RKLB vs. WTS: Rocket Lab vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison
How do Rocket Lab (RKLB) 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
Rocket Lab (RKLB) and Watts Water (WTS) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but RKLB is classified in Aerospace & Defense while WTS is classified in Machinery.
Watts Water (WTS) has more than two decades of public-market history since August 21, 1986, whereas Rocket Lab (RKLB) listed on November 24, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Rocket Lab Corporation | 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 | 33.93 billion USD | 11.55 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 24, 2020 | August 21, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.96% | 33.85% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 138.86% | 25.59% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 31.49% | 12.56% |
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 Watts Water (WTS) is closer to market-like at 1.11 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) is heavily traded at around 19.51M shares per day, whereas Watts Water (WTS) sees a more moderate 225.08K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 95.71% | 27.38% |
| Beta (5Y) | 3.14 | 1.11 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -78.32% | -44.08% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 19.51M | 225.08K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 1.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.14 | 1.78 |
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 Watts Water (WTS) reports 20.91%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
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)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative net margin of -21.51%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Watts Water (WTS) reports 16.00%, 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%
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)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reports a negative operating margin of -24.57%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Watts Water (WTS) reports 20.85%, 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%
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 | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -7.92% | 20.91% |
| ROA (TTM) | -4.62% | 12.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -21.51% | 16.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -24.57% | 20.85% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 37.26% | 49.09% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 37.96% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Watts Water (WTS) at 8.27% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for RKLB.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Watts Water (WTS) reports EPS growth of 17.03%, ranked against its industry; Rocket Lab (RKLB) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 37.96% | 8.27% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 41.82% | 7.20% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 17.03% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 10.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 5.48 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
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
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)
Both Rocket Lab (RKLB) at 0.04 and Watts Water (WTS) at 0.08 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.
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
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 | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 5.48 | 2.80 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -0.40 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Watts Water (WTS) reports a yield of 0.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
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)
Rocket Lab (RKLB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Watts Water (WTS) reports a payout of 17.24%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
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 | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.66% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 17.24% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Watts Water (WTS) trades at 25.95 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
- --
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 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
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 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.
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
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 | RKLB | WTS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 25.95 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 44.12 | 4.14 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.09 | 4.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.74% | 2.21% |