Howmet Aerospace (HWM) Benefited From Demand And Extended Backlogs For New Aircraft

Core Insights - Macquarie Asset Management's "Macquarie Core Equity Fund" reported a strong performance in Q2 2025, with the Institutional Class returning 11.94%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index which rose by 10.94% [1] - The fund's performance was primarily driven by sector selection (80%) and individual security selection (20%) [1] Company Highlights - Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) was highlighted as a key stock in the fund's portfolio, showing a one-month return of 7.01% and a remarkable 90.28% increase over the past 52 weeks [2] - As of September 17, 2025, Howmet Aerospace's stock closed at $185.39 per share, with a market capitalization of $74.736 billion [2] - The company benefits from strong demand and extended backlogs for new aircraft, as older aircraft are being utilized longer due to production challenges faced by Boeing and Airbus [3] Market Context - The overall equity market strength in Q2 2025 was attributed to reduced concerns over potential tariffs from the Trump administration, which paused tariff implementation [1] - Despite the positive outlook for Howmet Aerospace, it is not among the top 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 57 hedge fund portfolios holding its stock at the end of Q2, up from 56 in the previous quarter [4]