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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) explained: how it makes money, how it's doing, what protects it

A plain-English guide to the company that makes jet engine parts, aircraft fasteners and truck wheels. See what it sells, where the money goes and what protects it.

⚡What does Howmet do, in 30 seconds?

Howmet Aerospace makes engine parts, fastening systems, titanium and other metal structures, and forged aluminum truck wheels 21. It sold $8.3bn ✓ in FY2025, and engine products made up 52% ✓ of that. Aerospace made up about 70% of its 2025 revenue 2.

Revenue, FY2025
$8.3bn✓
Profit, FY2025
$1.5bn✓
Sales growth, 4 quarters to 30 Sep 2026
22.0%✓
Net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted), 30 Sep 2026
-$3.9bn✓
Headquarters
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 28
Earlier names
Arconic Inc. and, before that, Alcoa Inc., a company formed in 1888 28
Became Howmet
April 1, 2020, when Arconic Inc. split in two 28
Employees
About 25,430 at the end of 2025, in 23 countries 30
CEO
John C. Plant, CEO since October 14, 2021 and also Executive Chairman 3031
Fiscal year ends
December 31 28

📱What does Howmet sell?

Howmet has four business lines, and engine products is the biggest. Here is what each one makes and who buys it.

✈️

Engine products

Parts mainly for aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines, including airfoils and seamless rolled rings 1. Howmet says it can make more than 90% of all structural and rotating aero engine parts 2. Its gas turbine parts include ones with advanced cooling and coatings. Howmet says they serve growing electricity demand driven by data center build-out 2. Engine products brought in $4.3bn ✓ in FY2025, before a titanium alloy site moved out of this line in the first quarter of 2026 45.

👥 Commercial aerospace, defense aerospace and gas turbine customers 1. GE Aerospace was about 14% and RTX about 11% of Howmet's sales to outside customers in the first nine months of 2026, primarily from this segment 4.

🔩

Fastening systems

Aerospace and industrial fastening systems, commercial transportation fasteners and installation tools 1. This line brought in $1.7bn ✓ in FY2025. Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing joined this line in the second quarter of 2026 657. It makes precision fasteners and fluid fittings 8.

👥 These products are found on commercial and military aircraft, jet engines, gas turbines, commercial transportation vehicles, wind turbines, solar power systems and construction and industrial equipment 1.

🏗️

Engineered structures

Titanium ingots and mill products, plus titanium forgings and extrusions. It also machines parts for airframes, wings, engines and landing gear, and makes aluminum and nickel forgings 1. This line brought in $1.1bn ✓ in FY2025, before Howmet moved a titanium alloy site here from Engine Products in the first quarter of 2026 45.

👥 Commercial aerospace, defense aerospace, and land and sea defense customers 1.

🚛

Forged wheels

Forged aluminum wheels for trucks, buses and trailers, sold under the Alcoa Wheels brand 1. Howmet says these wheels deliver up to 59% weight savings per tractor-trailer compared with standard steel wheel configurations 1. Forged wheels brought in $1.0bn ✓ in FY2025.

👥 The commercial transportation market, which includes trucks, buses and trailers 1.

How the mix has shifted

Revenue mix by productFY2023Engine products: $3.3bn (49%)Engine products 49%Fastening systems: $1.3bn (20%)Fastening systems 20%Engineered structures: $0.9bn (13%)Engineered structures 13%Forged wheels: $1.1bn (17%)Forged wheels 17%FY2024Engine products: $3.7bn (50%)Engine products 50%Fastening systems: $1.6bn (21%)Fastening systems 21%Engineered structures: $1.1bn (14%)Engineered structures 14%Forged wheels: $1.1bn (14%)Forged wheels 14%FY2025Engine products: $4.3bn (52%)Engine products 52%Fastening systems: $1.7bn (21%)Fastening systems 21%Engineered structures: $1.1bn (14%)Engineered structures 14%Forged wheels: $1.0bn (13%)Forged wheels 13%
Revenue mix by productFY23Engine products: $3.3bn (49%)49%Fastening systems: $1.3bn (20%)20%Engineered structures: $0.9bn (13%)13%Forged wheels: $1.1bn (17%)17%FY24Engine products: $3.7bn (50%)50%Fastening systems: $1.6bn (21%)21%Engineered structures: $1.1bn (14%)14%Forged wheels: $1.1bn (14%)14%FY25Engine products: $4.3bn (52%)52%Fastening systems: $1.7bn (21%)21%Engineered structures: $1.1bn (14%)14%Forged wheels: $1.0bn (13%)13%Engine productsFastening systemsEngineered structuresForged wheels
Share of revenue by business line, by fiscal year. Source: Howmet Aerospace Inc. 10-K filed 2026-02-12.

