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CW vs HII
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) vs. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- CW has delivered stronger year-to-date returns of approximately 29% compared to HII's 6%, reflecting robust momentum in recent market activity.
- Over the past year, CW surged about 104%, outpacing HII's 61% gain, driven by defense sector tailwinds.
- CW trades at a higher trailing P/E ratio (price-to-earnings, ~55x) versus HII's (~23x), indicating a premium valuation amid growth expectations.
- Both stocks operate in the aerospace and defense sector but CW shows greater diversification across markets, while HII focuses on naval shipbuilding.
- Recent analyst updates favor CW with price target raises, while HII secured a $283 million contract bolstering its backlog.
- Upcoming earnings for both (early May 2026) could influence near-term sentiment amid steady defense spending.
Introduction
In the aerospace and defense sector, investors and traders often evaluate stocks like CW and HII for exposure to rising geopolitical tensions and sustained U.S. military budgets. This comparison highlights their business models, recent performance, and market positioning, aiding those seeking relative value in industrials with defense ties. With both benefiting from sector tailwinds, understanding contrasts in growth, valuation, and momentum helps inform portfolio decisions in volatile markets.
CW Overview and Recent Performance
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW), headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, designs engineered products and services for aerospace, defense, naval, power, and industrial markets through segments like Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power. Its offerings include actuation systems, sensors, embedded computing, and nuclear components, serving diverse clients including the U.S. military.
In recent weeks, CW shares have shown resilience, with a modest monthly gain amid broader sector strength. Year-to-date performance stands at 29%, propelled by a Q4 earnings beat (EPS of $3.79 vs. $3.69 expected) and revenue growth of 15%. Backlog expansion and analyst upgrades, such as Argus raising its price target to $823 with a Buy rating, have boosted sentiment. Trading near $713 with a $26B market cap (market capitalization, total value of outstanding shares), the stock reflects optimism in defense electronics and aerospace demand, though its high P/E signals growth pricing.
HII Overview and Recent Performance
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), based in Newport News, Virginia, specializes in designing, building, and repairing U.S. military ships via Ingalls, Newport News, and Mission Technologies segments. It focuses on nuclear-powered carriers, submarines, amphibious assault ships, and C5ISR (command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) systems.
Recent market activity has pressured HII, with shares down over 11% in the past month, trading around $361 with a $14B market cap. YTD gains are 6%, following a strong 61% one-year return. Positive notes include a $283 million frigate support contract and director reelections at its annual meeting, alongside a Q1 earnings beat (EPS $4.04 vs. $3.77). Citigroup maintains a Buy but trimmed its target to $441. Steady naval demand supports the backlog, yet recent pullbacks highlight sensitivity to shipbuilding execution risks.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
CW offers broader diversification across aerospace, electronics, and power versus HII’s naval shipbuilding concentration, reducing single-market risks but exposing CW to commercial aerospace cycles. Growth drivers favor CW with superior recent momentum (monthly +3% vs. -11%) and backlog growth, while HII leverages long-term Navy contracts.
Risk profiles differ: CW’s beta of 0.92 indicates moderate volatility, higher than HII’s 0.29, but its elevated P/E reflects premium pricing versus HII’s value tilt. Both share defense exposure amid rising budgets, yet CW garners stronger sentiment from earnings beats and upgrades, while HII faces shipyard labor and execution hurdles.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward CW based on consistent upward trends, superior relative YTD and one-year performance, and positive catalysts like backlog expansion. HII offers stability and dividends but trails in momentum. This probabilistic edge favors CW for growth-oriented positions in the near term.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CW is a Buy and HII is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CW’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileHII’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- CW’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- HII’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CW’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while HII’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CW’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- HII’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
CW (@Aerospace & Defense) experienced а +4.27% price change this week, while HII (@Aerospace & Defense) price change was +2.53% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Aerospace & Defense industry was -0.85%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +13.09%, and the average quarterly price growth was +29.71%.
Reported Earning Dates
CW is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
HII is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Aerospace & Defense (-0.85% weekly)Aerospace & Defense is one of largest industries in the U.S., mainly comprising the following areas: commercial airliners, military aircraft, missiles, space, and general aviation. Focused heavily on research & development, it is also one of the fastest growing industries. Military aircraft has the largest market share in the industry’s sales, followed by space systems, civil aircraft, and missiles. Aerospace exports, directly and indirectly, support more jobs than the export of any other commodity, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation and General Electric Company are some of the most prominent players in this space.
| CW | HII | CW / HII | |
| Capitalization | 28.2B | 11.8B | 239% |
| EBITDA | 818M | 1.2B | 68% |
| Gain YTD | 38.795 | -11.566 | -335% |
| P/E Ratio | 56.02 | 19.40 | 289% |
| Revenue | 3.61B | 12.8B | 28% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 216M | - |
| Total Debt | 1.15B | 2.93B | 39% |
CW | HII | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 12 | 58 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 67 Overvalued | 26 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 2 | 62 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 46 | 65 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 42 | 62 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 27 | 35 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
HII's Valuation (26) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is somewhat better than the same rating for CW (67). This means that HII’s stock grew somewhat faster than CW’s over the last 12 months.
CW's Profit vs Risk Rating (2) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is somewhat better than the same rating for HII (62). This means that CW’s stock grew somewhat faster than HII’s over the last 12 months.
CW's SMR Rating (46) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HII (65). This means that CW’s stock grew similarly to HII’s over the last 12 months.
CW's Price Growth Rating (42) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HII (62). This means that CW’s stock grew similarly to HII’s over the last 12 months.
CW's P/E Growth Rating (27) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HII (35). This means that CW’s stock grew similarly to HII’s over the last 12 months.
| CW | HII | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 67% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 57% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 79% | 2 days ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 63% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 61% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 55% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 22 days ago 59% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 47% | 9 days ago 57% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 42% | 2 days ago 56% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 58% |
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CW and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CW has been closely correlated with BWXT. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if CW jumps, then BWXT could also see price increases.
HII and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HII has been loosely correlated with LHX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 61% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if HII jumps, then LHX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To HII | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HII | 100% | -0.38% | ||
| LHX - HII | 61% Loosely correlated | +2.06% | ||
| GD - HII | 61% Loosely correlated | +1.27% | ||
| KTOS - HII | 51% Loosely correlated | -1.19% | ||
| KRMN - HII | 50% Loosely correlated | +7.11% | ||
| RTX - HII | 49% Loosely correlated | +1.70% | ||
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