Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc vs Howmet Aerospace Inc — how do they compare? Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc trades at $325.97 (market cap $12.92B), while Howmet Aerospace Inc trades at $282.7 (market cap $112.20B). The key difference: Howmet Aerospace Inc is far larger — about 8.7× Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc's market cap, and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc pays the higher dividend (1.68%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HII | HWM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $12.92B | $112.20B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $453.73 | $291.28 |
52-Week Low | $265.40 | $171.00 |
Enterprise Value | $15.84B | $116.30B |
Dividend Yield | 1.68% | 0.2% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HII trades at $326.80, down 1.21% over the past day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and key support at $326. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $5.27 EPS, beating estimates, with revenue growth of 10.9% year-over-year. Recent contract awards, including a $2.2 billion task order for surveillance and intelligence capabilities, highlight ongoing government demand. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 19.53 and P/S of 0.98, indicating reasonable pricing relative to earnings and sales.
The investment outlook is positive, driven by robust defense contracts and operational improvements, with a consensus price target of $359.67 suggesting 10% upside. Risks include dependence on U.S. military spending and potential political headwinds affecting naval budgets. Analyst sentiment is mixed but leans bullish, with 44% buy ratings. Overall, HII presents a solid opportunity in the defense sector, though investors should monitor contract execution and macroeconomic factors.
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) trades at $281.63, down 0.73% on the day, with strong technical support at $279 and resistance at $285. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.33 exceeding expectations by 7.3%, driven by robust aerospace and defense demand. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 84% buy ratings and a $334.63 price target, representing 19% upside potential.
Outlook remains positive with raised 2026 guidance and strong cash flow generation, though elevated valuation multiples (P/E 60.63) and significant capital expenditures present risks. The stock offers growth exposure to aerospace recovery but faces execution risks amid capacity expansion plans and supply chain challenges.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Huntington Ingalls is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. and a provider of professional services to government and industry partners, specializing in nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Read more on HII →Howmet Aerospace provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. It specializes in jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, and forged aluminum wheels.
Read more on HWM →