Key Takeaways TAT Technologies surged 118.2% in a year, outpacing AIR's 32.1% rise.AIR reported 27.1% EPS growth and acquired American Distributors for $146M.TATT's lower leverage and $43M cash boost its solvency versus AIR's higher debt load.With the global aerospace services market expanding rapidly, driven by growing air traffic, rising fleet utilization and strong demand in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market, service providers like TAT Technologies (TATT) and AAR Corp. (AIR) stand to bene ...

Core Insights - Rising air passenger traffic and an expanding global fleet are driving demand for aerospace service stocks like Astronics Corporation (ATRO) and HEICO Corporation (HEI) [1][2] - Increased defense budgets due to geopolitical tensions are boosting demand for advanced avionics and electronics supplied by these companies [1] Company Overview - Astronics specializes in advanced technologies in electrical power, lighting, connectivity, and cabin electronics for both commercial and military clients [3] - HEICO is one of the largest independent aerospace parts manufacturers globally, supplying jet engines and aircraft components [3] Financial Stability & Growth Drivers - Astronics ended June 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of $13 million and long-term debt of $159 million, indicating solid liquidity to meet capital expenditure targets of $40-$50 million in 2025 [5] - HEICO's cash and cash equivalents totaled $0.26 billion as of July 31, 2025, with long-term debt of $2.44 billion, providing flexibility for its acquisition strategy [6] - Both companies are experiencing sales growth due to rising global air passenger traffic, with Astronics reporting a 3.3% year-over-year increase in sales in Q2 2025 and HEICO's Flight Support Group achieving 18% sales growth in Q3 2025 [7] - Military sales for Astronics rose 11% year-over-year in Q2 2025, while HEICO's Electronic Technologies Group saw a 7% organic sales increase in Q3 2025 [8] Stock Performance & Valuation - Astronics outperformed HEICO with a stock increase of 111.9% over the past year compared to HEICO's 20.5% [10] - ATRO trades at a lower forward P/E of 21.55X versus HEI's 61.87X, indicating a more attractive valuation [10][18] - Astronics has a lower long-term debt-to-capital ratio of 36.97 compared to HEICO's 40.62, suggesting less leverage [19] - Return on Equity (ROE) for Astronics is 22.89%, higher than HEICO's 16.29%, indicating better efficiency in generating profits [21] Conclusion - The aerospace services industry is expected to benefit from rising global air traffic, fleet expansion, and increased defense spending [22] - Astronics presents a more compelling investment option due to its attractive valuation metrics, better ROE, and lower leverage compared to HEICO [22]