Where the customers are

The United States was Howmet's biggest country in FY2025, at 53% ✓ of sales. France added 8% ✓, Japan 6% ✓, Germany 5% ✓ and the United Kingdom 5% ✓. Italy added 3% ✓, and Canada 2% ✓, Mexico 2% ✓, Poland 2% ✓ and China 2% ✓. Other countries made up 12% ✓.

Revenue by regionUnited States$4.4bn 53% of salesOther countries$1.0bn 12% of salesFrance$0.6bn 8% of salesJapan$0.5bn 6% of salesGermany$0.4bn 5% of salesUnited Kingdom$0.4bn 5% of salesItaly$0.3bn 3% of salesCanada$0.2bn 2% of salesMexico$0.2bn 2% of salesPoland$0.2bn 2% of salesChina$0.1bn 2% of sales
Revenue by regionUnited States$4.4bn 53%Other countries$1.0bn 12%France$0.6bn 8%Japan$0.5bn 6%Germany$0.4bn 5%United Kingdom$0.4bn 5%Italy$0.3bn 3%Canada$0.2bn 2%Mexico$0.2bn 2%Poland$0.2bn 2%China$0.1bn 2%
Revenue by region, FY2025. Source: Howmet Aerospace Inc. 10-K filed 2026-02-12.

💸How does Howmet make money?

Follow the money: what customers pay for, what it costs to make, and what is left as profit.

Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitEngine products → Revenue: $4.3bnFastening systems → Revenue: $1.7bnEngineered structures → Revenue: $1.1bnForged wheels → Revenue: $1.0bnRevenue → Gross profit: $2.5bnRevenue → Cost of goods sold and depreciation: $5.7bnGross profit → Operating profit: $2.0bnGross profit → R&D: $37mGross profit → Selling & admin: $0.4bnGross profit → Other operating costs: $0.1bnOperating profit → Net income: $1.5bnOperating profit → Income tax: $0.3bnOperating profit → Other costs: $0.2bnEngine products$4.3bn · 52%Fastening systems$1.7bn · 21%Engineered structures$1.1bn · 14%Forged wheels$1.0bn · 13%Revenue$8.3bnGross profit$2.5bn · 31%Cost of goods sold and depreciation$5.7bn · 69%Operating profit$2.0bn · 25%R&D$37m · <1%Selling & admin$0.4bn · 4%Other operating costs$0.1bn · 1%Net income$1.5bn · 18%Income tax$0.3bn · 4%Other costs$0.2bn · 2%
Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitEngine products: $4.3bnFastening systems: $1.7bnEngineered structures: $1.1bnForged wheels: $1.0bnEngine products$4.3bn · 52%Fastening systems$1.7bn · 21%Engineered structures$1.1bn · 14%Forged wheels$1.0bn · 13%Revenue: $8.3bnRevenue$8.3bn · 100%Gross profit: $2.5bnCost of goods sold and depreciation: $5.7bnGross profit$2.5bn · 31%Cost of goods sold and depreciation$5.7bn · 69%Operating profit: $2.0bnR&D: $37mSelling & admin: $0.4bnOther operating costs: $0.1bnOperating profit$2.0bn · 25%R&D$37m · <1%Selling & admin$0.4bn · 4%Other operating costs$0.1bn · 1%Net income: $1.5bnIncome tax: $0.3bnOther costs: $0.2bnNet income$1.5bn · 18%Income tax$0.3bn · 4%Other costs$0.2bn · 2%
Money map (a Sankey diagram): band widths are to scale. Hover a band for the amount. Source: Howmet Aerospace Inc. 10-K filings.

Howmet sold $8.3bn ✓ of parts and wheels in FY2025. Cost of goods sold and depreciation came to $5.7bn ✓. What is left is gross profit. That came to $2.5bn ✓.

Next come the costs of running the company. Research and development took $37m ✓, selling and admin took $0.4bn ✓, and other operating costs took $0.1bn ✓. What remains is operating profit, the profit from the main business, which was $2.0bn ✓. Interest and other items came to -$0.2bn ✓, and income tax was $0.3bn ✓. That left net income of $1.5bn ✓. Put simply, out of every hundred dollars of sales, Howmet kept about $18 ✓ as profit.

Out of every $100 customers paid in FY2025…

Cost of goods sold and depreciation $69Selling and admin $5Other operating costs $1Other costs (interest and losses) $3Income tax $4Profit kept $18
💡
The four business lines are not the same as the markets Howmet sells into. In 2025, commercial aerospace was 53% of Howmet's sales, defense aerospace 17%, commercial transportation 15%, gas turbines 11% and other markets 4% 27.

⏱️ Howmet by the clock

Spread the FY2025 totals evenly over its 365 days and you get this. Source: Howmet Aerospace Inc. 10-K [9].

🛒
$23m
in sales every day
⏱️
$48
of profit every second
🔬
$0.1m
on research every day
🎁
$2.4m
handed to shareholders every day

📈How is Howmet doing?

