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RBC vs. RKLB: RBC Bearings vs. Rocket Lab Stock Comparison

How do RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) 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

RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but RBC is classified in Machinery while RKLB is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

RBC Bearings (RBC) has more than two decades of public-market history since August 10, 2005, whereas Rocket Lab (RKLB) listed on November 24, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
Profile ItemRBCRKLB
NameRBC Bearings IncorporatedRocket Lab Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryAerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsAerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization15.02 billion USD33.93 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateAugust 10, 2005November 24, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RBC
RKLB
GSPC
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB), 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 RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricRBCRKLB
Total Return (1Y)13.77%12.96%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)30.63%138.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.68%31.49%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RBC
RKLB
GSPC
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB), 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 RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Rocket Lab (RKLB) is heavily traded at around 19.51M shares per day, whereas RBC Bearings (RBC) sees a more moderate 309.06K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricRBCRKLB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.69%95.71%
Beta (5Y)1.343.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.92%-78.32%
Avg. Volume (3M)309.06K19.51M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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RBC and RKLB 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 RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricRBCRKLB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.320.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.450.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative ROE of -7.92%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile RBC Bearings (RBC) reports 10.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

10.51%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
RBC
10.51%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

-7.92%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
RKLB
-7.92%
Min
-17.12%
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative net margin of -21.51%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile RBC Bearings (RBC) reports 17.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

17.51%

Max
27.47%
RBC
17.51%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

-21.51%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
RKLB
-21.51%
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative operating margin of -24.57%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile RBC Bearings (RBC) reports 24.97%, ranking against industry peers normally.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

24.97%

Max
36.60%
RBC
24.97%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

-24.57%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
RKLB
-24.57%
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricRBCRKLB
ROE (TTM)10.51%-7.92%
ROA (TTM)6.06%-4.62%
Net Margin (TTM)17.51%-21.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.97%-24.57%
Gross Margin (TTM)45.61%37.26%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 37.96% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while RBC Bearings (RBC) at 14.34% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for RKLB.

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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: RBC Bearings (RBC) reports EPS growth of 18.05%, ranked against its industry; Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricRBCRKLB
Revenue Growth (YoY)14.34%37.96%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.39%41.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.05%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)22.54%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both RBC Bearings (RBC) at 3.13 and Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 5.48 post current ratio above their industries’ typical mid-ranges — short-term liquidity appears comfortable, though unusually high readings can point to idle current assets.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

3.13

Max
5.22
RBC
3.13
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

5.48

RKLB
5.48
Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both RBC Bearings (RBC) at 0.22 and Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 0.04 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.22

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
RBC
0.22
Min
0.00

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

0.04

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
RKLB
0.04
Min
0.00
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricRBCRKLB
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.135.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.220.04
Net Debt / EBITDA1.09--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither RBC Bearings (RBC) nor Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
RBC
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
RKLB
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither RBC Bearings (RBC) nor Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
RBC
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
RKLB
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricRBCRKLB
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: RBC Bearings (RBC) trades at 42.44 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no P/E ratio this period.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

42.44

Max
59.38
RBC
42.44
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

--

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
RKLB
--
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): RKLB does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; RBC is benchmarked against the Capital Goods industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: RBC Bearings (RBC) at 7.42 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 44.12 prices even higher, above its industry range.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

7.42

Max
7.54
RBC
7.42
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

44.12

RKLB
44.12
Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

RBC Bearings (RBC) at 4.21 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 9.09 carries an above-peer premium to book — RKLB is pricier on assets.

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

4.21

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
RBC
4.21
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

RKLB

Capital Goods industry group

9.09

Max
9.66
RKLB
9.09
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
Loading chart…
RBC Bearings (RBC) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for RBC Bearings (RBC) and Rocket Lab (RKLB)
MetricRBCRKLB
P/E Ratio (TTM)42.44--
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.4244.12
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.219.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.22%-0.74%