Curtiss-Wright has raised its 2026 adjusted sales and earnings guidance following stronger margin performance and secured approximately US$40 million in new U.S. Army air defense contracts. Despite these positive developments, the stock has fallen 24.27% over the past month and 22.70% over the past three months, though longer-term returns remain strong at 17.84% over one year and 408.59% over five years. The most-followed analyst narrative values the company at $786.29 per share, implying it is 27.9% undervalued against the last close of $566.75, while an alternative discounted cash flow model suggests a fair value of $492.52, indicating potential overvaluation. Management's confidence is supported by record backlog growth of 12% year-to-date to $3.8 billion, a book-to-bill ratio of 1.2x in aerospace and defense, and expectations of 9-10% sales growth, 16-19% EPS growth, and over 100 basis points of margin expansion in 2025. Investors must weigh risks such as potential delays in large defense and nuclear projects and budget shifts toward software-focused solutions.
Guangda Special Materials Earnings Call Addresses Employee Stock Ownership and AI Applications
Guangda Special Materials held its 2026 semi-annual earnings briefing online on September 30, responding to questions about artificial intelligence applications, the employee stock ownership plan, product expansion, and raw material price fluctuations. The company's 2026 semi-annual report shows operating revenue of 2.323 billion yuan, down 8.36 percent year on year; net profit attributable to the parent company of 12.34 million yuan, down 93.33 percent; non-GAAP net profit attributable to the parent company of 11.32 million yuan, down 93.67 percent; net operating cash flow of negative 231 million yuan; and a main business gross margin of 13.37 percent, down 7.31 percentage points from the same period last year, mainly affected by reduced new installed capacity in the downstream wind power industry. Regarding the progress of the employee stock ownership plan that investors are concerned about, the company responded that within six months after approval by the shareholders' meeting, the management committee of the employee stock ownership plan will complete the purchase of underlying shares through methods such as buying the company's A-shares on the secondary market, and the company will complete the position building gradually during the building period based on market conditions. On artificial intelligence, the company said the relevant applications are still in the evaluation and testing stage, have not formed large-scale applications, and have no material impact on company performance. In terms of product expansion, the company has passed the international aerospace quality management system certification AS9100D, and its production technology for high-purity superalloy electroslag ingots has been applied in fields such as aircraft engines and gas turbines. Homogeneous fine-grained superalloy forgings have been supplied in batches to aircraft engines, rocket engines, and gas turbines. The aerospace superalloy UNS N07041 has achieved batch supply, and the company has carried out cooperation with relevant customers in the aerospace field and achieved batch supply.
RBC Bearings Aerospace & Defense Revenue Jumps 36.9% to $225.4 Million
RBC Bearings is seeing persistent strength in its aerospace and defense markets, with revenues from the segment surging 36.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 to $225.4 million, following year-over-year growth of 32.9% in fiscal 2026. Within the segment, commercial aerospace revenues rose 21.8% while defense market revenues climbed 64.6% in the fiscal first quarter, helped by missile and space applications orders and the July 2025 VACCO Industries buyout. The company ended the fiscal first quarter with a backlog of $2.3 billion, which it expects to act as a tailwind for the segment. RBC anticipates net sales of $505-$515 million for second-quarter fiscal 2027, a year-over-year increase of 10.9-13.1%, driven by strength across both its Aerospace & Defense and Industrial segments. Among peers, Howmet Aerospace saw defense aerospace revenues rise 11% year over year in the second quarter, constituting 15% of company revenues, while GE Aerospace's Defense & Propulsion Technologies segment revenues increased 16% year over year to $3.4 billion in second-quarter 2026.
ATI Raises 2026 Adjusted Free Cash Flow Guidance to US$550–US$600 Million
ATI Inc. has raised its adjusted free cash flow guidance for 2026 to US$550–US$600 million, citing higher adjusted EBITDA and stronger operating performance. The company attributed the increase to robust aerospace and defense demand, pricing gains, and targeted investments. The higher outlook points to improved cash conversion, ongoing buybacks, and a more flexible balance sheet, while also raising the stakes on execution against higher EBITDA and operating performance targets. Five Simply Wall St community fair value estimates for ATI span roughly US$165.85 to US$275.