Howmet's sales rose 11.1% ✓ to $8.3bn ✓ in FY2025, and its margins and free cash flow also rose. Operating margin reached 24.8% ✓, up from 22.0% ✓ in FY2024. Free cash flow was $1.4bn ✓, up from $1.0bn ✓. Howmet says engine spares were part of its 2025 sales growth in commercial aerospace, defense aerospace and gas turbines 33.

In the third quarter of 2026, Howmet's revenue rose 29% from a year earlier, or 25% on an organic basis 31. Its chief executive called that the strongest quarterly growth rate on record for Howmet 31. Here, record means its best result since the April 1, 2020 separation from Arconic Corporation 31. That quarter, revenue grew 32% in commercial aerospace, 10% in defense aerospace, 45% in gas turbines and 28% in commercial transportation 31. Howmet says a modest recovery in commercial transportation began in the second quarter of 2026 and is expected to continue 5.

In the four quarters to 30 September 2026, sales were $9.7bn ✓, up 22.0% ✓ on the four quarters before. Operating margin over those four quarters was 28.1% ✓. Sales in that period include Brunner Manufacturing, bought on February 6, 2026 6. They also include Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing, bought on April 6, 2026 657. Howmet sold its disk forging plant in Savannah, Georgia on March 31, 2026 6.

Howmet took its present form on April 1, 2020, when Arconic Inc. split into two companies 28. From FY2020 to FY2025, sales grew 9.4% ✓ a year. Sales rose in 4 ✓ of those 5 ✓ years. Gross margin rose from 21.0% ✓ to 30.7% ✓.

📝 The report card

Howmet earns good marks for growth and profit, middle marks for cash and steadiness, and a low mark for its balance sheet. Every company is graded on the same fixed scale, so an A means the same thing on every page. The strip shows where Howmet (orange) and its 5 peers land; further right is better.

B

Growth

Sales growth per year, last 3 fiscal years
13.4% · peer median 7.0%
#3 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 15.0%B ≥ 10.0%C ≥ 5.0%D ≥ 0.0%F below 0.0%

Howmet's sales grew 13.4% ✓ a year over its last three fiscal years, which earns a B ✓. The median of its five peers was 7.0% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Growing sales is the engine of a business. Mature giants rarely grow fast, so 5% a year already earns a C.

B

Profitability

Operating margin, last 3 years combined
21.9% · peer median 14.7%
#2 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 30.0%B ≥ 20.0%C ≥ 10.0%D ≥ 5.0%F below 5.0%

Over the last three years combined, Howmet kept 21.9% ✓ of sales as operating profit, which earns a B ✓. The peer median was 14.7% ✓, and TransDigm kept 45.5% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Operating margin is the share of each sales dollar left after running the business. Software and platforms often clear 30%; hardware makers usually sit below 10%.

C

Cash generation

Free cash flow as a share of sales, last 3 years combined
13.8% · peer median 9.4%
#2 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 20.0%B ≥ 15.0%C ≥ 10.0%D ≥ 5.0%F below 5.0%

Over the last three years combined, Howmet turned 13.8% ✓ of sales into free cash flow, which earns a C ✓. The peer median was 9.4% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Free cash flow is the cash left after paying for factories, data centres and equipment. It funds dividends, buybacks and new bets.

D

Balance sheet

Net cash (cash and investments minus borrowings; leases and stakes in other companies not counted) as a share of a year's sales
-28.0% · peer median -29.1%
#3 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 20.0%B ≥ 5.0%C ≥ -10.0%D ≥ -30.0%F below -30.0%

Howmet's cash and investments minus its borrowings (leases not counted) came to -28.0% ✓ of a year's sales at the end of FY2025, which earns a D ✓. The peer median was -29.1% ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

More cash than debt gives a company room to ride out bad years. Some debt is normal; a lot of it makes a company fragile.

C

Steadiness

How much yearly sales growth swings (standard deviation, up to 10 years)
8.8% · peer median 15.8%
#2 of 6 in the peer group
A ≤ 5.0%B ≤ 8.0%C ≤ 12.0%D ≤ 18.0%F above 18.0%

From FY2021 to FY2025, Howmet's yearly sales growth had a standard deviation of 8.8% ✓, which earns a C ✓. Yearly growth ranged from -5.5% ✓ in FY2021 to 17.3% ✓ in FY2023.

Why this measure? (lower is better)

Steady growers are easier to plan around. Big swings mean sales depend on product cycles, the economy or one-off events.

🧑‍🏫 How the grades work
  1. Same scale for everyone. Each measure has fixed cut-offs (shown under each strip). Clear the A line and you get an A, whatever your peers do.
  2. Three years together. Profitability and cash generation add up the last three fiscal years before dividing, so one unusual year counts for less than it would on its own (a year much bigger than the others still weighs most).
  3. Peers for context. The rank shows how Howmet compares with the group. Companies within 0.1 percentage point share a rank.
  4. Same source. Every company's figures come from its own latest annual report (10-K), so fiscal years end in different months.
  5. Judgement, openly stated. The cut-offs are QuantVantage.ai's view of what good looks like for a large, established company. They are not a forecast or a recommendation.

