Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) vs Xylem Inc. (XYL)
XYL leads on 7 of 9 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Rocket Lab USA, Inc. and Xylem Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of July 25, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
RKLB
Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
$63.91IndustrialsAt close: Jul 24, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
XYL
Xylem Inc.
$119.75IndustrialsAt close: Jul 24, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
Total return — RKLB vs XYL
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 6yRKLB +555.9%XYL +35.5%RKLB compounded faster
RKLB XYL
RKLB vs XYL: by the numbers
- •RKLB is the larger company ($37.00B vs $28.46B market cap).
- •XYL is profitable (10.70% net margin) while RKLB runs a net loss (-26.87%).
- •RKLB grew revenue faster over the past five years (67.26% vs 12.66% CAGR).
- •XYL pays a dividend (1.39% yield) while RKLB does not currently pay one.
Which is better, RKLB or XYL?
Metric tally: RKLB 2 · XYL 7It depends on what you're optimizing for:
GrowthRKLB(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
QualityXYL(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | RKLB | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | — | 29.79 |
| Forward P/E | — | 21.59 |
| P/S ratio | 56.94 | 3.21● |
| P/B ratio | 17.09 | 2.66● |
| PEG ratio | — | 4.89 |
| EV / EBITDA | — | 16.84 |
| FCF yield | — | 3.31% |
Profitability
| Metric | RKLB | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 36.56% | 38.61%● |
| Operating margin | -33.20% | 13.60%● |
| Net margin | -26.87% | 10.70%● |
| ROE | -8.06% | 8.87%● |
| ROIC | -10.09% | 6.37%● |
Dividends
| Metric | RKLB | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | — | 1.39% |
| Payout ratio | — | 42.24% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | RKLB | XYL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 67.26%● | 12.66% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | — | 22.76% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | — | 8.96% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 42.76%● | 0.63% |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, RKLB or XYL?
- It depends on your goal. growth: RKLB (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: XYL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, XYL leads 7 to 2.
- Which has grown faster, RKLB or XYL?
- Over the past five years, RKLB grew revenue faster — RKLB at a 67.26% CAGR versus XYL at 12.66%.
- Does RKLB or XYL pay a bigger dividend?
- XYL pays a dividend (1.39% yield) while RKLB does not currently pay one.
- Is RKLB or XYL more profitable?
- XYL runs the higher net margin — RKLB at -26.87% versus XYL at 10.70%.
- Which has been the better investment, RKLB or XYL?
- Over the past 5-year, RKLB delivered the higher annualized total return — RKLB at 42.76% versus XYL at 11.16%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Rocket Lab USA P/E ratioXylem P/E ratioRocket Lab USA dividend yieldXylem dividend yieldRocket Lab USA ROEXylem ROERocket Lab USA operating marginXylem operating marginRocket Lab USA revenue growthXylem revenue growthRocket Lab USA free cash flowXylem free cash flow
Rocket Lab USA & Xylem 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 July 25, 2026.