Core Insights - The aerospace and defense sector continues to attract investment due to rising global defense spending, which reached a record $2.3 trillion last year, increasing over 8% and expected to maintain momentum into 2025 [1][2]. Company Performance - GE Aerospace and Howmet Aerospace are leading in engineered solutions for defense and commercial aircraft, benefiting from a shift towards fuel-efficient aircraft as airlines upgrade their fleets [3]. - GE's revenue increased by 23% year-over-year in Q2 to $10.15 billion, driven by high demand for its LEAP GEnx and GE9X engines [4]. - Howmet reported record Q2 revenue of $2.05 billion, attributed to high demand for engine spares, achieving peak profits and cash flow [4]. - Both GE and Howmet are projected to experience high double-digit EPS growth in the foreseeable future, with GE holding a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) and Howmet a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [5]. Niche Equipment Providers - Astronics and TAT Technologies have gained investor interest as specialized aerospace defense equipment providers [7]. - Astronics' stock has surged nearly 200% this year and currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), with positive EPS revisions indicating further upside potential [8]. - TAT Technologies has also seen positive EPS revisions, maintaining a strong buy status, with its stock hovering near a 52-week high of over $40, up more than 70% year-to-date [8]. Valuation and Market Trends - Both Astronics and TAT Technologies trade at 27X forward earnings, which is a discount compared to the Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment Industry average of 34X and closer to the S&P 500 average [11]. - The overall performance of aerospace and defense stocks remains strong, making them attractive for potential buy-the-dip opportunities as global defense spending stays near record levels [12].

Core Insights - The article highlights the ten strongest mega-cap stocks in 2025, emphasizing their performance based on year-to-date percent change and underlying growth drivers [3][14]. Group 1: Company Performances - **Palantir (PLTR)** is identified as the strongest performing mega-cap stock, benefiting from a unique platform-based approach that integrates data, analytics, and operational workflows, leading to sustainable recurring revenue growth [3]. - **AppLovin (APP)** has shown triple-digit earnings growth over the past four quarters, driven by robust mobile-ad demand and strategic investments in user acquisition and monetization services [4]. - **General Electric (GE)** has experienced a turnaround, focusing on higher-value services and long-term agreements, which increased recurring revenue and improved investor confidence [5]. - **Oracle (ORCL)** saw its stock rise over 40% following strong earnings, attributed to its pivot towards multi-year cloud services and autonomous database capabilities [6][7]. - **Uber (UBER)** has expanded beyond ride-hailing, leveraging a multi-pronged growth strategy that includes delivery and logistics, dynamic pricing, and international market recoveries [8]. - **RTX (RTX)** has benefited from elevated global defense budgets and operational efficiencies, leading to organic growth and strong free cash flow [9]. - **Broadcom (AVGO)** combines semiconductor products with a growing software portfolio, resulting in steady hardware revenue and high-margin software income [10]. - **Nvidia (NVDA)** continues to dominate in AI and gaming, with strong demand for its data-center GPUs driven by the adoption of generative AI workloads [11]. - **Goldman Sachs (GS)** has outperformed peers due to stronger investment banking activity and effective capital management, enhancing profitability [12]. - **Philip Morris International (PM)** is transitioning towards smoke-free products, with strong demand for its heated tobacco and vaping products driving growth [13]. Group 2: Key Themes - The companies share common themes of leadership in structural growth markets such as AI compute, cloud, aerospace/defense, and mobile monetization [16]. - There is a notable shift towards recurring, higher-margin revenues in software and services, enhancing cash generation for buybacks and debt reduction [16]. - Operational improvements and disciplined capital allocation have reduced execution risk and supported multiple expansions across these companies [16].

Core Insights - General Electric Aerospace has established itself as a leading name in the global aerospace industry, focusing exclusively on aircraft engines after divesting from its previous conglomerate structure [1]. Company Overview - General Electric Aerospace is now a pure player in the aircraft engine sector, indicating a strategic shift towards specialization and enhanced operational focus [1]. Investment Perspective - The company is viewed positively within the investment community, reflecting its strong market position and potential for long-term growth in the aerospace sector [1].

