Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Howmet (NYSE: HWM) and the best and worst performers in the aerospace industry.

Aerospace companies often possess technical expertise and have made significant capital investments to produce complex products. It is an industry where innovation is important, and lately, emissions and automation are in focus, so companies that boast advances in these areas can take market share. On the other hand, demand for aerospace products can ebb and flow with economic cycles and geopolitical tensions, which can be particularly painful for companies with high fixed costs.

The 15 aerospace stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 7% on average since the latest earnings results.

Howmet (NYSE: HWM)

Inventing the first forged aluminum truck wheel, Howmet (NYSE: HWM) specializes in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing multi-material components used in vehicles.

Howmet reported revenues of $2.17 billion, up 14.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Howmet Aerospace Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Plant said, "The Howmet team delivered an exceptional quarter to cap a strong 2025. Revenue growth accelerated in the fourth quarter 2025 to 15% year over year, reflecting healthy growth in the commercial aerospace, defense aerospace, and gas turbines markets. Adjusted EBITDA* grew 29% year over year to $653 million and Adjusted EBITDA Margin* increased approximately 330 basis points to 30.1%, both records. Adjusted Earnings per Share* grew 42% to a record $1.05. Free Cash Flow for full year 2025 was $1.43 billion and 93% conversion of Net Income* after record capital expenditures of $453 million as Howmet continued to invest for growth."

Howmet delivered the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. Interestingly, the stock is up 10.8% since reporting and currently trades at $257.10.

Read why we think that Howmet is one of the best aerospace stocks, our full report is free.

Best Q4: Boeing (NYSE: BA)

One of the companies that forms a duopoly in the commercial aircraft market, Boeing (NYSE: BA) develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems.

Boeing reported revenues of $23.95 billion, up 57.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 6.9%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

Boeing achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 9.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $224.15.

Is now the time to buy Boeing? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: AerSale (NASDAQ: ASLE)

Providing a one-stop shop that integrates multiple services and product offerings, AerSale (NASDAQ: ASLE) delivers full-service support to mid-life commercial aircraft.

AerSale reported revenues of $90.94 million, down 4% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 8.8%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and adjusted operating income estimates.

AerSale delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 5.3% since the results and currently trades at $6.94.

Read our full analysis of AerSale’s results here.

Textron (NYSE: TXT)

Listed on the NYSE in 1947, Textron (NYSE: TXT) provides products and services in the aerospace, defense, industrial, and finance sectors.

Textron reported revenues of $4.18 billion, up 15.6% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. Zooming out, it was a slower quarter as it recorded full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is down 2.8% since reporting and currently trades at $91.63.

Read our full, actionable report on Textron here, it’s free.

Woodward (NASDAQ: WWD)

Initially designing controls for water wheels in the early 1900s, Woodward (NASDAQ: WWD) designs, services, and manufactures energy control products and optimization solutions.

Woodward reported revenues of $996.5 million, up 29% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 11.9%. It was an incredible quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Woodward scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 21% since reporting and currently trades at $395.87.

Read our full, actionable report on Woodward here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.