Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of confirming the sustainability of stock trends for profitable short-term investing, highlighting the use of a specific screening strategy to identify stocks with strong fundamentals and positive price momentum [1][2][3]. Group 1: Stock Screening Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is designed to identify stocks with sufficient fundamental strength to maintain their upward price trends, focusing on those trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range, indicating bullishness [3]. - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) is highlighted as a suitable candidate from this screen, showing a solid price increase of 11% over the past 12 weeks, reflecting investor confidence [4]. - ATRO has experienced a significant price increase of 26.8% over the last four weeks, indicating that the upward trend is still intact, and it is currently trading at 96.8% of its 52-week high-low range, suggesting a potential breakout [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - ATRO holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, which are critical for near-term price movements [6]. - The Zacks Rank system has a strong track record, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks averaging an annual return of +25% since 1988, indicating the effectiveness of this ranking system [7]. - The average broker recommendation for ATRO is 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding the stock's near-term performance [7]. Group 3: Additional Insights - Besides ATRO, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, suggesting a broader opportunity for investors to explore [8]. - The article encourages investors to utilize various Zacks Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles to identify potential winning stocks [8].

Core Insights - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) shares have increased by 17.1% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry's growth of 3.1% and the broader Zacks Aerospace sector's gain of 5.3% [1] - The company's second-quarter adjusted earnings reached 38 cents per share, reflecting a 90% year-over-year growth, with net sales of $204.7 million indicating a 3.3% year-over-year increase [4] - Astronics has raised the lower end of its revenue guidance for 2025, indicating management's confidence in the company's performance [5] Financial Performance - The Aerospace unit's sales reached a record $193.6 million in Q2 2025, nearly 9% higher than the previous year, driven by increased demand for cabin power products and military aircraft sales [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales implies a year-over-year growth of 7%, while the estimate for 2026 sales indicates an improvement of 9.1% [13] - The earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 also show a positive trend, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 46.79% for 2025 [15] Strategic Developments - In July 2025, Astronics launched the ATS-9000M Communications System Analyzer, enhancing its product offerings [5] - The company acquired Envoy Aerospace for $8 million, which is expected to strengthen its market position and service offerings [6] Valuation Metrics - ATRO's forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 1.43X, significantly lower than the industry average of 10.17X, indicating a discounted valuation [17] - Other industry peers, such as Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) and Curtiss-Wright Corp. (CW), are trading at higher P/S ratios of 30.61X and 5.10X, respectively [18]

Group 1 - Futu Holdings Limited (FUTU) has a Zacks Rank 1 and its current year earnings estimate increased by 17.7% over the last 60 days [1] - Futu's shares gained 71.3% over the last three months, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 9.6% advance, and it has a Momentum Score of A [2] Group 2 - TAT Technologies Ltd. (TATT) also holds a Zacks Rank 1, with a 10.7% increase in its current year earnings estimate over the last 60 days [3] - TAT's shares rose by 34.9% in the last three months, again outperforming the S&P 500, and it has a Momentum Score of A [4] Group 3 - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) has a Zacks Rank 1, with a 6.7% increase in its current year earnings estimate over the last 60 days [3] - Astronics' shares increased by 16.7% over the last three months, compared to the S&P 500's 9.6% advance, and it has a Momentum Score of B [4]

Summary of Astronics Corp (ATRO) FY Conference Call - August 27, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Astronics Corp (ATRO) - **Market Capitalization**: Just above $1 billion [4] - **Stock Structure**: Two classes of stock; Class B shares have 10 votes, common shares have 1 vote [4] - **Ownership**: Strong institutional and insider ownership [4] Business Segments - **Aerospace Segment**: 90% of revenue, primarily from commercial aerospace [5][6] - **Test Segment**: 10% of revenue [5] - **Major Markets**: - Commercial aerospace (largest market) - Defense and government (20% of recent sales) - General aviation (8%) [6] Financial Performance - **Sales Decline**: Revenue dropped from $770 million in 2019 to $445 million during the pandemic [7] - **Recovery**: Strong bookings and backlog near record highs indicate recovery [8] - **Recent Sales**: Q2 sales were approximately $204.7 million, with $193.6 million from the aerospace segment [39] - **Bookings**: Q2 bookings were $177 million, lower due to timing but demand remains robust [40] - **Backlog**: Elevated at $645 million, mostly deliverable within 12 months [41] - **Gross Profit**: Q2 GAAP gross profit was $52.8 million, impacted by an EAC adjustment [42] - **Adjusted Metrics**: Adjusted net income increased to $13.7 million, with adjusted EBITDA rising 25.5% to $25.4 million [45] Strategic Focus Areas 1. **In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity**: Represents half of the business, with a dominant market share in passenger power systems [10][18] 2. **Aircraft Lighting**: Largest aerospace lighting company, involved in military, commercial, and private aircraft [12] 3. **Flight Critical Electrical Power**: Focus on high-tech systems for smaller aircraft, utilizing electronic circuit breakers [24][28] 4. **Test Systems**: Includes military radio tests and subway systems, with significant contracts in progress [34][36] Key Programs and Opportunities - **FLRAA Program**: Involvement in the US Army's Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, expected to be a significant revenue driver [30][59] - **Boeing and Airbus Production Rates**: Increased production rates for both companies are expected to positively impact revenue [60][62] Challenges and Risks - **Tariffs and Supply Chain**: Current tariffs could impact the business by approximately $20 million, with significant portions coming from Malaysia and China [50][51] - **Rare Earth Materials**: Sourcing challenges for rare earths used in products, but potential redesigns are being explored [53][55] - **Market Conditions**: The test segment has faced challenges due to reduced ridership in transit systems, but long-term opportunities are anticipated [37] Financial Position - **Liquidity**: Total liquidity of approximately $191 million, providing flexibility for growth investments [48] - **CapEx Expectations**: Elevated CapEx of $40 to $50 million for 2025 to support growth initiatives [47] Conclusion - **Outlook**: Positive visibility into the next five years, with expectations for improved performance and value delivery for shareholders [48]

