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HII or HWM or RKLB
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs. Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- HII boasts a record $53.14 billion backlog in naval shipbuilding, driving 116% one-year returns and YTD gains of 23%, supported by recent contract wins and labor agreements.
- HWM shows robust aerospace demand with 91% one-year returns and 17% YTD, backed by strong analyst upgrades and projected EPS growth of 26%.
- RKLB leads with explosive 279% one-year performance amid successful launches like its 83rd mission, though YTD flat at 2% reflects higher volatility.
- All three benefit from aerospace and defense sector tailwinds, but HII offers the most attractive valuation at 27x P/E versus HWM's 65x and RKLB's unprofitable status.
- Recent market activity highlights defense spending boosts, with HII and HWM showing relative stability over RKLB's growth-oriented risks.
- Sector peers underscore outperformance, positioning these stocks for sustained relative strength in industrial and defense exposure.
Introduction
This comparison examines HII, HWM, and RKLB, key players in the aerospace and defense sector amid rising global tensions and commercial aviation recovery. Investors seeking exposure to naval shipbuilding, engineered components, and space launch services will find value in analyzing their relative performance, growth drivers, and market positioning. With defense budgets expanding and space commercialization accelerating, these stocks offer insights into stability versus high-growth potential in a dynamic environment. Traders monitoring sector rotation may prioritize momentum, while long-term holders focus on backlogs and contracts.
HII Overview and Recent Performance
HII, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., is the largest U.S. military shipbuilder, designing, building, and maintaining nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, submarines, and non-nuclear vessels through its Ingalls, Newport News, and Mission Technologies segments. Recent market activity has seen shares trade around $417, near the 52-week high of $460 after strong gains from a low of $177. The stock delivered 23% YTD and 116% over one year, reflecting robust naval demand.
Sentiment has strengthened due to a record $53.14 billion backlog, recent contract awards tied to Army suppliers, and a new collective bargaining agreement at Ingalls Shipbuilding enhancing workforce stability. Developments in unmanned systems and AI integration for battlefield decisions further support operational efficiency, positioning HII amid U.S. shipbuilding revival and geopolitical naval priorities.
HWM Overview and Recent Performance
HWM, Howmet Aerospace Inc., supplies advanced engineered solutions like engine components, fastening systems, and forged wheels for aerospace, defense, and transportation via segments including Engine Products and Fastening Systems. Shares hover near $241, down from a 52-week high of $267 but up from $105, with 17% YTD and 91% one-year returns.
Performance reflects commercial aerospace recovery and gas turbine demand, with analysts projecting 26% EPS growth and 15% revenue increase. Recent upgrades, including RBC's Outperform rating with a $300 target, underscore momentum despite short-term pullbacks. Strong earnings beats and sector tailwinds in airfoils and structural parts have bolstered sentiment, though premium valuations highlight growth trade-offs.
RKLB Overview and Recent Performance
RKLB, Rocket Lab Corporation, delivers launch services and space systems, including Electron rockets and Neutron development, serving commercial and government clients through Launch Services and Space Systems. Trading around $71, below the 52-week high of $100 from a low of $15, it posted flat 2% YTD but explosive 279% one-year gains.
Recent weeks feature the 83rd successful Electron launch deploying a commercial satellite, silicon solar arrays for space data centers, and ramped cadence. Revenue reached $602 million TTM amid backlog growth, fueling sentiment in smallsat and constellation markets. Volatility persists with execution risks on medium-lift Neutron, yet operational successes drive relative outperformance in the burgeoning space economy.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
HII, HWM, and RKLB span defense shipbuilding, components, and space launches, all tied to aerospace/defense growth. Business models contrast: HII's government-contract stability via massive backlogs versus HWM's commercial aerospace reliance and RKLB's high-risk innovation in launches.
