Shares of Curtiss-Wright (CW) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 9.3% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $748.14 in the previous session. Curtiss-Wright has gained 34.7% since the start of the year compared to the 7.2% gain for the Zacks Aerospace sector and the 8.5% return for the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?
The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on February 11, 2026, Curtiss-Wright reported EPS of $3.79 versus consensus estimate of $3.66.
For the current fiscal year, Curtiss-Wright is expected to post earnings of $14.9 per share on $3.75 in revenues. This represents a 12.62% change in EPS on a 7.29% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $16.52 per share on $4.02 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 10.85% and 7.18%, respectively.
Valuation Metrics
Curtiss-Wright may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Curtiss-Wright has a Value Score of D. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and B, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 49.8X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 37.7X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 44X versus its peer group's average of 29.9X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 3.56. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks Rank
We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Curtiss-Wright currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Curtiss-Wright meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Curtiss-Wright shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.
How Does CW Stack Up to the Competition?
Shares of CW have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Astronics Corporation (ATRO). ATRO has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of D, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of F.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Astronics Corporation beat our consensus estimate by 19.05%, and for the current fiscal year, ATRO is expected to post earnings of $2.62 per share on revenue of $962 million.
Shares of Astronics Corporation have gained 8.3% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 29.07X and a P/CF of 26.22X.
The Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry may rank in the bottom 64% of all the industries we have in our universe, but there still looks like there are some nice tailwinds for CW and ATRO, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
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Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW): Free Stock Analysis Report
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).