6 years at a glance

Revenue
$8.3bn
FY2025
Revenue by fiscal yearFY2020: $5.3bnFY2021: $5.0bnFY2022: $5.7bnFY2023: $6.6bnFY2024: $7.4bnFY2025: $8.3bnFY2020FY2025
Operating margin
24.8%
FY2025
Operating marginFY2020FY2025
Free cash flow
$1.4bn
FY2025
Free cash flow by fiscal yearFY2020: -$0.3bnFY2021: $0.3bnFY2022: $0.5bnFY2023: $0.7bnFY2024: $1.0bnFY2025: $1.4bnFY2020FY2025
Net cash
-$2.3bn
end of FY2025
Net cash by fiscal yearFY2020: -$3.5bnFY2021: -$3.5bnFY2022: -$3.4bnFY2023: -$3.1bnFY2024: -$2.8bnFY2025: -$2.3bnFY2020FY2025

Where the cash goes

From FY2020 to FY2025, Howmet spent $2.8bn ✓ on buybacks and dividends, against $3.6bn ✓ of free cash flow. In FY2025, payouts equalled 62% ✓ of free cash flow. Howmet's third-quarter 2026 results put its common stock repurchases at $1.1 billion for the year to date 31. On October 28, 2026, its board added $5 billion to the repurchase program, leaving about $5.397 billion authorized 3431.

Free cash flow vs cash returned to shareholders$0bnFY2020 free cash flow -$0.3bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $0.1bnFY20FY2021 free cash flow $0.3bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $0.4bnFY21FY2022 free cash flow $0.5bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $0.4bnFY22FY2023 free cash flow $0.7bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $0.3bnFY23FY2024 free cash flow $1.0bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $0.6bnFY24FY2025 free cash flow $1.4bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $0.9bnFY25
Free cash flow vs cash returned to shareholders$0bnFY2020 free cash flow -$0.3bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $0.1bnFY20FY2021 free cash flow $0.3bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $0.4bnFY21FY2022 free cash flow $0.5bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $0.4bnFY22FY2023 free cash flow $0.7bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $0.3bnFY23FY2024 free cash flow $1.0bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $0.6bnFY24FY2025 free cash flow $1.4bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $0.9bnFY25
■ Free cash flow   ■ Buybacks + dividends. Source: Howmet Aerospace Inc. 10-K filings.

🧮Ratios 101: what are Howmet's key financial ratios?

Ratios turn Howmet's large numbers into easy comparisons with its peers and with its own recent past. A ratio divides one number by another so companies of any size can be compared. Each card shows the formula with Howmet's real FY2025 numbers, the peer median and the trend.

💰 Profitability: how much of each sale is kept?

Higher is better

Gross margin

30.7%
Gross profit$2.5bn$8.3bnSales=30.7%

What is left from each sale after paying to make the product or deliver the service.

👉 Howmet's gross margin was 30.7% ✓ in FY2025, up from 22.2% ✓ in FY2021. The peer median was 30.6% ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 40% usually signals pricing power or a big software or services mix.

Peer median 30.6% (5 peers)FY2021 22.2%
Gross margin by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
Higher is better

Operating margin

24.8%
Operating profit$2.0bn$8.3bnSales=24.8%

What is left after also paying for research, marketing and running the company.

👉 Howmet's 24.8% ✓ is above the 18.6% ✓ peer median and its own 15.0% ✓ in FY2021.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 20% is strong for a large company.

Peer median 18.6% (5 peers)FY2021 15.0%
Operating margin by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
Higher is better

Net margin

18.3%
Net income$1.5bn$8.3bnSales=18.3%

The bottom line: profit after interest and taxes, per dollar of sales.

👉 Howmet kept 18.3% ✓ of FY2025 sales as final profit, up from 5.2% ✓ in FY2021 and above the 17.0% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 15% is strong; one-off tax items can move it in a single year.

Peer median 17.0% (5 peers)FY2021 5.2%
Net margin by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
It depends

Return on equity (ROE)

28.2%
Net income$1.5bn$5.4bnShareholders' equity=28.2%

Profit earned for each dollar that shareholders have left in the company.

👉 ROE of 28.2% ✓ compares with 7.4% ✓ in FY2021 and a peer median of 23.1% ✓. Shareholders' equity was $5.4bn ✓ in FY2025.

📏 Rule of thumb: Around 15% or more is good, but buybacks shrink equity and can make ROE look huge.

Peer median 23.1% (4 peers)FY2021 7.4%
Return on equity (ROE) by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025

⚙️ Efficiency: how hard do the assets work?

Higher is better

Return on assets (ROA)

13.5%
Net income$1.5bn$11.2bnTotal assets=13.5%

Profit earned from everything the company owns, however it was paid for.

