Howmet Aerospace shares surged more than 10% on Thursday after the company posted fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street expectations and issued a bullish forecast for the coming year. The manufacturer reached a new record high of $255.05 following the report, driven by accelerating demand across its commercial and defense segments.
The supplier of engine parts and fastener systems reported a net profit of $372 million, or 92 cents per share, up from $314 million in the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, earnings reached $1.05 per share, comfortably beating the 97 cents projected by analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue climbed 15% to $2.17 billion, outperforming the $2.12 billion anticipated by the market.
Chief Executive John Plant credited the performance to sustained momentum in commercial aviation, defense, and gas turbine markets. Plant noted that the vast majority of the company's target sectors are entering a growth phase expected to persist through 2026. This optimistic outlook comes as aerospace suppliers benefit from a rebound in global air travel and increased military spending.
Raising the Bar for 2025
For the current quarter, Howmet projected adjusted earnings between $1.09 and $1.11 per share on revenue of up to $2.25 billion, surpassing analyst estimates of $1.01 per share. The company's full-year outlook remains strong, with revenue expected to land between $9 billion and $9.2 billion and adjusted earnings forecast at $4.35 to $4.55 per share.
Howmet’s rally mirrored broader strength in the aerospace supply chain. Rival Curtiss-Wright also saw its stock jump 11% to $705.77 on Thursday after reporting its own earnings beat late Wednesday. The synchronized gains suggest a favorable environment for component manufacturers as the industry works to clear order backlogs and meet rising defense requirements.
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