Howmet Aerospace (NYSE: HWM ), a leading player in the aerospace industry, is one of the top-performing stocks this year, driven by secular growth trends in airplane spare parts. It is up 78.03% year-to-date, compared to the S&P 500's (I have been a Merchant Seaman that has traveled the world for over 30 years. Within the last 15 years, I developed a very intense interest in investing. I learned a lot of what I know about investing from The MF. Also because I have a engineering background, I often tend to g ...

Core Viewpoint - The comparison between Huntington Ingalls (HII) and Howmet (HWM) indicates that HII presents a better value investment opportunity based on various financial metrics [1][7]. Valuation Metrics - HII has a forward P/E ratio of 19.53, while HWM has a significantly higher forward P/E of 54.92 [5]. - The PEG ratio for HII is 1.65, indicating a more favorable valuation relative to its expected EPS growth compared to HWM's PEG ratio of 2.55 [5]. - HII's P/B ratio stands at 2.31, contrasting sharply with HWM's P/B ratio of 15.86, suggesting HII is more aligned with its book value [6]. Investment Outlook - Both HII and HWM hold a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reflecting a positive earnings outlook due to favorable analyst estimate revisions [3]. - Despite both companies having solid earnings prospects, HII's valuation metrics lead to a superior value grade of A, while HWM receives a grade of D [6][7].

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 Points - Howmet Aerospace Inc. declared a dividend of 12 cents per share on its outstanding Common Stock, payable on November 25, 2025, to shareholders of record as of November 7, 2025 [1] Company Overview - Howmet Aerospace Inc. is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries, focusing on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, and airframe structural components [2] - The company holds approximately 1,170 granted and pending patents, enabling the development of lighter, more fuel-efficient aircraft and commercial trucks with a lower carbon footprint [2] Financial Performance - Howmet Aerospace reported record second quarter 2025 revenue of $2.05 billion, indicating significant growth [5]

Company Overview - Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) is a leading manufacturer of engineered metal products for aircraft engines, airframes, defense systems, and industrial markets, benefiting from strong demand in both commercial and defense aerospace sectors [1] Commercial Aerospace Performance - In Q2 2025, commercial aerospace revenues increased by 8% year-over-year, driven by sustained air travel demand and higher production of fuel-efficient aircraft, with this segment accounting for over half of HWM's business [2] Defense Aerospace Performance - Defense aerospace revenues surged by 21% in Q2, supported by engine spare orders for programs like the F-35 and legacy fighters, with the U.S. government approving an $831.5 billion defense budget for 2026, positioning HWM to secure more contracts [3] Shareholder Returns - HWM has raised its dividend twice in 2025, most recently by 20% to an annualized $0.48 per share, and repurchased $300 million in stock in the first half of the year, with an expanded buyback program totaling $2.487 billion, indicating confidence in long-term growth [4] Stock Performance - HWM's stock has surged over 70% year-to-date, supported by strong earnings momentum and increasing institutional investor interest [5]

In the current session, the stock is trading at $195.03, after a 0.97% spike. Over the past month, Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE: HWM) stock increased by 10.02%, and in the past year, by 88.83%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are optimistic but others are more likely to look into the price-to-earnings ratio to see if the stock might be overvalued.Howmet Aerospace P/E Compared to CompetitorsThe P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investor ...

