HWM vs. WTS: Howmet Aerospace vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison
How do Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Watts Water (WTS) 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 Watts Water (WTS) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense while WTS is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Howmet Aerospace Inc. | Watts Water Technologies, 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 | 11.55 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 1, 2016 | August 21, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.06% | 33.85% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 64.83% | 25.59% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 46.04% | 12.56% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 37.60% | 27.38% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.27 | 1.11 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.47% | -44.08% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.47M | 225.08K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.02 | 1.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.03 | 1.78 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% and Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% 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%
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
20.91%
- Max
- 40.55%
- WTS
- 20.91%
- 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 Watts Water (WTS) 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%
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
16.00%
- Max
- 27.47%
- WTS
- 16.00%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% and Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% 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%
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
20.85%
- Max
- 36.60%
- WTS
- 20.85%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 37.65% | 20.91% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.97% | 12.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.10% | 16.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.78% | 20.85% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 36.63% | 49.09% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 11.06% and Watts Water (WTS) at 8.27% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for HWM.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.06% | 8.27% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.37% | 7.20% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 32.03% | 17.03% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 49.51% | 10.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 and Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 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
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
2.80
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- WTS
- 2.80
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Watts Water (WTS) at 0.08 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
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
0.08
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- WTS
- 0.08
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.86 | 2.80 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.08 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.35 | -0.40 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.25% and Watts Water (WTS) at 0.66% 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%
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
0.66%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- WTS
- 0.66%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 9.80% and Watts Water (WTS) at 17.24% 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%
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
17.24%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- WTS
- 17.24%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.25% | 0.66% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 9.80% | 17.24% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Watts Water (WTS) at 25.95 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
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
25.95
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- WTS
- 25.95
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Watts Water (WTS) at 4.14 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
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
4.14
- Max
- 7.54
- WTS
- 4.14
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 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
WTS
Capital Goods industry group
4.98
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- WTS
- 4.98
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HWM | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.35 | 25.95 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.41 | 4.14 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.20 | 4.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.58% | 2.21% |