RKLB vs. TDG: Rocket Lab vs. TransDigm Stock Comparison
How do Rocket Lab (RKLB) and TransDigm (TDG) 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
Rocket Lab (RKLB) and TransDigm (TDG) are both classified in the Aerospace & Defense sub-industry within the broader Aerospace & Defense industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
TransDigm (TDG) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 15, 2006, whereas Rocket Lab (RKLB) listed on November 24, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Rocket Lab Corporation | TransDigm Group Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Capitalization | 33.93 billion USD | 66.17 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 24, 2020 | March 15, 2006 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.96% | -3.42% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 138.86% | 14.26% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 31.49% | 16.86% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Rocket Lab (RKLB) carries a highly aggressive beta of 3.14, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas TransDigm (TDG) is closer to market-like at 0.94 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) is heavily traded at around 19.51M shares per day, whereas TransDigm (TDG) sees a more moderate 369.72K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 95.71% | 28.03% |
| Beta (5Y) | 3.14 | 0.94 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -78.32% | -29.05% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 19.51M | 369.72K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | -0.27 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.14 | -0.38 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
TransDigm (TDG) has no ROE value reported for this period; Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative figure of -7.92%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.
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%
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
- TDG
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative net margin of -21.51%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile TransDigm (TDG) reports 21.28%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
21.28%
- Max
- 27.47%
- TDG
- 21.28%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
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 TransDigm (TDG) reports 46.01%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
46.01%
- TDG
- 46.01%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -7.92% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | -4.62% | 11.82% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -21.51% | 21.28% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -24.57% | 46.01% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 37.26% | 59.82% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 37.96% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while TransDigm (TDG) at 11.22% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for RKLB.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: TransDigm (TDG) reports EPS growth of 25.21%, ranked against its industry; Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 37.96% | 11.22% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 41.82% | 17.61% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 25.21% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 33.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 5.48 and TransDigm (TDG) at 3.02 post current ratio above their industries’ typical mid-ranges — short-term liquidity appears comfortable, though unusually high readings can point to idle current assets.
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
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
3.02
- Max
- 5.22
- TDG
- 3.02
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Rocket Lab (RKLB) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04 against its industry range, while TransDigm (TDG) reports no figure this period.
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
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
- TDG
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 5.48 | 3.02 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.04 | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | 6.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Rocket Lab (RKLB) nor TransDigm (TDG) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- TDG
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Rocket Lab (RKLB) nor TransDigm (TDG) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- TDG
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| 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: TransDigm (TDG) trades at 36.31 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no P/E ratio this period.
RKLB
Capital Goods industry group
--
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
- RKLB
- --
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
36.31
- Max
- 59.38
- TDG
- 36.31
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: TransDigm (TDG) at 6.61 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 44.12 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
6.61
- Max
- 7.54
- TDG
- 6.61
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
TransDigm (TDG) reports a negative P/B ratio of -6.74, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports 9.09, ranking against industry peers normally.
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
TDG
Capital Goods industry group
-6.74
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
- TDG
- -6.74
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | TDG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 36.31 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 44.12 | 6.61 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.09 | -6.74 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.74% | 2.20% |