Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs Rocket Lab (RKLB)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) has outperformed Rocket Lab (RKLB) over the past year, gaining 19.3% versus a gain of 2.7%. Over five years, HWM leads with a +619.0% price change compared with +432.9% for RKLB. Howmet Aerospace is the larger company by market cap ($89.83 billion vs $43.61 billion), about 2.1 times the size, while Rocket Lab is growing revenue faster (+38.0% vs +11.1%).
On valuation, Howmet Aerospace trades at a lower forward P/E (34.7x vs 1158.5x for Rocket Lab). Howmet Aerospace pays a dividend yielding 0.21%, while Rocket Lab does not currently pay one. Howmet Aerospace converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 18.3% versus -32.9%.
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 | HWM | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $225.26 | $68.21 |
| Market cap | $89.83B | $43.61B |
| 1-day change | +1.21% | -0.28% |
| YTD return | +9.87% | -2.22% |
| 1-year return | +19.29% | +2.69% |
| 5-year return | +618.99% | +432.89% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 48.55 | — |
| Forward P/E | 34.69 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.64 | $-0.27 |
| Dividend yield | 0.21% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.48 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $8.25B | $601.80M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.06% | +37.96% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.51B | $-198.21M |
| Gross margin | 34.17% | 34.43% |
| Operating margin | 24.79% | -38.03% |
| Net margin | 18.27% | -32.94% |
| 52-week high | $310.00 | $151.00 |
| 52-week low | $185.83 | $37.57 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.34% | -54.83% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +47.16% | +60.02% |
| Average volume | 2.76M | 19.31M |
| Shares outstanding | 398.80M | 598.46M |
| Employees | 25,430 | 2,600 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Metal Fabrications | Military/Government/Technical |
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
- Howmet Aerospace is about 2.1 times larger than Rocket Lab by market value ($89.83B vs $43.61B).
- HWM has outperformed RKLB by 16.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Howmet Aerospace is more profitable, keeping 18.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -32.9 cents for Rocket Lab.
- Rocket Lab grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+37.96% vs +11.06%).
About Howmet Aerospace
HWM stock →Howmet Aerospace Inc. provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Poland, China, and internationally.
Industrials · Metal Fabrications · 25,430 employees
About Rocket Lab
RKLB stock →Rocket Lab Corporation, a space company, provides launch services and space systems solutions in the United States, Canada, Japan, and internationally. The company operates through launch services and space systems segments.
Industrials · Military/Government/Technical · 2,600 employees
HWM vs RKLB FAQ
Which is bigger, Howmet Aerospace or Rocket Lab?
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $89.83B compared with $43.61B for Rocket Lab (RKLB).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HWM or RKLB?
HWM returned +19.29% over the past 12 months, compared with +2.69% for RKLB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Howmet Aerospace or Rocket Lab?
Howmet Aerospace pays a dividend yielding 0.21%, while Rocket Lab does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Howmet Aerospace and Rocket Lab in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Metal Fabrications for Howmet Aerospace and Military/Government/Technical for Rocket Lab.