HWM vs. VRT: Howmet Aerospace vs. Vertiv Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT) 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 Vertiv (VRT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense while VRT is classified in Electrical Equipment.

Company profile comparison for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Profile Item	HWM	VRT
Name	Howmet Aerospace Inc.	Vertiv Holdings Co 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	Electrical Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Aerospace & Defense	Electrical Components & Equipment
Market Capitalization	81.84 billion USD	70.41 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 1, 2016	August 2, 2018
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HWM

VRT

GSPC

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT), 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	HWM	VRT
Total Return (1Y)	5.06%	11.12%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	64.83%	71.14%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	46.04%	49.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HWM

VRT

GSPC

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT), 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Vertiv (VRT) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.15, 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.

Risk profile metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	HWM	VRT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	37.60%	71.11%
Beta (5Y)	1.27	2.15
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.47%	-69.52%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.47M	5.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

HWM and VRT are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	HWM	VRT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.02	0.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.03	0.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Vertiv (VRT) at 46.57% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

46.57%

VRT: 46.57%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 21.10% and Vertiv (VRT) at 16.00% 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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

16.00%

Max: 27.47%
VRT: 16.00%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% and Vertiv (VRT) at 23.77% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

23.77%

Max: 36.60%
VRT: 23.77%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	HWM	VRT
ROE (TTM)	37.65%	46.57%
ROA (TTM)	13.97%	11.94%
Net Margin (TTM)	21.10%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	28.78%	23.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)	36.63%	38.12%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Vertiv (VRT) at 27.69% 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 VRT.

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Vertiv (VRT) at 166.41% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% also sits in the top quartile.

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	HWM	VRT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.06%	27.69%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	13.37%	21.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	32.03%	166.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	49.51%	340.11%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vertiv (VRT) at 1.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VRT.

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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

1.39

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
VRT: 1.39
Min: 0.36

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.61 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

0.61

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
VRT: 0.61
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	HWM	VRT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.86	1.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.80	0.61
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.35	-0.11

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.25% and Vertiv (VRT) at 0.11% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

0.11%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
VRT: 0.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 9.80% and Vertiv (VRT) at 4.67% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

4.67%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
VRT: 4.67%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	HWM	VRT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.25%	0.11%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	9.80%	4.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Vertiv (VRT) at 34.18 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

34.18

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
VRT: 34.18
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Vertiv (VRT) at 5.37 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

5.37

Max: 7.54
VRT: 5.37
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 and Vertiv (VRT) at 12.80 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

VRT

Capital Goods industry group

12.80

VRT: 12.80
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Vertiv (VRT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Vertiv (VRT)
Metric	HWM	VRT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.35	34.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)	8.41	5.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	14.20	12.80
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.58%	4.21%