The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how Woodward (NASDAQ: WWD) and the rest of the aerospace stocks fared in Q2.

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 strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.8% below.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

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 $915.4 million, up 8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.4%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and full-year EPS guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.

"We delivered strong results in the third quarter underpinned by robust demand across our end markets, coupled with disciplined execution by our global teams,” said Chip Blankenship, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 2.4% since reporting and currently trades at $252.29.

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

Best Q2: 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 $107.4 million, up 39.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 24.4%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

AerSale achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 45.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $9.

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

Weakest Q2: Astronics (NASDAQ: ATRO)

Integrating power outlets into many Boeing aircraft, Astronics (NASDAQ: ATRO) is a provider of technologies and services to the global aerospace, defense, and electronics industries.

Astronics reported revenues of $204.7 million, up 3.3% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. It was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 5% since the results and currently trades at $37.15.

Read our full analysis of Astronics’s results here.

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 $489.9 million, down 2.1% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 3%. Zooming out, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded full-year EPS guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations but a miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 1.9% since reporting and currently trades at $63.56.

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

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 $22.75 billion, up 34.9% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 5.3%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ sales volume estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $234.61.

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

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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