Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs Fortive (FTV)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Fortive (FTV) has outperformed Curtiss-Wright (CW) over the past year, gaining 13.9% versus a loss of 5.8%. Over five years, CW leads with a +287.3% price change compared with +3.2% for FTV. Curtiss-Wright is the larger company by market cap ($18.80 billion vs $17.07 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Fortive trades at a lower forward P/E (17.4x vs 29.7x for Curtiss-Wright). Fortive offers the higher dividend yield (0.21% vs 0.19%). Fortive converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.9% versus 13.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CW | FTV |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $509.10 | $56.52 |
| Market cap | $18.80B | $17.07B |
| 1-day change | -8.00% | -2.37% |
| YTD return | -7.65% | +2.37% |
| 1-year return | -5.79% | +13.93% |
| 5-year return | +287.27% | +3.22% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 35.06 | 29.75 |
| Forward P/E | 29.68 | 17.37 |
| EPS (TTM) | $14.52 | $1.90 |
| Dividend yield | 0.19% | 0.21% |
| Annual dividend | $0.98 | $0.12 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.50B | $4.16B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +12.08% | +1.92% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $484.23M | $579.20M |
| Gross margin | 37.20% | 63.50% |
| Operating margin | 18.11% | 17.32% |
| Net margin | 13.84% | 13.93% |
| 52-week high | $808.16 | $64.56 |
| 52-week low | $502.43 | $47.71 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -37.01% | -12.45% |
| Analyst consensus | none | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +54.44% | +12.60% |
| Average volume | 351.60K | 2.43M |
| Shares outstanding | 36.93M | 302.02M |
| Employees | 9,200 | 10,000 |
| Sector | Technology | Industrials |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- FTV has outperformed CW by 19.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Curtiss-Wright grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+12.08% vs +1.92%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Curtiss-Wright in Technology and Fortive in Industrials.
About Curtiss-Wright
CW stock →Curtiss-Wright Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides engineered products, solutions, and services mainly to aerospace and defense, commercial nuclear power, process, and industrial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power.
Technology · Industrial Machinery/Components · 9,200 employees
About Fortive
FTV stock →Fortive Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets products, software, and services in the United States, China, and internationally. It operates through Intelligent Operating Solutions and Advanced Healthcare Solutions segments.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 10,000 employees
CW vs FTV FAQ
Which is bigger, Curtiss-Wright or Fortive?
Curtiss-Wright (CW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $18.80B compared with $17.07B for Fortive (FTV).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CW or FTV?
FTV returned +13.93% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.79% for CW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CW or FTV?
FTV has the lower trailing P/E at 29.7, versus 35.1 for CW. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Curtiss-Wright or Fortive?
Fortive has the higher yield at 0.21%, compared with 0.19% for Curtiss-Wright.
Are Curtiss-Wright and Fortive in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Technology sector.