Core Insights - General Electric Aerospace has established itself as a leading name in the global aerospace industry, focusing exclusively on aircraft engines after divesting from its previous conglomerate structure [1]. Company Overview - General Electric Aerospace is now a pure player in the aircraft engine sector, indicating a strategic shift towards specialization and enhanced operational focus [1]. Investment Perspective - The company is viewed positively within the investment community, reflecting strong long-term potential and solid fundamentals in the aerospace market [1].

Core Viewpoint - Analyst recommendations play a significant role in influencing stock prices, but their reliability is questionable, particularly for GE Aerospace (GE) [1][5]. Brokerage Recommendations - GE has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.38, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 21 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 21 recommendations, 16 are Strong Buy and 2 are Buy, accounting for 76.2% and 9.5% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions may not be advisable, as studies indicate they often fail to guide investors effectively [5]. - Brokerage firms tend to exhibit a positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of favorable recommendations [6][10]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from Strong Buy to Strong Sell and is based on earnings estimate revisions, which correlate strongly with near-term stock price movements [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently than the ABR, making it a more timely indicator of future price movements [12]. Current Performance of GE - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GE's earnings remains unchanged at $5.87, suggesting stable analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [13]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, GE holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].

Group 1 - The core outlook for GE Aerospace indicates significant improvements in revenue and profit projections for 2028 compared to previous estimates [3][4] - Adjusted revenue growth is now expected to be in the double digits, with adjusted operating profit projected at $11.5 billion and free cash flow at $8.5 billion by 2028 [4] - The company's dominant position in commercial airplane engines is anticipated to drive long-term growth through higher-margin service sales [5][6] Group 2 - GE Aerospace's business model focuses on establishing engines with major aircraft manufacturers, leading to multi-decade service sales opportunities due to the long lifespan of engines [6][9] - The LEAP engine fleet is expected to triple by 2030, with a projected 70% increase in narrowbody profit by 2028, driven by ongoing service revenue from both LEAP and CFM56 engines [11] - In the widebody segment, GE holds a significant market share, powering over 50% of widebody departures, with expectations of a 40% increase in widebody profit by 2028 [13][14] Group 3 - Overall, GE anticipates substantial profit improvements by 2028, supported by favorable dynamics in the commercial aerospace sector [16] - The company is expected to grow earnings at a mid-teens rate, backed by a strong market position and a business model that ensures secure growth for many years [17]

Group 1 - GE Aerospace is recognized as one of the 10 Best Defense Contractor Stocks to Buy Now due to its significant upside potential [1] - Vertical Research Partners has raised its price target for GE Aerospace from $300 to $340 while maintaining a 'Buy' rating, citing strong earnings and cash-flow momentum [2] - Earnings per share for GE Aerospace are expected to be $5.74 in 2025 and $6.69 in 2026, with free cash flow projected at $7.0 billion in 2025 and increasing to $7.4 billion in 2026 [3] Group 2 - GE Aerospace specializes in designing and operating commercial and defense aircraft engines, integrated engine components, and related systems globally [3]

