Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Hexcel (HXL) are key players in the aerospace supply chain, providing critical components to commercial and defense aviation. This comparison analyzes their recent market performance, business drivers, and positioning amid surging air travel demand and production ramps by major OEMs like Boeing and Airbus. Traders seeking momentum plays and long-term investors eyeing sector growth will find value in understanding their relative strengths, risks, and sentiment shifts in the current environment.
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) specializes in engineered products for jet engines, fastening systems, and structural components, serving both commercial and defense markets. In recent market activity, HWM shares have traded around $254, reflecting a year-to-date gain of nearly 24% and over 113% in the past year, with a 52-week range of $121 to $267. Strong Q4 results drove sentiment, featuring 14.6% revenue growth year-over-year and adjusted EBITDA margins above 30%, bolstered by operational efficiencies and demand for aftermarket parts. Recent developments include executive appointments and acquisition expansions, enhancing its growth outlook in a recovering aerospace sector.
Hexcel Corporation (HXL) focuses on advanced composite materials, including carbon fibers, resins, and honeycomb structures for aircraft structures and engines. Shares have hovered near $89, posting a year-to-date increase of 21% and 74% over the past year, within a 52-week range of $45 to $95. Recent performance benefited from Q4 sales up 3.7% to $491 million, exceeding expectations, amid rising aerospace OEM orders. Shares have seen sharp gains in recent weeks on sector tailwinds and anticipation for upcoming earnings, though valuation scrutiny persists with a P/E ratio around 65.
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Both HWM and HXL thrive on aerospace recovery, but diverge in focus: HWM's engine and fastener portfolio offers diversified exposure to aftermarket demand, while HXL's composites tie closely to new aircraft builds. Growth drivers favor HWM with faster revenue acceleration and higher EBITDA margins, versus HXL's steady but slower sales gains. Recent momentum tilts to HWM, up over 100% in 12 months against HXL's 74%, though HXL shows lower beta (1.05 vs. 1.24) for reduced volatility. Risk factors include supply chain issues and OEM production delays, with HWM's scale mitigating impacts better. Market sentiment leans bullish on both, but HWM commands premium valuations and higher analyst targets.
Tickeron's AI currently favors HWM for its superior trend consistency, elevated growth catalysts from commercial aerospace ramps, and relative market positioning with stronger earnings momentum. While HXL offers value in composites exposure, HWM's scale and performance metrics suggest higher probability of outperformance in the near term, subject to sector dynamics.
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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).
HWM’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileHXL’s FA Score has 2 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.
HWM’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while HXL’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
HWM (@Aerospace & Defense) experienced а +5.07% price change this week, while HXL (@Aerospace & Defense) price change was +9.59% 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%.
HWM is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
HXL is expected to report earnings on Jul 27, 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.
| HWM | HXL | HWM / HXL | |
| Capitalization | 108B | 7.44B | 1,452% |
| EBITDA | 2.55B | 309M | 824% |
| Gain YTD | 32.043 | 34.006 | 94% |
| P/E Ratio | 62.75 | 65.32 | 96% |
| Revenue | 8.62B | 1.94B | 445% |
| Total Cash | 2.44B | 54.1M | 4,501% |
| Total Debt | 4.69B | 998M | 470% |
HWM | HXL | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 6 | 15 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 74 Overvalued | 58 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 3 | 30 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 29 | 77 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 44 | 40 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 45 | 14 | |
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.
HXL's Valuation (58) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HWM (74) in the null industry. This means that HXL’s stock grew similarly to HWM’s over the last 12 months.
HWM's Profit vs Risk Rating (3) in the null industry is in the same range as HXL (30) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew similarly to HXL’s over the last 12 months.
HWM's SMR Rating (29) in the null industry is somewhat better than the same rating for HXL (77) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew somewhat faster than HXL’s over the last 12 months.
HXL's Price Growth Rating (40) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HWM (44) in the null industry. This means that HXL’s stock grew similarly to HWM’s over the last 12 months.
HXL's P/E Growth Rating (14) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HWM (45) in the null industry. This means that HXL’s stock grew similarly to HWM’s over the last 12 months.
| HWM | HXL | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 47% | 4 days ago 68% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 51% | 4 days ago 69% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 77% | 4 days ago 84% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 82% | 4 days ago 85% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 72% | 4 days ago 69% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 50% | 4 days ago 66% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 71% | 4 days ago 68% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 50% | 14 days ago 63% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 58% | 4 days ago 61% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 76% | 4 days ago 67% |
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HWM has been closely correlated with GE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 72% 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.
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HXL has been loosely correlated with AIR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 53% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if HXL jumps, then AIR could also see price increases.