HWM vs. WAB: Howmet Aerospace vs. Wabtec Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Wabtec (WAB) 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 Wabtec (WAB) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense while WAB is classified in Machinery.

Company profile comparison for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Wabtec (WAB)
Profile Item	HWM	WAB
Name	Howmet Aerospace Inc.	Wabtec Corporation
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	Construction Machinery & Heavy Transportation Equipment
Market Capitalization	81.84 billion USD	47.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 1, 2016	June 16, 1995
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HWM

WAB

GSPC

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Wabtec (WAB), 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 Wabtec (WAB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	HWM	WAB
Total Return (1Y)	5.06%	44.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	64.83%	39.37%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	46.04%	25.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HWM

WAB

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	HWM	WAB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	37.60%	27.53%
Beta (5Y)	1.27	0.91
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.47%	-23.55%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.47M	890.96K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

HWM and WAB 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 Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	HWM	WAB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.02	1.47
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.03	2.34

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Wabtec (WAB) at 12.24% 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%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

12.24%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
WAB: 12.24%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 21.10% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Wabtec (WAB) at 11.20%, which keeps about the industry-typical 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%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

11.20%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
WAB: 11.20%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% and Wabtec (WAB) at 20.22% 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%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

20.22%

Max: 36.60%
WAB: 20.22%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	HWM	WAB
ROE (TTM)	37.65%	12.24%
ROA (TTM)	13.97%	6.28%
Net Margin (TTM)	21.10%	11.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	28.78%	20.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)	36.63%	36.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 11.06% and Wabtec (WAB) at 7.51% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Wabtec (WAB) at 13.08% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for HWM.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	HWM	WAB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.06%	7.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	13.37%	10.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)	32.03%	13.08%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	49.51%	25.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Wabtec (WAB) at 1.10 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WAB.

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

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

1.10

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
WAB: 1.10
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 and Wabtec (WAB) at 0.60 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

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

0.60

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
WAB: 0.60
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Wabtec (WAB): 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 Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	HWM	WAB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.86	1.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.80	0.60
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.35	2.28

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.25% and Wabtec (WAB) at 0.42% 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%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

0.42%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WAB: 0.42%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Wabtec (WAB): 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 Wabtec (WAB) at 14.66% 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%

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

14.66%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WAB: 14.66%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	HWM	WAB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.25%	0.42%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	9.80%	14.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Wabtec (WAB) at 35.23 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

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

35.23

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
WAB: 35.23
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Wabtec (WAB) at 3.90 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

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

3.90

Max: 7.54
WAB: 3.90
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Wabtec (WAB) at 4.20 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 prices above its benchmark range — HWM looks rich relative to book.

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

WAB

Capital Goods industry group

4.20

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
WAB: 4.20
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Wabtec (WAB)
Metric	HWM	WAB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.35	35.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)	8.41	3.90
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	14.20	4.20
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.58%	2.60%