Group 1: AI and Market Trends - The AI-driven bull run of 2023 and 2024 is continuing into 2025, with stock prices of AI-centric companies increasing by 200-300% [1] - Hyperscalers are increasingly opting for data center installations to support the growth of cloud computing [1] Group 2: Old Economy Stocks - Several old economy stocks from sectors such as industrials, finance, auto, materials, and construction have shown significant year-to-date gains [2] - Investing in these stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank is expected to lead to profits and offers opportunities for portfolio diversification [2] Group 3: Selected Old Economy Stocks - Five old economy stocks have rallied more than 30% year to date and have favorable Zacks Ranks indicating further upside potential: Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX), MasTec Inc. (MTZ), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), GE Aerospace (GE), and Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) [3] Group 4: Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX) - Comfort Systems USA is a national provider of HVAC services, primarily in commercial and industrial markets [6] - The demand for specialized HVAC solutions is driven by the data center boom, particularly for AI and cloud computing [7] - FIX has an expected revenue growth rate of 15.5% and earnings growth rate of 52.4% for the current year [10] Group 5: MasTec Inc. (MTZ) - MasTec is an infrastructure construction company benefiting from the AI data center boom and trends in electrification and reshoring [11][14] - MTZ operates in multiple segments, including communications, power delivery, pipeline infrastructure, and clean energy [13] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 13.6% and earnings growth rate of 60% for the current year [14] Group 6: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) - JPMorgan Chase's net interest income growth is projected to witness a CAGR of 2.9% by 2027, driven by business expansion initiatives and loan demand [15] - The company emphasizes the importance of AI in boosting efficiency, with a technology budget of $18 billion for the year [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for JPM are -0.2% and -0.6%, respectively, for the current year [17] Group 7: GE Aerospace (GE) - GE Aerospace is experiencing strong demand for commercial engines and defense-related products, supported by rising defense budgets and geopolitical tensions [18] - The company plans to invest over $1 billion in MRO facilities globally over the next five years [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for GE are -4.4% and 27.6%, respectively, for the current year [20] Group 8: Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) - Howmet Aerospace is benefiting from robust momentum in the commercial aerospace market and rising defense budgets [21] - The company has a strong liquidity position that supports shareholder-friendly policies [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for HWM are 9.4% and 32.7%, respectively, for the current year [22]

Company Performance - GE Aerospace closed at $300.30, reflecting a -1.74% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's 0.29% loss [1] - Over the past month, GE Aerospace shares have increased by 11.57%, outperforming the Aerospace sector's 5% gain and the S&P 500's 3.08% increase [1] Upcoming Financial Results - GE Aerospace is set to announce its earnings on October 21, 2025, with an expected EPS of $1.45, representing a 26.09% increase year-over-year [2] - Revenue is forecasted to be $10.28 billion, indicating a 14.92% growth compared to the same quarter of the previous year [2] Fiscal Year Estimates - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are projected at $5.87 per share, a 27.61% increase from the previous year, while revenue is expected to be $40.38 billion, reflecting a -4.42% change [3] - Recent analyst estimate revisions suggest a positive outlook for GE Aerospace's business performance and profit potential [3] Valuation Metrics - GE Aerospace has a Forward P/E ratio of 52.07, significantly higher than the industry average of 24.91, indicating a premium valuation [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 3.29, compared to the Aerospace - Defense industry's average PEG ratio of 2.17 [7] Industry Ranking - The Aerospace - Defense industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 106, placing it in the top 43% of over 250 industries [7] - The Zacks Rank system indicates that GE Aerospace currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reflecting a favorable outlook based on recent estimate changes [5]

Core Insights - GE Vernova has seen a stock price increase of over 350% since its spin-off from General Electric in April 2024, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 27% gain during the same period, driven by rising electricity demand, expanding production capacity, improving profit margins, and sustainability commitments [2][3][4] Company Overview - GE Vernova is focused on electrification and decarbonization technologies, with four divisions: Power, Wind, Electrification Systems, and Energy Financial Services, positioning itself as a key player in the transition to a lower-carbon future [6] Strategic Moves - The company sold its Proficy industrial software unit to TPG for $600 million, a move aimed at divesting non-core assets and reinvesting in essential areas like grid software and power systems [7] - GE Vernova plans to increase its turbine production capacity from 15,000 to 20,000 megawatts by 2026 to meet rising electricity demand, particularly in industrializing regions [8] Sustainability Commitment - With 55,000 wind turbines and 7,000 gas turbines in operation, GE Vernova contributes to approximately 25% of global electricity generation and aims for carbon neutrality by 2030, aligning with global decarbonization efforts [9] Financial Performance - In Q2, GE Vernova reported a 12% revenue increase to $12.4 billion, a 25% rise in adjusted EBITDA, and a net income of $492 million, with management raising its year-end revenue forecast to $36–37 billion [10] - The company’s order backlog increased by $5.2 billion, indicating strong future demand, although the Wind segment faces challenges due to tariffs and rising service costs [11] Market Expectations - The current valuation of GE Vernova reflects exceedingly high expectations, with a P/E ratio of 151, a price-to-sales ratio of 4.7, and a price-to-free cash flow of 63, suggesting that investors are betting on the company's future potential rather than its current performance [4][12]