AeroVironment vs Hexcel
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KIRA’s take AI analyst
I put AeroVironment and Hexcel side by side, using each one’s latest annual report. Here is what stands out:
- AeroVironment is the larger business, with $2.0B of revenue in fiscal 2026 against $1.9B for Hexcel.
- AeroVironment grew revenue faster (140.9%, against −0.5%).
- Hexcel kept more of each dollar of sales as operating profit (9.1% operating margin, against −15.7%).
- Hexcel turned more of its sales into free cash flow (8.3% FCF margin, against −7.1%).
- Hexcel earned a higher return on the capital invested in it (6.5%, against −9.1%).
Who comes out ahead
Of the 10 measures where higher (or lower) is clearly better, how many each company leads.
AeroVironment
AVAV
3/10
Revenue growth5-year growthGross margin
Hexcel
HXL
7/10
Operating marginNet marginFCF marginReturn on capitalReturn on equityPiotroski F-scoreShare count change
Side by side
Best in the row
| Latest fiscal year | AVAV FY26 | HXL FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Market cap | $6.2B | $6.1B |
| Revenue | $2.0B | $1.9B |
| Free cash flow | −$141M | $157M |
| Net income | −$265M | $109M |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth | 140.9% | −0.5% |
| 5-year growth | 38.0% | 4.7% |
| Share count change | 74.2% | −3.6% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | 25.3% | 23.0% |
| Operating margin | −15.7% | 9.1% |
| Net margin | −13.4% | 5.8% |
| FCF margin | −7.1% | 8.3% |
| Return on capital | −9.1% | 6.5% |
| Return on equity | −10.0% | 7.9% |
| Balance sheet | ||
| Net debt | $115M | $922M |
| Net debt / EBITDA | — | 3.1x |
| Dividends and buybacks | $0.0M | $508M |
| Valuation & quality | ||
| P/E | — | 35.9x |
| Piotroski F-score | 3 | 6 |
Ten years
Revenue
Operating margin
Free cash flow
Return on capital
Each company's latest fiscal year; fiscal years end in different months. The best value in each row is highlighted where higher (or lower) is clearly better. Not investment advice.