Core Insights - Howmet Aerospace Inc. reported strong Q2 2025 earnings with a revenue of $2.05 billion, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase driven by robust performance in core markets [2] - The company's Executive Vice President, Lola Felice Lin, sold 13,102 shares valued at $2,365,04 shortly before announcing her resignation [3] - Howmet Aerospace has a beta of 1.45, indicating high risk, while analysts project an upside potential of 6.98% [4] Financial Performance - Q2 2025 revenue reached $2.05 billion, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous year [2] - Revenue growth was segmented as follows: commercial aerospace up 8%, defense aerospace up 21%, and industrial and other markets up 17% [2] Executive Actions - Lola Felice Lin sold 13,102 shares on August 6, 2025, prior to her resignation announcement effective September 5, 2025 [3] Risk and Reward Profile - The stock's beta of 1.45 indicates a high-risk investment, while the potential upside is estimated at 6.98% [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the best growth stocks to buy and hold for the long term, highlighting a positive outlook for equity markets amid a resilient US economy and low-interest-rate environment [1][4]. Group 1: Market Outlook - Global equities are expected to continue rising despite valuation concerns, with a Bank of America survey indicating that most fund managers remain overweight in equities [1][2]. - The risk of a recessionary trade war is diminishing, contributing to a bullish sentiment in equity markets [2]. - The US Federal Reserve's hints at potential interest rate cuts further enhance the outlook for growth stocks, which typically trade at a premium [2][3]. Group 2: Methodology for Stock Selection - The selection of the best growth stocks involved using the Finviz screener to identify stocks with over 10% EPS growth in the past five years and an expected EPS growth rate of at least 20% over the next five years [6]. - The list was narrowed to stocks with a forward price-to-earnings ratio exceeding 20 and popularity among elite hedge funds in Q2 2025 [6][7]. Group 3: Featured Growth Stocks - **Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX)**: - EPS Growth Over the Past Five Years: 36.52% - EPS Growth Over the Next Five Years: 24.58% - Forward Price to Earnings Ratio: 30.31 - Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53 - UBS raised its price target to $875, citing strong financial health and a robust project environment [8][9][10]. - **Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM)**: - EPS Growth Over the Past Five Years: 22.24% - EPS Growth Over the Next Five Years: 23.36% - Forward Price to Earnings Ratio: 44 - Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57 - The company is experiencing healthy growth in its spares business and is investing in capacity expansion to meet demand [12][13][14][15]. - **DexCom, Inc. (NASDAQ:DXCM)**: - EPS Growth Over the Past Five Years: 39.06% - EPS Growth Over the Next Five Years: 24.59% - Forward Price to Earnings Ratio: 26.07 - Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60 - UBS maintains a bullish stance on the company despite concerns over its G7 continuous glucose monitoring sensor, expecting strong demand for CGM technology [16][17][18][19].

Core Insights - Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) and Textron Inc. (TXT) are key players in the aerospace and defense industry, producing aircraft components for both commercial and military applications [1][2] Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) - HWM's primary growth driver is the commercial aerospace market, with revenues increasing by 8% year-over-year in Q2 2025, accounting for 52% of its business [3] - The defense sector is also performing well, with a 21% year-over-year revenue increase in Q2 2025, representing 17% of total revenues [4] - The U.S. Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2026 allocates $831.5 billion, which is expected to benefit HWM's defense contracts [5] - HWM has a strong shareholder return policy, paying $83 million in dividends and repurchasing $300 million in shares in the first half of 2025, with a 20% dividend increase announced in August 2025 [6] Textron Inc. (TXT) - Textron's Aviation business unit has seen a revenue growth of 2.8% year-over-year in Q2 2025, supported by strong air passenger traffic and a backlog of $7.85 billion [7] - The defense segment is also performing well, with contracts signed for military aircraft, indicating solid demand [8] - Textron's cash and cash equivalents stood at $1.43 billion, with long-term debt at $3.38 billion, suggesting a solid short-term solvency position [11] - However, supply chain issues and labor shortages may hinder Textron's production capabilities and profitability [12][13] Performance Comparison - HWM shares have increased by 90.7% over the past year, while TXT shares have decreased by 3.2% [16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HWM indicates a 9.4% growth in sales and a 32.7% increase in EPS for 2025, while TXT's estimates show 8.1% sales growth and 11.5% EPS growth [17][18] - HWM's forward price-to-earnings ratio is significantly higher at 46.49X compared to TXT's 12.58X, indicating a steeper valuation for HWM [19] Final Assessment - HWM's leadership in both commercial and defense markets positions it favorably for long-term growth, despite its higher valuation [22] - Textron has strong momentum in the commercial aerospace sector but faces challenges from supply chain issues [21] - Overall, HWM is viewed as the better investment option compared to TXT due to stronger growth estimates and stock performance [22][23]

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]