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DCO vs HEI
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Ducommun Incorporated (DCO) vs. HEICO Corporation (HEI) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- DCO has significantly outperformed HEI in recent market activity, posting year-to-date (YTD) gains of about 49% versus HEI's roughly 10%.
- Both companies operate in the aerospace and defense sector, capitalizing on rising demand for commercial aviation recovery and defense spending.
- DCO, with a smaller market capitalization of around $2.1 billion, exhibits stronger recent momentum but carries higher relative risk as a small-cap stock.
- HEI provides greater stability through its larger $40.8 billion market cap and consistent profitability.
- Recent analyst actions, including a buy rating upgrade for DCO, reflect improving sentiment amid sector tailwinds.
- Tickeron's AI trading bots highlight opportunities in industrials and related sectors, offering diverse strategies for traders.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines DCO and HEI, two key players in the aerospace and defense industry. Both companies supply critical components and services amid a backdrop of robust sector growth driven by increased military budgets, commercial aircraft production ramps, and aftermarket demand. Investors seeking exposure to industrials with defense ties, or traders eyeing relative performance in a volatile market, will find value in understanding their business models, recent trajectories, and positioning. This analysis draws on verifiable metrics to highlight contrasts in scale, momentum, and risk profiles.
DCO Overview and Recent Performance
Ducommun Incorporated (DCO) specializes in engineering and manufacturing services for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Operating through Electronic Systems and Structural Systems segments, it produces cable assemblies, interconnects, aerostructures, and precision components for commercial and military aircraft.
In recent months, DCO shares have surged, with YTD returns near 49% and one-year gains exceeding 150%, trading close to the 52-week high of $143.33 from a low of $53.78. Current price hovers around $142, supported by average beta (a measure of volatility relative to the market) of 1.00 and heightened trading volume. Sentiment has been bolstered by strong sector demand and recent analyst upgrades, such as Goldman Sachs maintaining a buy rating and raising the price target to $151. Forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 30.58, reflecting growth expectations despite recent negative trailing earnings per share (EPS).
HEI Overview and Recent Performance
HEICO Corporation (HEI) designs, manufactures, and distributes aerospace, defense, and electronics products globally. Its Flight Support Group focuses on replacement parts and repairs, while the Electronic Technologies Group delivers electro-optical infrared systems, microwave components, and power equipment.
Over recent market activity, HEI has shown steady appreciation, with YTD performance around 10% and one-year returns of about 19%, positioned midway in its 52-week range of $237.19 to $361.69 at a current price near $292. Beta of 1.08 indicates moderate volatility, with trailing P/E at 57.86 and positive trailing EPS of $5.05. Influences include strategic expansions, such as a recent deal into the antennas market via Southwest Antennas acquisition, alongside discussions of potential undervaluation amid share price swings. Trading volume remains robust, underscoring sustained investor interest.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron's Trending AI Robots page showcases a curated selection of over 25 top-performing AI trading bots from its library of 351 virtual agents, optimized for current market conditions like heightened volatility. These bots employ diverse strategies—ranging from swing trading and scalping to sector-specific trend following—across timeframes like 5-minute to 60-minute charts. Performance stats are compelling: annualized returns from +30% to over +120%, win rates of 55-87%, profit factors (ratio of gross profit to gross loss) between 1.5 and 11.7, and profit-to-drawdown ratios up to 11+, with absolute drawdowns often under $20,000. Examples include a swing trader in industrial stocks (+34% annualized, 62% win rate) and semiconductor-focused bots exceeding +90%. While not exclusively targeting DCO or HEI, they cover relevant sectors like industrials and aerospace & defense, enabling copy trading with real-time signals and risk controls. Traders may explore these to align with their style and enhance portfolio strategies.
Head-to-Head Comparison
DCO and HEI share aerospace and defense sector exposure but differ in scale and focus. DCO's business model emphasizes custom engineering and manufacturing of structural and electronic systems, suiting niche defense contracts, while HEI excels in aftermarket replacement parts and repairs, benefiting from recurring revenue streams.
Growth drivers contrast: DCO leverages smaller size for agile expansion amid surging demand, evidenced by superior recent momentum, whereas HEI pursues acquisitions for steady scaling. Risk factors include DCO's vulnerability to contract cyclicality versus HEI's diversified electronics portfolio mitigating downturns. Market sentiment favors DCO short-term due to outsized returns, but HEI holds stronger long-term positioning through profitability and size trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI would currently lean toward DCO based on observable factors like consistent upward trend strength, superior relative YTD and one-year performance, proximity to 52-week highs, and positive analyst catalysts in recent weeks. While HEI offers stability, DCO's momentum positions it favorably for near-term outperformance in the aerospace sector, though sector risks apply probabilistically.
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 DCO is a StrongBuy and HEI 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).
DCO’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileHEI’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- DCO’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- HEI’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.
DCO’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while HEI’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- DCO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- HEI’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
DCO (@Aerospace & Defense) experienced а +9.77% price change this week, while HEI (@Aerospace & Defense) price change was +0.05% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Aerospace & Defense industry was -0.74%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +14.35%, and the average quarterly price growth was +34.14%.
Reported Earning Dates
DCO is expected to report earnings on Aug 06, 2026.
HEI is expected to report earnings on Aug 31, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Aerospace & Defense (-0.74% 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.
| DCO | HEI | DCO / HEI | |
| Capitalization | 2.49B | 39.6B | 6% |
| EBITDA | 12.9M | 1.37B | 1% |
| Gain YTD | 73.710 | 3.929 | 1,876% |
| P/E Ratio | 34.66 | 60.03 | 58% |
| Revenue | 841M | 4.91B | 17% |
| Total Cash | 39.1M | 210M | 19% |
| Total Debt | 343M | 2.59B | 13% |
DCO | HEI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 78 | 84 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 79 Overvalued | 70 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 3 | 23 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 93 | 48 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 37 | 45 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 67 | 70 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 13 |
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.
HEI's Valuation (70) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as DCO (79). This means that HEI’s stock grew similarly to DCO’s over the last 12 months.
DCO's Profit vs Risk Rating (3) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HEI (23). This means that DCO’s stock grew similarly to HEI’s over the last 12 months.
HEI's SMR Rating (48) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is somewhat better than the same rating for DCO (93). This means that HEI’s stock grew somewhat faster than DCO’s over the last 12 months.
DCO's Price Growth Rating (37) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HEI (45). This means that DCO’s stock grew similarly to HEI’s over the last 12 months.
DCO's P/E Growth Rating (67) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HEI (70). This means that DCO’s stock grew similarly to HEI’s over the last 12 months.
| DCO | HEI | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 56% | 4 days ago 52% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 62% | 4 days ago 50% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 69% | 4 days ago 56% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 66% | 4 days ago 53% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 67% | 4 days ago 64% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 69% | 4 days ago 58% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 66% | 18 days ago 62% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 15 days ago 61% | 8 days ago 56% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 52% | 4 days ago 55% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 80% | 4 days ago 55% |
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DCO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, DCO has been loosely correlated with CW. These tickers have moved in lockstep 56% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if DCO jumps, then CW could also see price increases.
HEI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HEI has been loosely correlated with GE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 58% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if HEI jumps, then GE could also see price increases.