Growth drivers include naval budgets for HII, engine demand for HWM, and smallsat proliferation for RKLB. Recent momentum favors RKLB's 279% one-year surge, but HII (116%) and HWM (91%) offer steadier YTD gains. Risks: supply chains for all, execution for RKLB, valuations elevated at HWM (P/B 17x) versus HII (3x). Sentiment tilts positive on defense spending, with HII least sensitive to cyclical downturns.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI leans toward HII in the current environment, citing superior trend consistency from its $53B backlog, lower valuation at 27x P/E, and defensive naval catalysts amid geopolitical shifts. While RKLB excels in momentum and HWM in growth projections, HII's stability and relative positioning suggest higher probability of outperformance over the next quarter.
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 Disclaimers and Limitations.
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).
HII’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileHWM’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s), and RKLB’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- HII’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- HWM’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- RKLB’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.
HII’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while HWM’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s), and RKLB’s TA Score reflects 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- HII’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- HWM’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- RKLB’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
HII (@Aerospace & Defense) experienced а +0.10% price change this week, while HWM (@Aerospace & Defense) price change was +1.20% , and RKLB (@Aerospace & Defense) price fluctuated +24.61% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Aerospace & Defense industry was +4.81%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +11.73%, and the average quarterly price growth was +29.52%.
Reported Earning Dates
HII is expected to report earnings on May 05, 2026.
HWM is expected to report earnings on May 07, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Aerospace & Defense (+4.81% 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.
| HII | HWM | RKLB | |
| Capitalization | 15.5B | 102B | 49B |
| EBITDA | 1.21B | 2.27B | -155.47M |
| Gain YTD | 16.459 | 24.786 | 21.560 |
| P/E Ratio | 25.65 | 68.92 | N/A |
| Revenue | 12.5B | 8.25B | 602M |
| Total Cash | 774M | 742M | 1.02B |
| Total Debt | 2.92B | 3.21B | 254M |
HII | HWM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 59 | 17 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 15 Undervalued | 73 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 30 | 3 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 60 | 31 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 44 | 14 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 19 | 22 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 75 | 75 |
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 (15) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is somewhat better than the same rating for HWM (73) in the null industry. This means that HII’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 HII (30) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew similarly to HII’s over the last 12 months.
HWM's SMR Rating (31) in the null industry is in the same range as HII (60) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew similarly to HII’s over the last 12 months.
HWM's Price Growth Rating (14) in the null industry is in the same range as HII (44) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that HWM’s stock grew similarly to HII’s over the last 12 months.
HII's P/E Growth Rating (19) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as HWM (22) in the null industry. This means that HII’s stock grew similarly to HWM’s over the last 12 months.
| HII | HWM | RKLB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | N/A | 2 days ago 81% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 54% | 2 days ago 77% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 85% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 89% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 87% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 89% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 60% | 5 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 86% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 51% | 12 days ago 83% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 70% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 42% | 2 days ago 81% |
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| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| QQUP | 57.92 | 1.84 | +3.28% |
| ProShares Ultra Top QQQ | |||
| AVEE | 70.74 | 1.63 | +2.35% |
| Avantis Emerging Markets Sm Cp Eq ETF | |||
| TRFK | 75.45 | 1.30 | +1.75% |
| Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF | |||
| DFSV | 37.05 | 0.58 | +1.59% |
| Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF | |||
| UPGR | 24.75 | N/A | N/A |
| Xtrackers US Green Infras Sel Eq ETF | |||
HII and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HII has been loosely correlated with GD. 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 GD could also see price increases.
HWM and
Correlation & Price change
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.
RKLB and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, RKLB has been closely correlated with LUNR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 68% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if RKLB jumps, then LUNR could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To RKLB | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RKLB | 100% | +2.25% | ||
| LUNR - RKLB | 68% Closely correlated | +1.06% | ||
| RDW - RKLB | 60% Loosely correlated | -7.84% | ||
| ACHR - RKLB | 54% Loosely correlated | +0.49% | ||
| KRMN - RKLB | 52% Loosely correlated | -4.93% | ||
| RCAT - RKLB | 52% Loosely correlated | -7.22% | ||
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