14.75%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
14.75%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- ROK
- 14.75%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 37.65% | 38.73% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.97% | 9.32% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.10% | 15.68% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.78% | 14.75% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 36.63% | 48.95% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: Howmet Aerospace (HWM) reports revenue growth of 11.06%, ranked against its industry; Rockwell Automation (ROK) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 63.49% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.06% | -- |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.37% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 32.03% | 63.49% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 49.51% | 1.62% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 2.11 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity 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
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
2.11
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- ROK
- 2.11
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 1.00 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
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
1.00
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- ROK
- 1.00
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.86 | 2.11 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 1.00 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.35 | 1.58 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Rockwell Automation (ROK) 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%
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- ROK
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 9.80% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 51.03% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
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%
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
51.03%
- Max
- 67.39%
- ROK
- 51.03%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.25% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 9.80% | 51.03% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 29.97 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 40.35 sits in the richer quartile — HWM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
29.97
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- ROK
- 29.97
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 4.65 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 8.41 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
4.65
- Max
- 7.54
- ROK
- 4.65
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 11.76 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
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
ROK
Capital Goods industry group
11.76
- ROK
- 11.76
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HWM | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.35 | 29.97 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.41 | 4.65 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.20 | 11.76 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.58% | -1.13% |