👉 ROA of 13.5% ✓ is up from 2.5% ✓ in FY2021 and above the 7.9% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 10% is strong; banks and factories usually earn less.

Peer median 7.9% (5 peers)FY2021 2.5%
Return on assets (ROA) by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
Higher is better

Asset turnover

0.7x
Sales$8.3bn$11.2bnTotal assets=0.7x

Dollars of sales squeezed out of each dollar of assets.

👉 Howmet's sales were 0.7x ✓ the value of everything it owned in FY2025, up from 0.5x ✓ in FY2021 and level with the 0.7x ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Retailers often top 2x; asset-heavy businesses can sit below 0.5x.

Peer median 0.7x (5 peers)FY2021 0.5x
Asset turnover by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
Lower is better

Inventory days

118 days
Inventory$1.8bn$5.7bnCost of sales× 365=118 days

How many days of products sit in warehouses before they are sold.

👉 Howmet held 118 ✓ days of stock in FY2025, down from 132 ✓ days in FY2021 and below the peer median of 138 ✓ days.

📏 Rule of thumb: Fewer days means less cash tied up and less risk of products going stale.

Peer median 138 days (5 peers)FY2021 132 days
Inventory days by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025

🛟 Safety: could it survive a bad year?

It depends

Current ratio

2.1x
Current assets$3.8bn$1.8bnCurrent liabilities=2.1x

Can short-term assets (cash, money owed by customers, stock) pay the bills due within a year?

👉 Howmet's 2.1x ✓ means it had $3.8bn ✓ of current assets against $1.8bn ✓ of bills due within a year. The peer median was 2.7x ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 1.0x is the classic comfort line, but cash-rich giants can run below it on purpose.

Peer median 2.7x (5 peers)FY2021 2.2x
Current ratio by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
Lower is better

Debt to equity

0.6x
Total debt$3.1bn$5.4bnShareholders' equity=0.6x

How much the company has borrowed for each dollar shareholders have in it.

👉 Howmet's 0.6x ✓ at the end of FY2025 is down from 1.2x ✓ in FY2021 and below the 0.9x ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Below 1.0x is conservative. Like ROE, it can rise when buybacks shrink equity, even if debt has not changed.

Peer median 0.9x (4 peers)FY2021 1.2x
Debt to equity by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025

💵 Cash and owners: where does the money end up?

Higher is better

Cash conversion

0.9x
Free cash flow$1.4bn$1.5bnNet income=0.9x

Does reported profit turn into real cash? Free cash flow is operating cash minus capital spending.

👉 Howmet turned profit into free cash at 0.9x ✓ in FY2025, against 1.0x ✓ in FY2021 and a peer median of 0.8x ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Near or above 1.0x means profits are backed by cash.

Peer median 0.8x (5 peers)FY2021 1.0x
Cash conversion by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
It depends

R&D intensity

0.4%
R&D$37m$8.3bnSales=0.4%

How much of each sales dollar goes into inventing future products.

👉 Howmet spent 0.4% ✓ of FY2025 sales on R&D, compared with 0.3% ✓ in FY2021 and a peer median of 1.3% ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Tech companies often spend 10% to 20%; more is not always better if it does not pay off.

Peer median 1.3% (5 peers)FY2021 0.3%
R&D intensity by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
Lower is better

Stock pay

0.9%
Share-based pay$0.1bn$8.3bnSales=0.9%

Pay given to staff in shares instead of cash. It is a real cost to owners because it adds shares.

👉 Stock pay was 0.9% ✓ of FY2025 sales, compared with 0.8% ✓ in FY2021 and a peer median of 0.8% ✓.

📏 Rule of thumb: Under 5% of sales is modest for a tech company.

Peer median 0.8% (5 peers)FY2021 0.8%
Stock pay by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025
It depends

Shareholder payout

58.4%
Dividends + buybacks$0.9bn$1.5bnNet income=58.4%

How much of the year's profit was handed back to owners.

👉 Howmet returned 58.4% ✓ of FY2025 profit through dividends and buybacks, down from 174.0% ✓ in FY2021 and below the 116.3% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 100% means it returned more than it earned, using cash savings or debt.

Peer median 116.3% (5 peers)FY2021 174.0%
Shareholder payout by fiscal yearFY2020FY2025

Ratios use fiscal-year-end balance sheet values. Inputs are shown rounded, so dividing them can differ from the result in the last digit. A peer median leaves out peers that do not report the inputs, or where the ratio means nothing (for example, negative shareholders' equity). Rules of thumb are general guides from QuantVantage.ai, not hard limits. No share-price ratios (like price-to-earnings) are shown on this page.

🥊Who are Howmet's competitors?

Howmet names ATI among its principal competitors, and the two name each other in titanium 1517. GE Aerospace buys from Howmet 41516. Carpenter Technology, Hexcel and TransDigm sell into aircraft markets too, with product overlap only 1821151920.

Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue0%5%10%15%20%0%10%20%30%40%50%Sales growth per year, 3 years →Operating margin →GE Aerospace: revenue $45.9bn, growth 16.3%/yr, operating margin 18.6%GETransDigm: revenue $8.8bn, growth 17.6%/yr, operating margin 47.2%TDGHowmet: revenue $8.3bn, growth 13.4%/yr, operating margin 24.8%HWMATI: revenue $4.6bn, growth 6.1%/yr, operating margin 14.0%ATICarpenter Technology: revenue $3.1bn, growth 7.0%/yr, operating margin 22.5%CRSHexcel: revenue $1.9bn, growth 6.3%/yr, operating margin 9.1%HXL
Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue0%5%10%15%20%0%10%20%30%40%50%Sales growth per year, 3 years →Operating margin →GE Aerospace: revenue $45.9bn, growth 16.3%/yr, operating margin 18.6%GETransDigm: revenue $8.8bn, growth 17.6%/yr, operating margin 47.2%TDGHowmet: revenue $8.3bn, growth 13.4%/yr, operating margin 24.8%HWMATI: revenue $4.6bn, growth 6.1%/yr, operating margin 14.0%ATICarpenter Technology: revenue $3.1bn, growth 7.0%/yr, operating margin 22.5%CRSHexcel: revenue $1.9bn, growth 6.3%/yr, operating margin 9.1%HXL
Peer map from each company's latest 10-K. Bubble size = revenue. Source: SEC filings [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14].
CompanyWhere they competeRevenueGrowth/yr (3y)Op. marginFCF margin
Howmet (HWM, FY2025)Engine parts, fasteners, titanium structures and forged truck wheels 2$8.3bn13.4%24.8%17.3%
GE Aerospace (GE, FY2025)Buys from Howmet, at about 14% of Howmet's sales to outside customers in the first nine months of 2026 41516. In September 2026 it agreed to buy Consolidated Precision Products, an investment-castings maker Howmet lists among its competitors 41516$45.9bn16.3%18.6%15.9%
ATI (ATI, FY2025)Titanium and titanium-based alloys, where each names the other as a competitor; Howmet also names ATI for precision forgings 1517$4.6bn6.1%14.0%7.3%
Carpenter Technology (CRS, FY2026 to Jun 2026)Product overlap only: Carpenter makes premium specialty alloys, including titanium and nickel alloys, and Howmet makes castings, forgings, fasteners and titanium mill products 182115$3.1bn7.0%22.5%11.6%
Hexcel (HXL, FY2025)Product overlap only: Hexcel sells carbon-fiber composites for aircraft, and Howmet sells specially designed fasteners for lightweight composite airframes 192$1.9bn6.3%9.1%8.3%
TransDigm (TDG, FY2025 to Sep 2025)Product overlap only: both sell highly engineered parts for commercial and military aircraft 20215$8.8bn17.6%47.2%20.6%

Howmet also names Berkshire Hathaway's Precision Castparts, VSMPO, Lisi Aerospace and Aubert & Duval as principal competitors 15. It says competitors can make many of its products with similar or other processes 15.

🧭Howmet SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

💪 Strengths

  • Howmet says it can make more than 90% of all structural and rotating aero engine parts 2.
  • Over the last three years combined, Howmet kept 21.9% ✓ of sales as operating profit, a B ✓.
  • Howmet has long-term contracts with a significant number of its customers, though some can be renewed, renegotiated or re-priced 23.
  • Howmet says it is the world's largest manufacturer of gas turbine blades 25.

🩹 Weaknesses

  • GE Aerospace was about 14% and RTX about 11% of Howmet's sales to outside customers in the first nine months of 2026 4.
  • At 30 September 2026, Howmet had $4.4bn ✓ of borrowings and $0.5bn ✓ of cash and securities.
  • Howmet depends on one or a few suppliers for certain materials, such as titanium sponge and special metal alloys 23.
  • Commercial aerospace alone was 53% of Howmet's sales in 2025 27.

🚀 Opportunities

  • Howmet said in March 2026 that it expects gas turbines revenue of more than $2 billion over the next three to five years, compared with about $1 billion in 2025 25.
  • Howmet says about 70% of the truck wheel market is still untapped 22. It sees a chance to convert steel wheels to aluminum 22.
  • Many of Howmet's supply contracts for aircraft and engine programs foresee production increases over the next several years 23.
  • Howmet agreed in December 2025 to buy Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing for about $1.8 billion in cash 8. It completed the deal on April 6, 2026 657.

⚠️ Threats

  • Howmet says customers may buy less, switch to other suppliers or enter its markets themselves 23.
  • Howmet says Boeing production rates have had, and are expected to have, a material effect on its results 23.
  • In forged wheels, more aluminum wheel suppliers from China, Taiwan, India, South Korea and Turkey are trying to enter the global commercial transportation market 15.
  • Howmet expects to pass tariff costs to customers 6. It says a delay in recovering higher costs could affect its margins 6.

