Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) vs Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB)
DAL leads on 6 of 9 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 14, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
Total return — DAL vs RKLB
growth of $100 · last 6yDAL +101.3%RKLB +950.8%RKLB compounded faster
Log scale — wide-divergence pair
DAL RKLB
DAL vs RKLB: by the numbers
- •RKLB is the larger company ($59.27B vs $54.57B market cap).
- •DAL is profitable (6.87% net margin) while RKLB runs a net loss (-26.87%).
- •RKLB grew revenue faster over the past five years (67.26% vs 38.80% CAGR).
- •DAL pays a dividend (0.90% yield) while RKLB does not currently pay one.
Which is better, DAL or RKLB?
Metric tally: DAL 6 · RKLB 3It depends on what you're optimizing for:
GrowthRKLB(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
QualityDAL(higher ROIC)
Valuation
| Metric | DAL | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 12.13 | — |
| Forward P/E | 15.17 | — |
| P/S ratio | 0.83● | 91.22 |
| P/B ratio | 2.66● | 27.38 |
| PEG ratio | 0.21 | — |
| EV / EBITDA | 6.95 | — |
| FCF yield | 7.24% | — |
Profitability
| Metric | DAL | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 26.19% | 36.56%● |
| Operating margin | 8.83%● | -33.20% |
| Net margin | 6.87%● | -26.87% |
| ROE | 21.97%● | -8.06% |
| ROIC | 8.30%● | -10.09% |
Dividends
| Metric | DAL | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 0.90% | — |
| Payout ratio | 9.72% | — |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | DAL | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 38.80% | 67.26%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 0.89% | — |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 115.85% | — |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 13.04% | 57.75%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, DAL or RKLB?
- It depends on your goal. growth: RKLB (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: DAL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, DAL leads 6 to 3.
- Which has grown faster, DAL or RKLB?
- Over the past five years, RKLB grew revenue faster — DAL at a 38.80% CAGR versus RKLB at 67.26%.
- Does DAL or RKLB pay a bigger dividend?
- DAL pays a dividend (0.90% yield) while RKLB does not currently pay one.
- Is DAL or RKLB more profitable?
- DAL runs the higher net margin — DAL at 6.87% versus RKLB at -26.87%.
- Which has been the better investment, DAL or RKLB?
- Over the past 5-year, RKLB delivered the higher annualized total return — DAL at 8.36% versus RKLB at 57.75%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Delta Air Lines P/E ratioRocket Lab USA P/E ratioDelta Air Lines dividend yieldRocket Lab USA dividend yieldDelta Air Lines ROERocket Lab USA ROEDelta Air Lines operating marginRocket Lab USA operating marginDelta Air Lines revenue growthRocket Lab USA revenue growthDelta Air Lines free cash flowRocket Lab USA free cash flow
Delta Air Lines & Rocket Lab USA appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 14, 2026.