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what it is
Curtiss-Wright makes hard-to-fail parts and systems for defense, aerospace, nuclear power, and industrial customers.
how it gets paid
Last year Curtiss-Wright made $3.5B in revenue. defense was the main engine at $1.40B, or 40% of sales.
why it's growing
Revenue grew 12.1% last year. Lofty spending on defense around the globe and heightened demand for products in the commercial nuclear power market drove the top line.
what just happened
Curtiss-Wright posted $3.79 in quarterly EPS, beating the $3.70 estimate while annual EPS reached $13.24.
At a glance
A balance sheet — strong enough to weather a downturn
85/100 earnings predictability — you can trust these numbers
51.7x trailing p/e — you're paying up for this one
0.2% dividend yield — cash in your pocket every quarter
22.0% return on capital — every dollar works hard here
xvary composite: 88/100 — above average
What they do
Curtiss-Wright makes hard-to-fail parts and systems for defense, aerospace, nuclear power, and industrial customers.
If your customer runs a submarine or nuclear plant, "qualification" means years of testing before a supplier gets approved, so switching is painful. That helps Curtiss-Wright hold a 24.0% operating margin on $3.5 billion in annual sales.
How they make money
$3.5B
annual revenue · their business grew +12.1% last year
defense
$1.40B
commercial aerospace
$0.77B
power generation
$0.70B
general industrial
$0.63B
The products that matter
engineered defense and aerospace components
Precision Components
$3.5B revenue · +12.1% growth
it's the entire $3.5B business as disclosed here, and it turned that revenue into a 15.4% net margin. when one product bucket carries the whole page, execution matters more than product mix stories.
core earnings engine
aftermarket, overhaul, and mission-critical demand
Backlog
$4.1B entering the new year
a $4.1B backlog against $3.5B of annual revenue means the order book matters almost as much as the income statement. it gives you visibility, but it also raises the bar for delivery.
visibility
commercial nuclear and defense end-market exposure
End-Market Mix
$0.9B q4 revenue · +9% from last year
recent demand was driven by defense spending and the commercial nuclear market. that matters because those are usually sturdier budgets than generic industrial demand.
demand support
Key numbers
51.7x
trailing p/e
P/E ratio → how many dollars you pay for one dollar of profit → so what: you are paying a luxury price for an industrial stock.
24.0%
operating margin
Operating margin → profit after running the business → so what: this is high for industrials and shows real pricing power.
22.0%
return on capital
Return on capital → profit earned on money invested → so what: Curtiss-Wright turns each $1 into $0.22 of operating return.
$758M
long-term debt
Long-term debt → money owed over years → so what: at 3% of capital, the balance sheet is not the problem here.
Financial health
A
strength
- balance sheet grade A — very strong financial position
- risk rank 2 — safer than 80% of stocks
- price stability 80 / 100
- long-term debt $758M (3% of capital)
- net profit margin 17.4% — keeps 17 cents of every dollar in revenue
- return on equity 25% — $0.25 profit for every $1 investors have put in
A with balance sheet grade and risk rank standing out. your money faces less risk here than at most public companies.
Total return vs. market
You invested $10,000 in CW 3 years ago → it's now worth $40,280.
The index would have given you $13,880.
source: institutional data · total return
What just happened
beat estimates
Curtiss-Wright posted $3.79 in quarterly EPS, beating the $3.70 estimate while annual EPS reached $13.24.
Revenue hit $3.5 billion for the year, up 12.1%, and gross margin was 37.1%. Management also said quarterly sales beat internal expectations by more than $50 million.
$3.5B
revenue
$3.79
eps
37.1%
gross margin
the number that mattered
$13.24 in full-year EPS matters most because it was up 25% vs. prior year, which explains why investors let a 51.7x multiple happen.
-
curtiss-wright stock is reaping the benefits of the boom period in aerospace and defense.
-
the shares were already in the midst of a tremendous year-long rally (up 100% in the trailing 12-month window) when the company reported financials for the fourth quarter of 2025.
-
this showing was rock solid, with record-high quarterly sales besting our expectations by more than $50 million.
-
earnings also beat by a dime, bringing the annual total to $13.24 a share, representing 25% vs. prior year growth.
-
moreover, orders were also on the rise and the backlog heading into the new year was $4.1 billion.lofty spending on defense around the globe and heightened demand for products in the commercial nuclear power market drove the top line.
source: company earnings report, 2026
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What could go wrong
the #1 risk is backlog and defense demand cooling after a premium rerating.
med
backlog conversion slows
The stock is leaning on a $4.1B backlog to justify a premium multiple. If orders soften or delivery slips, investors stop paying up for visibility.
$4.1B of backlog versus $3.5B of annual revenue means the order book is central to the thesis, not a side note.
med
multiple compression
51.7x trailing earnings is a rich price for an industrial company. Great businesses still get cheaper when expectations outrun results.
The $628 three-to-five-year target midpoint sits below the current $684 price, and the listed high target is only $720.
med
end-market concentration
Recent demand came from defense spending and commercial nuclear. That's a strength until either budget lane narrows.
With only $3.5B of total revenue disclosed here, you should assume the full business is tied to a narrow set of mission-critical end markets.
at $684, you are paying above the $628 midpoint and only about 5% below the $720 high target. execution has to stay clean.
source: institutional data · regulatory filings · risk analysis
Pay attention to
earnings
next quarter's backlog update
$4.1B is the number holding the narrative together. You want backlog to stay supportive, not just revenue to print okay.
metric
revenue growth versus the recent 12.1% pace
This stock is priced for more than average industrial growth. A visible slowdown changes the math fast.
trend
margin discipline
A 15.4% net margin is what separates Curtiss-Wright from a generic parts supplier. Watch whether earnings keep growing faster than sales.
risk
valuation versus target range
The stock already trades above the $628 midpoint and not far below the $720 high target. There is less room for disappointment than the chart suggests.
Analyst rankings
short-term outlook
top 5%
momentum score 1 — the highest rating. in human-speak, analysts think this stock has better near-term performance odds than almost everything else they cover.
risk profile
above average
stability score 2 — safer than roughly 80% of stocks. not risk-free, just sturdier than most.
chart momentum
average
technical score 3 — the chart is healthy, but it is not screaming something the fundamentals don't already say.
earnings predictability
85 / 100
management usually lands close to guidance. that matters more when the stock trades at a premium.
source: institutional data
Institutional activity
institutions have been net buying for 3 consecutive quarters — 370 buyers vs. 338 sellers in 3q2025. total institutional holdings: 30.6M shares. net buying for 3 quarters.
source: institutional data
Price targets
3-5 year target range
$414
$842
$684
current price
$628
target midpoint · 8% from current · 3-5yr high: $720 (+5% · 2% ann'l return)
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