Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry is expected to benefit from strategic mergers and acquisitions, which enhance operational scale and market presence, despite ongoing supply-chain challenges that may impact production and profitability [1] Industry Overview - The Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry includes companies that manufacture essential components for aerospace and defense, such as aerostructures, propulsion systems, aircraft engines, and defense electronics, while also providing aftermarket support and services [2] Trends Shaping the Industry - Mergers and Acquisitions: Large companies are leveraging M&As to expand product offerings and capabilities, exemplified by AAR's acquisition of HAECO Americas for $78 million and TransDigm's acquisition of Simmonds Precision Products for nearly $765 million, which enhance their market presence and operational scale [3] - Air Traffic Growth: Global air passenger traffic increased by 5.3% year over year as of October 2025, indicating strong demand for air travel, which boosts the need for replacement parts and maintenance services [4] - Supply-Chain Disruptions: Ongoing supply-chain issues are causing delays in aircraft and parts deliveries, leading to an unprecedented backlog of over 17,000 aircraft, which constrains fleet expansion and keeps aircraft utilization high [5] Industry Performance - The Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry has outperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite with a 30.6% increase over the past year, while the Aerospace sector rose by 32.9% [9] - The industry is currently trading at an EV/Sales ratio of 12.51X, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 5.74X and the sector's 3.53X, indicating a premium valuation compared to broader markets [12] Notable Companies - **Astronics**: Reported a 3.8% increase in total sales to $211.4 million, driven by an 8.5% growth in its Aerospace segment, with a backlog of $646.7 million [15] - **Innovative Solutions and Support**: Achieved a 78.6% increase in fiscal 2025 sales to $84.3 million, with a backlog of $77.4 million expected to convert into revenue over the next 12 to 24 months [18] - **CurtissWright**: Announced an additional $416 million for share repurchases, reflecting financial strength, with a consensus estimate indicating a 6.9% sales growth for 2026 [21]

Core Viewpoint - Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) is recognized as one of the best defense dividend stocks to buy, with mixed price target adjustments from analysts reflecting a generally positive outlook for the company and the aerospace and defense industry [1][4]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Stifel has reduced its price target for Curtiss-Wright to $584 from $587 while maintaining a Hold rating, indicating a cautious stance despite the company's potential [1]. - Morgan Stanley has increased its price target to $660 from $645, maintaining an Overweight rating, which suggests a more optimistic outlook for the company [4]. - Overall, Wall Street analysts have assigned a Moderate Buy rating to the stock, with an average one-year price target of $605.60, indicating a potential upside of 9% [4]. Group 2: Market and Growth Insights - Analysts note that despite flat or lower volumes expected in 2025, diversified industrial companies, including Curtiss-Wright, are likely to achieve growth by leveraging their pricing power to pass on tariff-related increases to customers [2]. - Stifel anticipates low levels of inventory destocking and carryover pricing to contribute to volume growth in 2026, projecting mid single-digit top-line growth for the company [3]. - The company is well-positioned to outperform the market by introducing new products in stable to growing market segments, with specific opportunities in the nuclear sector that could significantly enhance growth [3].