Core Viewpoint - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) shows a significantly improving earnings outlook, making it a strong investment choice as analysts continue to raise earnings estimates for the company [1][2]. Earnings Estimates - Analysts' optimism is reflected in the rising earnings estimates, which historically correlate with stock price movements [2]. - The consensus earnings estimate for the current quarter is $0.40 per share, indicating a +14.3% change from the previous year, with a 17.65% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 30 days [5]. - For the full year, Astronics is expected to earn $1.60 per share, representing a +46.8% change from the prior year, with similar positive trends in estimate revisions [6]. Zacks Rank - Astronics currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating promising estimate revisions that can help investors make informed decisions [7]. - Stocks with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) have shown significant outperformance compared to the S&P 500 [7]. Stock Performance - The stock has gained 5.4% over the past four weeks, driven by solid estimate revisions and positive earnings growth prospects [8].

Core Insights - Gabelli Funds, LLC is hosting the annual Aerospace & Defense Symposium on September 4, 2025, at The Harvard Club in New York City, focusing on strong demand outlook and high barriers to entry in the Aerospace and Defense industry [1] - The symposium will feature top executives from over ten companies, discussing themes such as defense spending, aftermarket opportunities, and M&A potential [1] Agenda Highlights - The event will start at 7:30 AM with a welcome and introduction by the Gabelli Funds Team [2] - Notable companies participating include Astronics Corporation, Textron Inc., Moog Inc., HEICO Corporation, and Elbit Systems Ltd., among others, with scheduled presentations throughout the day [2][3] - The agenda includes one-on-one meetings with management, providing attendees with networking opportunities [1]

Core Viewpoint - The sustainability of a trend is crucial for successful short-term investing, and confirming fundamental factors is essential to maintain momentum in stocks [1][2]. Group 1: Trend Analysis - Timing entries into a trend significantly impacts investment success, as trends can reverse before exiting a trade, leading to potential losses [1][2]. - A predefined screening strategy, "Recent Price Strength," helps identify stocks with strong fundamentals that can sustain their upward momentum [3]. Group 2: Stock Performance - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) has shown a solid price increase of 16.1% over the past 12 weeks, indicating investor confidence in its potential upside [4]. - The stock has also maintained a price increase of 1.3% over the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - ATRO is currently trading at 90.2% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating it may be on the verge of a breakout [5]. Group 3: Fundamental Strength - ATRO holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6]. - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. - The Zacks Rank system has a strong historical performance, with Rank 1 stocks averaging a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. Group 4: Investment Opportunities - In addition to ATRO, there are several other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, providing additional investment opportunities [8]. - The Zacks Premium Screens offer over 45 strategically created options to help investors find winning stock picks based on their personal investing styles [8].

Core Viewpoint - Astronics Corporation (ATRO) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is effective for individual investors as it focuses on earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [2][3]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [3]. Business Improvement Indicators - The increase in earnings estimates and the Zacks rating upgrade indicate an improvement in Astronics' underlying business, which is expected to drive the stock price higher [4][9]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Astronics is projected to earn $1.60 per share, unchanged from the previous year, but the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 6.7% over the past three months [7]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6][8]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions and potential for market-beating returns [8][9].

Group 1 - Gabelli Funds, LLC is hosting the annual Aerospace & Defense Symposium on September 4, 2025, at The Harvard Club in New York City, focusing on strong demand outlook and high barriers to entry in the industry [1] - The symposium will feature top executives from over ten companies, discussing themes such as large aftermarket opportunities, growth exceeding GDP, defense spending, and M&A potential [1] - Attendees will have the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with management, enhancing networking and investment insights [1] Group 2 - Featured companies at the symposium include AIRO Group Holdings, Elbit Systems, Albany International, Graham Corporation, and several others, indicating a diverse representation within the Aerospace and Defense sector [2] - The event is set to start at 8:30 am, providing a structured schedule for discussions and networking [3]

Group 1 - Astronics Corporation reported quarterly earnings of $0.38 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.33 per share, and showing a significant increase from $0.04 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +15.15% [1] - The company posted revenues of $204.68 million for the quarter ended June 2025, which was slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.17%, but an increase from $198.11 million year-over-year [2] - Astronics has surpassed consensus EPS estimates in all four of the last quarters and has topped consensus revenue estimates three times during the same period [2] Group 2 - The stock has gained approximately 124.6% since the beginning of the year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 7.1% [3] - The company's earnings outlook, including current consensus earnings expectations for upcoming quarters, will be crucial for investors to assess future stock performance [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.34 on revenues of $209.49 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.50 on revenues of $846.29 million [7] Group 3 - The Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry, to which Astronics belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 42% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for stock performance [8] - The correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions is strong, suggesting that investors should monitor these revisions closely [5][6]