ATI · Capital · Positive ATI raised its 2026 adjusted free cash flow guidance to $550–$600M on higher adjusted EBITDA and stronger operating performance.
ATI · Demand · Positive The raised outlook is attributed to robust aerospace and defense demand for ATI's products.
Citi Adds Howmet Aerospace to 90-Day Upside Catalyst Watch, Keeps $329 Target
Citi added Howmet Aerospace to a positive 90-day Catalyst Watch on Wednesday, maintaining its Buy rating and $329 price target on the aerospace supplier. The call implies 42.5% expected share-price appreciation, or a 42.7% total return including dividends, from Howmet's Sept. 29 closing price of $230.94. Lead analyst John Godyn said recent concerns weighing on the shares appear overdone and described Howmet as one of Citi's top aerospace and defense compounders. Howmet shares have fallen about 9% since Citi initiated a separate positive 30-day Catalyst Watch on Aug. 31, which has now expired, with Citi attributing the weakness to GE Aerospace's acquisition of Consolidated Precision Products, potential risks to Boeing's 737 production and delivery schedule, and rising geopolitical and fuel-related pressures on aerospace and defense stocks. Citi forecasts third-quarter EPS of $1.38 and fourth-quarter EPS of $1.44, bringing estimated 2026 EPS to $5.37, and its 2027 EPS estimate of $6.76 is above the $6.48 consensus cited in the report.
TransDigm Completes $1.066 Billion Acquisition of Prince & Izant
TransDigm Group Incorporated has completed its acquisition of Prince & Izant, formerly a portfolio company of Industrial Growth Partners, for approximately $1.066 billion in cash, including certain tax benefits. The deal, first announced on July 27, 2026, was financed through cash on hand. Prince & Izant, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered brazing alloys and specialty metal components, serving primarily the aerospace and defense, aeroderivative turbine, and transportation end markets, with select applications including aircraft engine fuel nozzles and rocket engines. The company spans nearly 10,000 active SKUs, derives the majority of its revenue from the aftermarket and from specialty metals including gold, silver, and platinum alloys, and employs approximately 220 people across manufacturing locations in Cleveland, Ohio; Tinley Park, Illinois; Franksville, Wisconsin; and Bay Shore, New York. Prince & Izant is expected to generate approximately $390 million in revenue for the calendar year ending December 31, 2026.
TDG · Capital · Positive TransDigm completed its $1.066B cash acquisition of Prince & Izant, an M&A event financed from cash on hand.
Prince & Izant · Capital · Positive Prince & Izant was acquired by TransDigm for ~$1.066B and is expected to generate ~$390M revenue in 2026.
Industrial Growth Partners · Capital · Positive Industrial Growth Partners sold its portfolio company Prince & Izant to TransDigm for ~$1.066B, a successful exit.
Allied Critical Metals Closes Second Tranche of U.S.$25 Million Placement With Tribeca
Allied Critical Metals Inc. has closed the second tranche of its previously announced U.S.$25 million private placement of common shares, raising gross proceeds of U.S.$15 million from new strategic investor Tribeca Investment Partners. The Second Tranche consisted of 10,317,073 common shares issued at C$2.05 per share, subject to a four-month-and-one-day hold period under applicable securities laws and Canadian Securities Exchange policies. The company said net proceeds will fund development of its Vila Verde pilot project, ongoing exploration and development at the Borralha Tungsten Project, and additional working capital. In connection with the closing, Allied paid Clarus Securities Inc. a finder's fee comprising a cash commission equal to 5% of gross proceeds and broker warrants equal to 5% of the shares issued, each exercisable at the offering price for 24 months. Chief Executive Officer Roy Bonnell said the closing paves the way to continue developing the flagship Borralha Property and the near-term producing Vila Verde Property, while Tribeca portfolio manager Ben Cleary said the two past-producing tungsten assets could become significant contributors to the defense industry amid a dramatic shortage of tungsten concentrates.
Allied Critical Metals Inc. · Capital · Positive Closed second tranche of US$25M placement, raising US$15M to fund Vila Verde and Borralha development
Tribeca Investment Partners · Capital · Positive Tribeca is the new strategic investor funding the placement as portfolio manager cites tungsten shortage
Clarus Securities Inc. · Capital · Positive Clarus Securities received a 5% cash finder's fee and broker warrants for the placement