Core Viewpoint - Curtiss-Wright (CW) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating an upward trend in earnings estimates which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on the consensus measure of EPS estimates from sell-side analysts, reflecting the company's changing earnings picture [1][2]. - A strong correlation exists between changes in earnings estimates and near-term stock price movements, with institutional investors playing a role in this relationship [4]. Company Performance and Outlook - The upgrade for Curtiss-Wright signifies an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [5]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Curtiss-Wright is projected to earn $13.09 per share, with a 1.4% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a proven track record of Zacks Rank 1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Curtiss-Wright in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Group 1: Aerospace Sector - The aerospace sector's valuation has risen above historical levels, with a current NTM EV/EBITDA trading at approximately 18 times, up from about 16 times at the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500 index by a median premium of about 15% [2][3] - Strong air traffic has been a key driver for this valuation increase, highlighted by record passenger screenings by the TSA [2] - Despite some initial concerns regarding supply chain challenges and tariffs, the sector's valuation quickly rebounded as negative impacts did not materialize [2] Group 2: Defense Sector - The valuation multiples for major U.S. defense contractors have improved, with the current NTM P/E median at about 20 times, up from approximately 17 times at the beginning of 2025 [4] - The expansion in valuation multiples is partly due to alleviated concerns over potential defense spending cuts, as these cuts have not occurred [4] - Key government funding initiatives, including approximately $24 billion for the Iron Dome and $150 billion for overall defense, have provided support for the sector [4] Group 3: Space Sector - The space sector has experienced significant volatility, with the NTM EV/Sales median peaking above 10 times in September before dropping to about 4 times in November, and currently recovering to around 6 times [6] - Major IPOs in the sector, such as Voyager and Firefly, initially saw rapid market capitalization growth but have since declined below their issue prices due to investor caution [6] - Companies like Rocket Lab and Planet Labs are highlighted as strong performers, trading at approximately 35 times and 11 times NTM EV/EBITDA, respectively, supported by operational success and a new business model focus [6][7]

Core Insights - Curtiss-Wright (CW) is positioned as a strong investment option in the Aerospace sector due to its robust presence, solid liquidity, and low debt levels [1] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CW's 2025 earnings per share is $13.09, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 20.1% [2] - The consensus estimate for 2025 sales is $3.44 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 10.2% [2] - CW's long-term earnings growth rate is projected at 14.5% over the next three to five years [2] - The company has delivered an average earnings surprise of 7.75% in the last four quarters [2][8] Debt and Liquidity - CW's total debt-to-capital ratio stands at 27.7%, significantly better than the industry average of 49.4% [3] - The times interest earned (TIE) ratio is 14.92, indicating strong capability to meet interest obligations [3] - The current ratio is 1.75, demonstrating the company's ability to meet short-term liabilities [4] Market Opportunities - CW is poised to benefit from the global shift towards cleaner energy, particularly in nuclear power, as countries aim to reduce emissions and meet electricity demands [5] - The company is involved in major new-build projects with its reactor coolant pumps and AP1000-related technologies, with potential orders in Europe and new opportunities in the U.S. [5] - Strong demand in defense and aerospace sectors is enhancing CW's long-term outlook, driven by increased U.S. funding for submarine programs and rising global defense budgets [6] - Improving air traffic and production needs are also boosting demand for CW's components in the commercial aerospace market [6] Stock Performance - CW shares have increased by 9.8% over the past three months, outperforming the industry's growth of 3% [7]

Core Insights - Curtiss-Wright Corporation has approved an additional $416 million for share repurchases, increasing total buyback authorization to $550 million [1] - The company has returned over $1.1 billion to shareholders through repurchases since early 2021 and plans to repurchase $60 million in shares starting January 2026 [2] - The focus on enhancing shareholder value is supported by a disciplined capital allocation strategy and effective capital deployment [3] Financial Performance - Curtiss-Wright expects total sales to grow by 10-11% and earnings to increase by 19-21% in 2025, with projected free cash flow between $520 million and $535 million [5] - In the first nine months of 2025, the company generated $290.7 million in cash flow from operating activities, supporting its share repurchase strategy [6] - The company held $225.4 million in cash and reported an 11.1% sales growth, aiding ongoing shareholder returns [10] Share Repurchase Strategy - The company has completed two separate $200 million expansions of its 2025 share repurchase program and expects to repurchase at least $66 million in shares this year [1] - In the first nine months of 2025, Curtiss-Wright repurchased shares worth $325.1 million [4] - The company is positioned for a record $466 million in annual share buybacks in 2025 [1] Market Position - Shares of Curtiss-Wright have risen by 27.5% over the past six months, outperforming the industry's average return of 7.2% [12] - The company remains committed to expanding its business through strategic acquisitions, driven by improving end-market conditions and rising demand for its products [4]

Core Points - Curtiss-Wright Corporation has authorized an additional $416 million for future share repurchases, raising the total authorization to $550 million [1] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on December 12, 2025, to stockholders of record as of November 28, 2025 [1] - Since August, the company has executed two separate $200 million expansions of its 2025 share repurchase program [1]

