AES Corp vs General Dynamics Corporation — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.66 (market cap $10.51B), while General Dynamics Corporation trades at $391.11 (market cap $107.13B). The key difference: General Dynamics Corporation is far larger — about 10.2× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | GD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $107.13B |
Sector | Utilities | Industrials |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $395.97 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $312.53 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | $112.28B |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 1.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, up 0.2% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong profitability with a net income margin of 14.34% and ROE of 45.05% for 2025, though Q2 2026 EPS missed expectations. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders, dominates recent developments, alongside a consistent dividend payout.
The acquisition offers a near-term catalyst with a capped upside at the buyout price of $15 per share, presenting a low-risk arbitrage opportunity. Risks include deal completion uncertainty amid shareholder complaints and regulatory scrutiny. Analyst consensus is mixed with 43% buy ratings, reflecting cautious optimism tied to the acquisition's successful closure and the company's strategic shift toward renewable energy investments.
General Dynamics (GD) trades at $392.05, up 1.33% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $4.24 versus $3.96 expected, with revenue growth across all segments. A $76.6 billion Navy contract awarded in July 2026 bolsters its backlog to $136.5 billion, providing visibility for future growth.
The stock offers upside to the $427.40 consensus price target, driven by defense spending tailwinds and operational execution. Risks include valuation at a 23.91 P/E and potential contract execution delays. Analyst sentiment is positive with 57% buy ratings, but overbought RSI levels near-term may limit gains.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →General Dynamics is a defense contractor and business jet manufacturer. The firm's segments include aerospace, combat systems, marine, and technologies. The company's aerospace segment creates Gulfstream business jets. Combat system produces land-based combat vehicles, such as the M1 Abrams tank. The marine subsegment creates nuclear-powered submarines, among other things. The technologies segment contains two main units, an IT business that primarily serves the government market and a mission systems business that focuses on products that provide command, control, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to the military.
Read more on GD →