HWM vs. SYM: Howmet Aerospace vs. Symbotic Stock Comparison
How do Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Symbotic (SYM) 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 Symbotic (SYM) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense while SYM is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | HWM | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Howmet Aerospace Inc. | Symbotic Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 81.84 billion USD | 22.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | November 1, 2016 | March 9, 2021 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HWM | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.06% | -44.66% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 64.83% | 6.78% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 46.04% | 30.90% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Symbotic (SYM) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.05, 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 | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 37.60% | 78.15% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.27 | 2.05 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.47% | -72.46% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.47M | 1.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HWM | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.02 | -0.63 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.03 | -0.93 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Symbotic (SYM) at 4.39% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for HWM.
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%
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
4.39%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- SYM
- 4.39%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 21.10% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while Symbotic (SYM) at 0.31% keeps a bottom-quartile share.
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%
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
0.31%
- Max
- 27.47%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- SYM
- 0.31%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Symbotic (SYM) at 4.59% 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%
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
4.59%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- SYM
- 4.59%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HWM | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 37.65% | 4.39% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.97% | 0.32% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.10% | 0.31% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.78% | 4.59% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 36.63% | 21.27% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Symbotic (SYM) at 25.65% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 11.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SYM.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Howmet Aerospace (HWM) reports EPS growth of 32.03%, ranked against its industry; Symbotic (SYM) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HWM | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.06% | 25.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.37% | 55.87% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 32.03% | -- |
| 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 Symbotic (SYM) at 1.33 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for SYM.
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
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
1.33
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- SYM
- 1.33
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Symbotic (SYM) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
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
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
0.02
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- SYM
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | HWM | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.86 | 1.33 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.35 | -30.44 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Symbotic (SYM) 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%
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- SYM
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Symbotic (SYM) 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%
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- SYM
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HWM | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.25% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 9.80% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 40.35 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Symbotic (SYM) at 460.25 is richer still, above its industry range.
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
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
460.25
- SYM
- 460.25
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 8.41 and Symbotic (SYM) at 8.42 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark 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
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
8.42
- SYM
- 8.42
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Symbotic (SYM) at 6.70 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 prices even higher, above its industry 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
SYM
Capital Goods industry group
6.70
- Max
- 9.66
- SYM
- 6.70
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HWM | SYM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.35 | 460.25 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.41 | 8.42 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.20 | 6.70 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.58% | 2.46% |