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On Wednesday, TD Cowen analysts maintained a positive outlook on GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE), reaffirming their Buy rating and a $200.00 price target for the company’s shares. According to InvestingPro data, GE currently trades at $196.67, with a robust market capitalization of $209.58 billion. The company’s financial health score is rated as GOOD, supported by strong profitability metrics and moderate debt levels. The endorsement comes after GE Aerospace reported a robust start to their C25 initiative in the first quarter, driven by gains in the commercial aftermarket and supply chain improvements. The company has successfully navigated early challenges such as softer air traffic and tariffs, maintaining its C25 guidance, which was seen as a favorable outcome by the analysts.
GE Aerospace’s aftermarket sales in the first quarter increased by 17% year-over-year, outpacing competitor Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX), which saw a 21% rise. The order book for GE also grew by 31%, signaling strong demand. This growth aligns with the company’s impressive 9.49% revenue growth over the last twelve months, while maintaining a healthy gross profit margin of 30.99%. InvestingPro analysis reveals 8 analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates upward for the upcoming period, suggesting continued momentum. Despite a downward revision in the C25 airline departure forecast from mid-single digits to low-single digits percentage growth, other demand indicators remain stable. Extended engine shop visit backlogs, better parts availability, favorable demographics with GENx engines entering their first service visits, and an increased mix of external LEAP service visits were cited as positive factors.
In addition to these tailwinds, GE Aerospace has demonstrated strong pricing power. The company plans to raise prices on spare parts in the middle of the year by a mid-to-high single-digit percentage and will apply temporary "tariff surcharges" as an interim measure. The impact of these price increases on aftermarket demand, which is yet to be determined, will be closely watched.
The first quarter also saw GE Aerospace’s Commercial Engines and Services (CES) margin reach 27.5%, despite incurring $279 million in long-term service agreement (LTSA) charges. These charges were partially attributed to the pressures from tariffs. The company’s strategy to mitigate tariff impacts appears to be effective, as reflected in the strong quarterly performance and optimistic projections for the future. For deeper insights into GE’s financial health, valuation metrics, and growth potential, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro, which offers detailed analysis of this prominent aerospace player’s performance and outlook.
In other recent news, GE Aerospace has reported impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2025, with earnings per share (EPS) of $1.49 and revenue of $9.94 billion, both surpassing analyst expectations. The company saw a 38% increase in profit and a 60% rise in EPS compared to the previous year. GE Aerospace’s operating profit reached $2.1 billion, exceeding consensus forecasts by 12%. This robust performance has led RBC Capital Markets to maintain an Outperform rating with a $220 price target and UBS to raise its price target to $216, reaffirming a Buy rating. The company also achieved significant growth in its Commercial Engines Services segment, with services sales increasing by 17%. Despite potential challenges, such as a $500 million impact from tariffs, GE Aerospace remains confident in managing these through cost reductions and pricing actions. CEO Larry Culp has advocated for a return to a tariff-free aerospace industry, highlighting the benefits of such a regime. These developments reflect GE Aerospace’s strong start to the year and its strategic focus on sustaining growth amidst external pressures.
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