As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the aerospace industry, including Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) and its peers.

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 14 aerospace stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Hexcel (NYSE:HXL)

Founded shortly after World War II by a group of engineers from UC Berkley, Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) manufactures lightweight composite materials primarily for the aerospace and defense sectors.

Hexcel reported revenues of $473.8 million, up 3.6% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

“Hexcel’s sales increased 6% in 2024, including 12% growth in our commercial aerospace business despite the ongoing challenges in the OEM supply chain,” said Tom Gentile, Chairman, CEO and President, Hexcel.

Hexcel delivered the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. The stock is down 14.4% since reporting and currently trades at $58.59.

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

Best Q4: HEICO (NYSE:HEI)

Founded in 1957, HEICO (NYSE:HEI) manufactures and services aerospace and electronic components for commercial aviation, defense, space, and other industries.

HEICO reported revenues of $1.03 billion, up 14.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.4%. The business had an incredible quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 17.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $267.22.

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

Weakest 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 $15.24 billion, down 30.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 6.4%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Boeing delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 1.6% since the results and currently trades at $178.08.

Read our full analysis of Boeing’s results here.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB)

Becoming the first private company in the Southern Hemisphere to reach space, Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) offers rockets designed for launching small satellites.

Rocket Lab reported revenues of $132.4 million, up 121% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. It was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Rocket Lab achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 2.8% since reporting and currently trades at $19.27.

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

Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW)

Formed from a merger of 12 companies, Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW) provides a range of products and services to the aerospace, industrial, electronic, and maritime industries.

Curtiss-Wright reported revenues of $824.3 million, up 4.9% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 5.9%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also put up full-year EPS guidance exceeding analysts’ expectation.

The stock is down 3.7% since reporting and currently trades at $328.73.

Read our full, actionable report on Curtiss-Wright here, it’s free.

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