With a market cap of $102.9 billion, Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace, defense, and commercial transportation industries worldwide, including in the U.S., Japan, China, and Europe. It operates through four segments: Engine Products, Fastening Systems, Engineered Structures, and Forged Wheels.
Companies worth more than $10 billion are generally labeled as “large-cap” stocks and Howmet Aerospace fits this criterion perfectly. The company serves customers in aircraft engines, industrial gas turbines, and heavy-duty vehicle markets.
Shares of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company pulled back 10.2% from its 52-week high of $280.74. Howmet Aerospace’s shares have fallen marginally over the past three months, a less pronounced decline than the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF’s (ITA) 5.2% dip over the same time frame.
HWM stock is up 23% on a YTD basis, exceeding ITA’s 5.9% rise. In the longer term, shares of the aerospace company have jumped 49.6% over the past 52 weeks, compared to ITA’s 26.9% return over the same time frame.
The stock has been trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages since last year.
Shares of Howmet Aerospace rose 6.3% on May 7 after the company reported stronger-than-expected Q1 2026 results, with revenue increasing 19% year-over-year to $2.31 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.22, both exceeding analyst estimates. Strong demand in commercial aerospace and gas turbines drove profitability higher, with operating income surging 52% to $753 million, adjusted EBITDA rising 32% to $740 million, and EBITDA margin expanding 320 basis points to 32%, while free cash flow more than doubled to $359 million.
Investors were further encouraged by management’s raised outlook, including full-year revenue guidance of $9.65 billion and adjusted EPS of $4.94, both above Wall Street expectations, reflecting confidence in sustained aerospace demand and production growth.
In comparison, HWM stock has outpaced its rival, GE Aerospace (GE). GE stock has soared 32.8% over the past 52 weeks and 4.4% on a YTD basis.
Due to the stock’s strong performance over the past year, analysts remain bullish on HWM. The stock has a consensus rating of “Strong Buy” from the 24 analysts covering it, and the mean price target of $304.33 is a premium of 20.8% to current levels.