🏰Does Howmet have a moat?

Narrow moatApproval rules can limit other sources of supply 23. But several big customers cast their own airfoils, and competitors can make many of its products 15.
Brand 3/5
Why 3?

Howmet had about 1,590 registered trademarks at the end of 2025, including Howmet metal castings, Huck fasteners and Dura-Bright wheels 21. It presents Alcoa Wheels as the global leader in truck wheels 22.

Switching costs 4/5
Why 4?

Howmet says approval, license and qualification rules mean other sources may not be readily available in a manufacturing disruption 23. That goes for Howmet and for its customers 23. It has long-term contracts with a significant number of customers, though some can be renewed, renegotiated or re-priced 23. It has contracts to supply parts for existing and new aircraft and engine programs 23. But several of its largest customers have their own furnaces that make airfoil castings for their own use 15. Howmet also says customers may switch to alternative suppliers 23.

Network effects 1/5
Why 1?

Howmet sells its products directly to customers or through distributors 2.

Cost advantages and scale 4/5
Why 4?

In March 2026, Howmet described Engine Products as having the largest global capacity, with about 30 locations on three continents 24. Howmet says it is the world's largest manufacturer of gas turbine blades 25. Engine Products' profit margin, measured as Segment Adjusted EBITDA, was 37.8% in the first nine months of 2026, up from 33.0% a year earlier 5. Howmet says its price rises were greater than the material and inflation costs it passed on to customers in that period 5. It also says its segments face substantial and intense competition 15.

Intangibles (patents, licences, regulation) 3/5
Why 3?

Howmet had about 1,020 granted patents and 180 pending applications worldwide at the end of 2025 21. It says it holds a significant number of trade secrets, mostly on how it makes things and what its materials contain 21. Its March 2026 presentation describes patented cast-in cooling holes and a patented bond coat for its airfoils 24. Howmet also says its business as a whole does not depend materially on any single patent, trade secret or trademark 21.

A moat is what keeps rivals from taking a company's customers and profits. Scores are QuantVantage.ai's judgement (5 = strongest), set with the same rubric on every explainer (orange is Howmet; grey dots are peers).

🔭What should you watch next?

Year to 31 December 2026

Full-year 2026 revenue

Howmet's October 2026 guidance for full-year 2026 revenue is $10.29 billion to $10.31 billion 31.

2027

2027 revenue

Howmet expects 2027 revenue of about $11.5 billion, about 12% above its increased 2026 guidance 31.

2026

Capital spending

Howmet expects total capital spending of about 5% of sales in 2026, including growth investments in Engine Products 35.

By the end of 2026

Working out what the two fastener deals bought

Howmet expects to finish splitting the price paid for Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing and Brunner across what it bought by the end of 2026 6.

Second half of 2027

GE Aerospace's purchase of Consolidated Precision Products

GE Aerospace expects the deal to close in the second half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions 1636.

2027

Union contract

Howmet's next significant U.S. plant union agreement expires in 2027 30.

📚Learn the words

Revenue (sales)All the money a company takes in from customers before paying any costs.
Gross marginThe share of each sales dollar left after paying to make the product.
DepreciationThe way a company spreads the cost of factories and machines over the years it uses them.
Operating profitProfit from the main business after paying for products, research, marketing and admin, but before interest and tax.
Net incomeThe profit left at the very end, after every cost and tax has been paid.
Free cash flowThe cash a business has left after running itself and buying equipment. It can be used for dividends, buybacks or saving.
Organic growthSales growth with the effect of companies bought or sold taken out.
EBITDA marginProfit before interest, tax and the yearly charges for old equipment, as a share of sales. Companies adjust it in their own ways.
AirfoilA blade or vane shaped to guide air or hot gas inside a jet engine or gas turbine.
ForgingShaping hot or cold metal by pressing or hammering it.
Investment castingPouring melted metal into a ceramic mold made around a wax model.
Economic moatA lasting advantage, like high switching costs or large scale, that keeps rivals from taking a company's customers.

❓Frequently asked questions about Howmet

How does Howmet make money?

Howmet makes most of its money selling engine parts and fastening systems. In FY2025, engine products brought in $4.3bn ✓ and fastening systems $1.7bn ✓. Engineered structures added $1.1bn ✓ and forged wheels $1.0bn ✓.

Where did Howmet come from?

Howmet was once named Alcoa Inc., and later Arconic Inc. 28. On April 1, 2020, Arconic Inc. separated into Howmet Aerospace and Arconic Corporation 28. Howmet kept the engine, fastening, structures and forged wheel businesses 28.

What markets does Howmet sell to?