Group 1 - Curtiss-Wright is represented by Lynn Bamford, Chair and CEO, and Chris Farkas, Vice President and CFO, at the conference [2] - The conference format includes a Q&A session without an opening statement [2] Group 2 - Peter Arment serves as the Senior Aerospace Defense Analyst at Baird [1]

Summary of Curtiss-Wright Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Curtiss-Wright - **Industry**: Aerospace and Defense - **Key Executives**: Lynn Bamford (Chair and CEO), Chris Farkas (CFO) [4][5] Key Points Aerospace and Defense Growth - Aerospace defense constitutes about two-thirds of Curtiss-Wright's portfolio, with projected revenue growth of 10%-11% for 2025 [3][6] - Commercial aerospace is expected to grow at a rate of 13%-15%, driven by strong positions in major Airbus and Boeing platforms [6][7] - The company has launched a "pivot-to-growth" strategy focused on organic growth and operational excellence, resulting in mid-teens earnings compounding over time [5][6] Defense Electronics - The defense electronics segment is valued at approximately $1 billion and is the highest margin business within the portfolio, achieving 29% operating margins in Q3 [12][18] - The company plans to introduce over 20 products aligned with the MOSA/SOSA CMOS mandate, enhancing its market capabilities [14] - Partnerships with companies like NVIDIA and Microsoft Azure are expected to open new market opportunities [15][19] NATO and International Markets - Curtiss-Wright is well-positioned to benefit from increased NATO spending, with a focus on ground vehicles and naval shipbuilding [10][20] - The company has a strong presence in international markets, selling products to NATO and allied countries, including embedded computing for European fighter jets and ground defense systems [21][22] Nuclear Business - The nuclear segment accounts for about 12% of revenues, primarily from aftermarket services, with significant growth potential from new AP-1000 reactor orders [26][27] - The company has an exclusive relationship with Westinghouse for reactor coolant pumps, with potential content per reactor increasing from $10-$20 million to $150 million [29][30] - The U.S. nuclear market is expected to see substantial growth due to recent executive orders and funding initiatives [27][33] Capacity and Capital Expenditure - Curtiss-Wright is increasing capital expenditures by 40% this year, with a focus on supporting growth in nuclear and defense sectors [40][41] - The company has the capacity to produce 12-16 reactor coolant pumps (RCPs) annually, with plans to expand this capacity [43][44] Shareholder Returns and Acquisitions - The company prioritizes acquisitions as a key capital use, while also engaging in significant share repurchase activities, with a record year expected for buybacks [49][51] - The dividend has increased for nine consecutive years, with a 14% increase last year [52] Additional Insights - The company is actively involved in capacity planning to meet future demands, including potential greenfield sites by the mid-2030s [38][41] - The strong free cash flow generation is a critical factor in supporting growth initiatives and capital investments [40][41] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the conference call, highlighting Curtiss-Wright's growth prospects in the aerospace, defense, and nuclear sectors.

Group 1 - Curtiss-Wright Corporation will participate in the Baird 2025 Global Industrial Conference with a fireside chat scheduled for November 12, 2025, at 4:05 pm CT [1] - A webcast of the discussion will be available on the company's Investor Relations website, with a replay accessible for 90 days post-event [2] - Curtiss-Wright is a global integrated business focused on providing engineered products and services primarily to Aerospace & Defense markets, employing approximately 9,000 skilled workers [3] Group 2 - Curtiss-Wright reported strong financial results for the third quarter of 2025, showing growth in revenues and operating income across all three segments, and raised its full-year 2025 guidance [5] - The company has been selected by American Rheinmetall to provide Turret Drive Stabilization Systems for the U.S. Army's XM30 Combat Vehicle prototypes, which have advanced to the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase [6] - Curtiss-Wright has also been selected by Bell Textron to supply encrypted flight data recorder technology for the MV-75 Long Range Assault Aircraft Program, part of the Future Vertical Lift initiative [7]