Core Viewpoint - Curtiss-Wright Corp. (CW) is positioned as a strong investment opportunity within the Zacks Aerospace Defense Equipment industry, driven by growth in commercial nuclear aftermarket sales and shareholder-friendly initiatives [1] Group 1: Growth Forecast & Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CW's 2025 earnings per share (EPS) has risen by 3.7% to $12.61 [2] - CW's projected revenues for 2025 are $3.38 billion, reflecting an 8.5% growth [2] - The company's long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 12% [2] - CW has consistently surpassed earnings expectations, achieving an average earnings surprise of 13.34% over the last four quarters [2] Group 2: Shareholder Returns - CW has been enhancing shareholder value through regular dividend payments, with a current quarterly dividend of 24 cents per share, leading to an annualized dividend of 96 cents [3] - The current dividend yield stands at 0.20%, which is above the industry average of 0.16% [3] Group 3: Financial Health - As of the end of Q1 2025, CW's current ratio is 1.89, surpassing the industry average of 1.76, indicating strong short-term liability management [4] - CW's return on equity (ROE) is 18.02%, significantly higher than the industry average of 8.44%, showcasing effective fund utilization [5] - The total debt to capital ratio for CW is 27.25%, well below the industry average of 51.94%, indicating a strong debt management position [6] - CW's times interest earned ratio (TIE) is 13.3, reflecting the company's capability to meet interest obligations comfortably [6] Group 4: Market Position & Operations - The U.S. market is crucial for CW's nuclear power expansion, with significant growth in commercial nuclear aftermarket sales driven by demand for small modular reactors [9] - The acquisition of Ultra Energy in December 2024 has bolstered CW's capabilities in neutron and radiation monitoring, sensors, and reactor protection systems [9] - CW is actively collaborating with leading 300-megawatt reactor designers to develop critical systems and equipment, positioning itself for growth in both U.S. and global nuclear markets [10] Group 5: Stock Performance - Over the past three months, CW's stock has increased by 57.4%, outperforming the industry's growth of 29% [11]

President Donald Trump's push to dramatically increase nuclear power in the U.S. will require a tremendous amount of fuel, but the country remains heavily dependent on foreign state-owned companies for its supplies, the CEO of the only publicly traded uranium enricher in the world told CNBC."There's barely enough Western enrichment, if at all, to satisfy existing operating plants," Centrus Energy CEO Amir Vexler said in an interview. "If the nuclear industry is to add all this generation capacity, there wil ...