This stock comparison examines GD and HWM, two key players in the aerospace and defense sector amid rising global demand for advanced engineered solutions. GD, a diversified contractor, contrasts with HWM's focus on components, offering traders insights into stability versus growth. Investors navigating market volatility, sector rotation, or defense spending trends will find value in their relative performance, backlogs, and momentum in recent market activity.
General Dynamics (GD) is a global aerospace and defense leader, operating through segments like Aerospace (Gulfstream jets), Marine Systems (submarines), Combat Systems, and Technologies. With 117,000 employees, it delivers business jets, nuclear submarines, and C4ISR solutions. Recent market activity saw GD rise 2.21% to $350.72, outperforming the S&P 500 amid broader declines. A record $118 billion backlog and 5.6% dividend hike underpin sentiment, bolstered by Q4 2025 revenue of $14.38 billion (up 7.8% YoY) and EPS of $4.17. YTD gains stand at +4.6%, with one-year returns at +43%, reflecting resilience from geopolitical demand and steady execution despite monthly dips of 3.8%.
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) specializes in advanced engineered solutions for aerospace and transportation, producing engine components, fasteners, structures, and forged wheels via segments like Engine Products and Fastening Systems. Serving global markets from Pittsburgh, it focuses on superalloys and titanium for fuel-efficient engines. In recent weeks, HWM gained over 20%, trading near $260 after hitting 52-week highs, fueled by Q4 2025 revenue of $2.17 billion (up 14.65% YoY). YTD performance exceeds +27%, with one-year surges near 100%, driven by commercial aerospace recovery and defense demand. Analyst upgrades and acquisition strategies enhance outlook, though forged wheels softness poses minor risks.
Tickeron’s Trending AI Robots page showcases over 25 top-performing AI trading bots from hundreds available, each trading thousands of tickers with diverse styles like swing trading, trend following, and hedging across 5min to 60min timeframes. Curated by AI for current market conditions, these bots feature annualized returns from +15% to +251%, win rates of 55-95%, and profit factors up to 35, with low drawdowns in volatile sectors like aerospace. For instance, an aerospace bot including HWM achieved +68% returns at 72% win rate. Explore these for data-driven strategies tailored to today's environment.
GD and HWM share aerospace/defense exposure but diverge in models: GD's integrated systems (submarines, jets) yield a massive backlog for predictable revenue, versus HWM's components focus enabling faster growth from engine demand. Recent momentum favors HWM (+20% monthly vs. GD's flat), with superior YTD/1Y returns, but GD offers lower risk (beta 0.40, PE 22.7) and undervaluation. Growth drivers include defense budgets for both, though HWM leverages commercial aviation rebound. Sentiment tilts growth-oriented to HWM, stability to GD.
Tickeron’s AI currently favors HWM for its stronger trend consistency, superior relative performance, and aerospace catalysts like robust earnings growth and commercial demand. While GD excels in backlog stability, HWM's momentum and bot-traded outperformance suggest higher probabilistic upside in the near term.
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 Disclaimers and Limitations.
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).
GD’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileHWM’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
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.
GD’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while HWM’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
GD (@Aerospace & Defense) experienced а +0.20% price change this week, while HWM (@Aerospace & Defense) price change was +13.01% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Aerospace & Defense industry was +1.30%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.48%, and the average quarterly price growth was +33.61%.
GD is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
HWM is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
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.
| GD | HWM | GD / HWM | |
| Capitalization | 93.7B | 108B | 87% |
| EBITDA | 6.59B | 2.55B | 259% |
| Gain YTD | 3.832 | 32.101 | 12% |
| P/E Ratio | 21.81 | 62.77 | 35% |
| Revenue | 53.8B | 8.62B | 624% |
| Total Cash | 3.65B | 2.44B | 150% |
| Total Debt | 9.83B | 4.69B | 210% |
GD | HWM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 37 Fair valued | 75 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 15 | 3 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 49 | 28 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 53 | 18 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 37 | 33 | |
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.
GD's Valuation (37) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is somewhat better than the same rating for HWM (75) in the null industry. This means that GD’s stock grew somewhat faster than HWM’s over the last 12 months.
HWM's Profit vs Risk Rating (3) in the null industry is in the same range as GD (15) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew similarly to GD’s over the last 12 months.
HWM's SMR Rating (28) in the null industry is in the same range as GD (49) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew similarly to GD’s over the last 12 months.
HWM's Price Growth Rating (18) in the null industry is somewhat better than the same rating for GD (53) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew somewhat faster than GD’s over the last 12 months.
HWM's P/E Growth Rating (33) in the null industry is in the same range as GD (37) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew similarly to GD’s over the last 12 months.
| GD | HWM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 50% | 3 days ago 56% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 35% | 3 days ago 50% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 3 days ago 74% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 69% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 45% | 3 days ago 72% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 45% | 3 days ago 70% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 43% | 4 days ago 70% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 34% | 12 days ago 51% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 59% | 3 days ago 44% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 38% | 3 days ago 41% |
| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| OEF | 367.38 | 3.55 | +0.98% |
| iShares S&P 100 ETF | |||
| ARLU | 31.62 | 0.24 | +0.77% |
| AllianzIM U.S. Equity Buffer15 UncAprETF | |||
| PDT | 13.05 | 0.08 | +0.62% |
| John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund | |||
| ZAUG | 27.32 | 0.04 | +0.13% |
| Innovator Equity Defined Prt ETF -1YrAug | |||
| MBS | 8.69 | 0.01 | +0.12% |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | |||
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, GD has been loosely correlated with LHX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 56% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if GD jumps, then LHX could also see price increases.
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HWM has been closely correlated with GE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 71% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if HWM jumps, then GE could also see price increases.