TLDR
- GE shares ended trading at $339.81, positioned just 2.5% under the 52-week peak of $348.48
- Year-over-year gains reached 73.3%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500’s 21.6% return
- Fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.57 exceeded analyst expectations of $1.43; sales totaled $11.90B
- The company boosted its quarterly dividend payment by 30.6% to $0.47 per share, distributed April 27
- Current forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 44.43X, notably higher than the sector average of 33.65X
GE Aerospace continues its impressive momentum as 2026 begins. Shares settled at $339.81 during Wednesday’s session, hovering just 2.5% beneath the 52-week peak of $348.48, with annual gains reaching 73.3%.
This performance significantly outpaces the S&P 500’s 21.6% advance during the same timeframe. The aerospace giant also surpassed competitors like RTX Corp (up 62.8%) and L3Harris Technologies (climbing 72.5%).
Current trading levels exceed both the 50-day moving average of $319.29 and the 200-day moving average of $303.08, presenting favorable technical indicators across the board.
GE’s fourth-quarter performance provided investors with encouraging data. Earnings per share reached $1.57, surpassing analyst projections of $1.43. Sales totaled $11.90 billion, beating expectations of $11.27 billion while representing a 17.6% year-over-year increase.
Looking ahead to FY2026, management projects EPS ranging from $7.10 to $7.40. Zacks consensus forecasts land at $7.44, representing anticipated year-over-year expansion of 16.8%.
Engine Wins and Defense Deals
Commercial aviation demand for GE’s LEAP, GEnx, and GE9X powerplants remains robust. During the 2025 Dubai Airshow, the company captured over 500 engine orders, featuring agreements with flydubai and Riyadh Air.
A major agreement with Qatar Airways for more than 400 GE9X and GEnx engines represents the company’s largest widebody engine contract ever recorded. United Airlines additionally chose GE to provide 300 GEnx engines for incoming Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Within defense operations, the U.S. Air Force granted GE a $5 billion arrangement to furnish F110 engines, components, and support services through a Foreign Military Sales initiative. The manufacturer also maintains an IDIQ agreement with the U.S. Army covering F110 engines.
GE intends to allocate over $1 billion toward MRO infrastructure globally during the coming five years, incorporating a new dedicated LEAP testing facility.
Valuation Is the One Sticking Point
The shares carry a significant premium. GE’s forward P/E ratio stands at 44.43X, well above the industry benchmark of 33.65X. Comparatively, RTX trades at 30.12X while L3Harris commands 30.49X.
This elevated multiple has prompted caution among certain analysts. BNP Paribas Exane reduced its price objective from $305 to $290 while maintaining an “underperform” stance. Wall Street Zen recently downgraded from “buy” to “hold.”
Conversely, UBS established a $374 price objective alongside a “buy” recommendation. JPMorgan elevated its target from $325 to $335 with an “overweight” designation. The overall analyst consensus registers as “Moderate Buy” with an average price objective of $331.12.
GE increased its quarterly dividend distribution by 30.6% to $0.47 per share. Payment occurs April 27 for shareholders of record as of March 9. The annualized yield currently approximates 0.6%.
Company insiders divested a combined 37,398 shares valued at roughly $11.45 million during the previous 90 days. Concurrently, Victory Capital Management expanded its position by 2.3% in Q3, acquiring 7,048 additional shares.
Institutional stakeholders control 74.77% of GE’s outstanding equity.
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