TLDR
- GE stock ended trading at $339.81, hovering just 2.5% beneath its 52-week peak of $348.48
- Shares have climbed 73.3% in the past year, outpacing the S&P 500’s 21.6% rise
- Fourth-quarter earnings per share reached $1.57, surpassing the $1.43 analyst forecast; sales totaled $11.90B
- The company boosted its quarterly dividend 30.6% to $0.47 per share, with payment scheduled for April 27
- Shares currently trade at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 44.43X, significantly above the sector’s 33.65X average
GE Aerospace continues its impressive momentum as 2026 gets underway. Shares settled at $339.81 this Wednesday, positioning themselves just 2.5% under the 52-week peak of $348.48, while posting a remarkable 73.3% gain over the trailing twelve months.
This performance substantially outstrips the S&P 500’s 21.6% advance during the identical timeframe. The aerospace giant also narrowly surpasses competitors RTX Corp (up 62.8%) and L3Harris Technologies (gaining 72.5%).
Shares are currently positioned above both the 50-day moving average of $319.29 and the 200-day moving average of $303.08. From a technical standpoint, this presents a favorable setup.
GE’s fourth-quarter performance provided investors with plenty of positive momentum. The aerospace manufacturer delivered earnings per share of $1.57, exceeding the Street’s $1.43 projection. Top-line revenue reached $11.90 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $11.27 billion and representing a 17.6% year-over-year increase.
Looking ahead to FY2026, management has established EPS guidance ranging from $7.10 to $7.40. Wall Street’s Zacks consensus estimate stands at $7.44, suggesting 16.8% annual earnings expansion.
Commercial Aviation and Military Contract Momentum
Demand for GE’s commercial engine portfolio—including LEAP, GEnx, and GE9X models—shows no signs of slowing. During the 2025 Dubai Airshow, the company locked in more than 500 engine orders, with notable commitments from flydubai and Riyadh Air.
A particularly significant agreement with Qatar Airways covers the supply of over 400 GE9X and GEnx powerplants, representing GE Aerospace’s biggest widebody engine contract on record. United Airlines similarly chose GE to provide 300 GEnx engines for its incoming Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
Regarding defense operations, the U.S. Air Force granted GE a $5 billion agreement to furnish F110 engines, components, and maintenance services through a Foreign Military Sales initiative. Additionally, the manufacturer maintains an IDIQ arrangement with the U.S. Army covering F110 powerplants.
Management has committed to deploying over $1 billion toward MRO infrastructure globally across the next five years, including a dedicated LEAP engine testing facility.
Premium Valuation Presents Key Consideration
The stock commands a premium price. GE’s forward price-to-earnings multiple stands at 44.43X, well above the aerospace and defense industry’s 33.65X benchmark. By comparison, RTX carries a 30.12X multiple while L3Harris trades at 30.49X.
This elevated valuation has prompted some analyst caution. BNP Paribas Exane reduced its price objective from $305 down to $290 while maintaining an “underperform” stance. Wall Street Zen recently moved from a “buy” recommendation to “hold.”
Conversely, UBS has established a $374 price objective alongside a “buy” rating. JPMorgan elevated its target from $325 to $335 with an “overweight” designation. The aggregate Wall Street consensus registers as “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $331.12.
The company increased its quarterly cash dividend by 30.6% to $0.47 per share. Payment is scheduled for April 27 for shareholders of record as of March 9. The annualized dividend yield currently sits around 0.6%.
Company insiders have divested a combined 37,398 shares valued at roughly $11.45 million throughout the past 90 days. Conversely, Victory Capital Management expanded its position by 2.3% during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 7,048 shares.
Institutional ownership accounts for 74.77% of GE’s total outstanding shares.
