TLDR
- GE shares finished at $339.81, trailing its 52-week peak of $348.48 by just 2.5%
- The aerospace giant has climbed 73.3% in the past year, outpacing the S&P 500’s 21.6% rise
- Fourth quarter earnings per share reached $1.57, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.43; revenue totaled $11.90B
- GE boosted its quarterly dividend payment 30.6% to $0.47 per share, with April 27 payout date
- Shares currently trade at a forward P/E ratio of 44.43X, significantly higher than the industry standard of 33.65X
GE Aerospace is experiencing significant momentum as 2026 begins. Shares settled at $339.81 in Wednesday’s session, hovering just 2.5% beneath the 52-week peak of $348.48, while posting an impressive 73.3% gain over the trailing twelve months.
This performance substantially outpaces the S&P 500’s 21.6% advance during the identical timeframe. The stock also narrowly surpasses competitors RTX Corp (up 62.8%) and L3Harris Technologies (up 72.5%).
The 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 represents a healthy chart configuration.
GE’s fourth quarter performance provided investors with encouraging data. The aerospace manufacturer delivered earnings per share of $1.57, surpassing Wall Street’s consensus forecast of $1.43. Quarterly revenue reached $11.90 billion, topping analyst projections of $11.27 billion and representing a 17.6% increase year-over-year.
Looking ahead to FY2026, GE has issued earnings guidance ranging from $7.10 to $7.40 per share. Zacks consensus estimates stand at $7.44, which would represent 16.8% earnings growth compared to the prior year.
Major Commercial and Military Contract Victories
Demand for GE’s flagship engine platforms—LEAP, GEnx, and GE9X—continues accelerating across commercial aviation. During the 2025 Dubai Airshow, GE captured more than 500 engine orders, including commitments from flydubai and Riyadh Air.
Particularly noteworthy is the Qatar Airways agreement for over 400 GE9X and GEnx engines, marking the largest widebody engine contract in the company’s history. United Airlines also committed to GE for 300 GEnx engines destined for its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
In the defense sector, the U.S. Air Force granted GE a substantial $5 billion contract covering F110 engine supply, parts, and support services through a Foreign Military Sales initiative. Additionally, the company maintains an IDIQ agreement with the U.S. Army for F110 engine production.
GE has committed to investing over $1 billion in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities globally throughout the next five years, including construction of a dedicated LEAP engine test cell.
Premium Valuation Remains a Concern
The stock carries a significant premium. GE’s forward P/E multiple stands at 44.43X, well above the industry benchmark of 33.65X. By comparison, RTX trades at 30.12X and L3Harris at 30.49X.
This elevated valuation has prompted caution among certain analysts. BNP Paribas Exane reduced its price objective from $305 to $290 while maintaining an “underperform” rating. Wall Street Zen recently downgraded from “buy” to “hold.”
Conversely, UBS established a $374 price target accompanied by a “buy” recommendation. JPMorgan elevated its target from $325 to $335 with an “overweight” stance. The overall Street consensus reflects a “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $331.12.
GE increased its quarterly dividend distribution by 30.6% to $0.47 per share. The payment will be distributed on April 27 to shareholders registered as of March 9. The annualized dividend yield currently stands at approximately 0.6%.
Company insiders have divested 37,398 shares collectively valued at roughly $11.45 million during the past 90 days. Concurrently, Victory Capital Management expanded its position by 2.3% in the third quarter, acquiring an additional 7,048 shares.
Institutional investors hold 74.77% of GE’s total outstanding shares.
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