Let’s dig into the relative performance of AerSale (NASDAQ: ASLE) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q4 aerospace earnings season.

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 15 aerospace stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

While some aerospace stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 1.5% since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q4: 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 $90.94 million, down 4% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 8.8%. Overall, it was a disappointing quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and adjusted operating income estimates.

AerSale delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 14.8% since reporting and currently trades at $6.24.

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

Best Q4: 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 $23.95 billion, up 57.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 6.9%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Boeing pulled off the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 16.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $208.40.

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

Textron (NYSE: TXT)

Listed on the NYSE in 1947, Textron (NYSE: TXT) provides products and services in the aerospace, defense, industrial, and finance sectors.

Textron reported revenues of $4.18 billion, up 15.6% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 4.5% since the results and currently trades at $90.00.

Read our full analysis of Textron’s results here.

Howmet (NYSE: HWM)

Inventing the first forged aluminum truck wheel, Howmet (NYSE: HWM) specializes in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing multi-material components used in vehicles.

Howmet reported revenues of $2.17 billion, up 14.6% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also put up EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Howmet had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is up 3.8% since reporting and currently trades at $239.73.

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

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 $996.5 million, up 29% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 11.9%. It was an incredible quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Woodward scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 14.8% since reporting and currently trades at $375.70.

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

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

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.