Eaton Corporation plc (ETN) vs General Dynamics Corporation (GD)
ETN leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics, though GD is the cheaper stock.
A side-by-side comparison of Eaton Corporation plc and General Dynamics Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 15, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
ETN
Eaton Corporation plc
$407.06Industrials
GD
General Dynamics Corporation
$359.53Industrials
Total return — ETN vs GD
growth of $100 · last 30yETN +3105.2%GD +2219.5%ETN compounded faster
ETN GD
ETN vs GD: by the numbers
- •ETN is the larger company ($158.06B vs $97.23B market cap).
- •GD trades at the lower earnings multiple (22.61 vs 39.79 P/E).
- •ETN converts more revenue to profit (13.99% vs 8.07% net margin).
- •ETN grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.94% vs 6.89% CAGR).
- •GD pays the higher dividend yield (1.69% vs 1.05%).
Which is better, ETN or GD?
Metric tally: ETN 9 · GD 8It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueGD(lower P/E)
GrowthETN(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeGD(higher dividend yield)
QualityETN(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | ETN | GD |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 39.79 | 22.61● |
| Forward P/E | 25.99 | 19.73● |
| P/S ratio | 5.55 | 1.83● |
| P/B ratio | 8.02 | 3.78● |
| PEG ratio | 3.04 | 1.63● |
| EV / EBITDA | 28.84 | 16.32● |
| FCF yield | 2.96% | 6.29%● |
Profitability
| Metric | ETN | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 36.89%● | 15.24% |
| Operating margin | 18.13%● | 10.24% |
| Net margin | 13.99%● | 8.07% |
| ROE | 20.19%● | 16.65% |
| ROIC | 13.14%● | 10.58% |
Dividends
| Metric | ETN | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 1.05% | 1.69%● |
| Payout ratio | 40.80% | 38.94% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | ETN | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 9.94%● | 6.89% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 24.48%● | 7.22% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 13.57%● | 11.42% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 24.42%● | 15.76% |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, ETN or GD?
- It depends on your goal. value: GD (lower P/E); growth: ETN (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: GD (higher dividend yield); quality: ETN (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ETN leads 9 to 8.
- Is ETN or GD cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, GD is cheaper: ETN trades at a 39.79 P/E and GD at 22.61.
- Which has grown faster, ETN or GD?
- Over the past five years, ETN grew revenue faster — ETN at a 9.94% CAGR versus GD at 6.89%.
- Does ETN or GD pay a bigger dividend?
- ETN yields 1.05% and GD yields 1.69% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is ETN or GD more profitable?
- ETN runs the higher net margin — ETN at 13.99% versus GD at 8.07%.
- Which has been the better investment, ETN or GD?
- Over the past 10-year, ETN delivered the higher annualized total return — ETN at 23.94% versus GD at 12.29%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Eaton P/E ratioGeneral Dynamics P/E ratioEaton dividend yieldGeneral Dynamics dividend yieldEaton ROEGeneral Dynamics ROEEaton operating marginGeneral Dynamics operating marginEaton revenue growthGeneral Dynamics revenue growthEaton free cash flowGeneral Dynamics free cash flow
Eaton & General Dynamics 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 15, 2026.