CW vs. AVAV

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

CW (Curtiss-Wright Corporation) and AVAV (AeroVironment, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Industrials sector — CW in Specialty Industrial Machinery, AVAV in Aerospace & Defense. Over the past 10 years, CW returned 25.12%/yr vs 18.47%/yr for AVAV. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

CW vs. AVAV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) and AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CW achieves a 37.55% return, which is significantly higher than AVAV's -29.48% return. Over the past 10 years, CW has outperformed AVAV with an annualized return of 25.12%, while AVAV has yielded a comparatively lower 18.47% annualized return.

CW

• 1D: 0.10%
• 1M: 0.93%
• YTD: 37.55%
• 6M: 38.99%
• 1Y: 60.13%
• 3Y*: 63.08%
• 5Y*: 43.15%
• 10Y*: 25.12%

AVAV

• 1D: -7.14%
• 1M: 5.96%
• YTD: -29.48%
• 6M: -28.63%
• 1Y: -10.28%
• 3Y*: 20.96%
• 5Y*: 8.68%
• 10Y*: 18.47%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

CW vs. AVAV - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
CW Curtiss-Wright Corporation	37.55%	55.66%	59.73%	33.98%	21.03%	19.86%	-16.83%	38.70%	-15.79%	24.56%
AVAV AeroVironment, Inc.	-29.48%	57.18%	22.10%	47.14%	38.09%	-28.62%	40.75%	-9.14%	20.99%	109.32%

Correlation

The correlation between CW and AVAV is 0.38, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.38
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.41
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.39
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.43
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 23, 2007	0.44

Fundamentals

Market Cap CW : $28.09B AVAV : $8.32B
EPS CW : $13.64 AVAV : -$4.63
PS Ratio CW : 7.88 AVAV : 6.94
PB Ratio CW : 10.67 AVAV : 1.95
Total Revenue (TTM) CW : $3.61B AVAV : $1.19B
Gross Profit (TTM) CW : $1.34B AVAV : $104.63M
EBITDA (TTM) CW : $745.31M AVAV : -$242.06M

Return for Risk

CW vs. AVAV — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

CW

CW Risk / Return Rank: 87
CW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 88
CW Sortino Ratio Rank: 83
CW Omega Ratio Rank: 82
CW Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
CW Martin Ratio Rank: 92

AVAV

AVAV Risk / Return Rank: 38
AVAV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
AVAV Sortino Ratio Rank: 40
AVAV Omega Ratio Rank: 39
AVAV Calmar Ratio Rank: 37
AVAV Martin Ratio Rank: 37

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

CW vs. AVAV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) and AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	CW	AVAV	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.83	-0.14	+1.97
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.39	0.33	+2.06
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.31	1.04	+0.27
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.66	-0.17	+4.83
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.53	-0.30	+13.83

CW vs. AVAV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CW Sharpe Ratio is 1.83, which is higher than the AVAV Sharpe Ratio of -0.14. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CW and AVAV, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

CW vs. AVAV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CW drawdown since its inception was -59.19%, roughly equal to the maximum AVAV drawdown of -61.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CW and AVAV.

Drawdown Indicators

	CW	AVAV	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-59.19%	-61.45%	+2.26%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.97%	-61.45%	+48.48%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-27.21%	-61.45%	+34.24%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-27.21%	-61.45%	+34.24%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-48.73%	-61.45%	+12.72%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-58.38%	+58.38%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-13.89%	-28.71%	+14.82%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.46%	34.44%	-29.98%

Volatility

CW vs. AVAV - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is 10.40%, while AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) has a volatility of 26.86%. This indicates that CW experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AVAV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CW	AVAV	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.40%	26.86%	-16.46%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	26.00%	57.90%	-31.90%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	32.95%	74.35%	-41.40%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	27.89%	56.01%	-28.12%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	30.31%	52.05%	-21.74%

Dividends

CW vs. AVAV - Dividend Comparison

CW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.13%, while AVAV has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
AVAV AeroVironment, Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
CW Curtiss-Wright Corporation	0.13%	0.17%	0.23%	0.35%	0.45%	0.51%	0.58%	0.47%	0.59%	0.46%	0.53%	0.76%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CW and AVAV in my portfolio?

CW and AVAV have a correlation of 0.38, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, CW or AVAV?

AVAV has higher volatility (26.86%) compared to CW (10.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CW dropped -59.19% vs AVAV's -61.45%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

CW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.83 vs -0.14), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.