Aerospace is Howmet's largest market, at about 70% of its revenue in 2025 2. Commercial transportation was 15% of sales that year, gas turbines 11% and other markets 4% 27.

How much of Howmet's sales comes from GE Aerospace and RTX?

GE Aerospace was about 14% and RTX about 11% of Howmet's sales to outside customers in the first nine months of 2026 4. In 2025, each was about 11% 27.

Is Howmet's revenue still growing?

Yes, Howmet's revenue is growing. Sales rose 11.1% ✓ in FY2025. In the four quarters to 30 September 2026, sales were up 22.0% ✓ on the four quarters before. Sales in that period include two fastener businesses bought in 2026 657.

Who is Howmet's CEO?

John C. Plant is Howmet's Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and has been CEO since October 14, 2021 3031. Howmet's board says it discusses CEO succession at every meeting and has identified several possible internal candidates 3230.

Does Howmet pay a dividend?

Yes, Howmet pays a quarterly dividend. It raised that dividend by 17% to $0.14 per share in the third quarter of 2026 31. It paid $0.2bn ✓ in dividends in FY2025.

🎮Play: higher or lower, then test yourself

Higher or lower · round 1 of 6

Figures come from each company's latest annual report (10-K); fiscal years end in different months. Sources: [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14].

Score: 0

🧠 Test yourself

5 quick questions. Score: 0 / 5

1. About how much of Howmet's FY2025 sales came from engine products?

Engine products made up 52% ✓ of Howmet's sales in FY2025.

2. What was Howmet Aerospace called before April 2020?

Howmet Aerospace is the new name for Arconic Inc., which split in two on April 1, 2020 28.

3. What does Howmet say it invented in 1948?

Howmet says it invented the forged aluminum truck wheel in 1948 2.

4. How can some high-pressure turbine parts work in places hotter than their melting point?

Howmet's March 2026 presentation says air blown through these parts lets them work in environments above their melting point 24.

5. Which customer was about 14% of Howmet's sales to outside customers in the first nine months of 2026?

GE Aerospace was about 14% of Howmet's sales to outside customers in the first nine months of 2026 4.

🔎Sources and method

Every figure comes from a source listed here or is calculated from those sources (marked ✓). Company financials come from the reports each company files with the SEC (10-K annual and 10-Q quarterly reports). Peer grades rank the same measures across the company and its peers. This page contains no share-price data and no valuation.

  1. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Item 1 segment descriptions: Engine Products, Fastening Systems, Engineered Structures, Forged Wheels (accessed 2026-11-08)
  2. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Item 1 Overview and Description of the Business: products, end markets, countries, sales by region (accessed 2026-11-08)
  3. Howmet (HWM) Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, filed 2026-02-12 — revenue by product, segment and geography (accessed 2026-11-04)
  4. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-29) — Note D Segment Information: end-market revenue, customer concentration, segment recast; Note Q legal proceedings (accessed 2026-11-08)
  5. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-29) — MD&A Results of Operations and Segment Information (accessed 2026-11-08)
  6. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-29) — Note A and Note C: basis of presentation, tariffs, CAM and Brunner acquisitions, Savannah disposal (accessed 2026-11-08)
  7. Howmet Aerospace Form 8-K, Item 2.01 (filed 2026-04-06) — Completion of the Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing acquisition (accessed 2026-11-08)
  8. Howmet Aerospace press release on the Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing agreement, Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (December 22, 2025) — Acquisition agreement, business description, expected revenue (accessed 2026-11-08)
  9. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Howmet (HWM) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  10. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: GENERAL ELECTRIC CO (GE) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  11. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: ATI INC (ATI) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  12. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY CORP (CRS) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  13. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: HEXCEL CORP /DE/ (HXL) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  14. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: TransDigm Group INC (TDG) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  15. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Item 1 Competitive Conditions (accessed 2026-11-08)
  16. General Electric Company Form 8-K (September 8, 2026) — Agreement to acquire Consolidated Precision Products (accessed 2026-11-08)
  17. ATI Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 28, 2025 — High Performance Materials & Components: competitors, aerospace share of revenue (accessed 2026-11-08)
  18. Carpenter Technology Form 10-K for fiscal year ended June 30, 2026 — Business description: premium specialty alloys (accessed 2026-11-08)
  19. Hexcel Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 — Business description and Competition (accessed 2026-11-08)
  20. TransDigm Group Form 10-K for fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 — Business description: proprietary products, aftermarket share (accessed 2026-11-08)
  21. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Item 1 Patents, Trade Secrets, and Trademarks (accessed 2026-11-08)
  22. Howmet Aerospace Technology & Markets Day presentation, Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (March 10, 2026) — Forged Wheels slides: brand, addressable market, pass-through agreements (accessed 2026-11-08)
  23. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Item 1A Risk Factors: customer contracts, qualification requirements, suppliers, program demand, cost pass through, Boeing (accessed 2026-11-08)
  24. Howmet Aerospace Technology & Markets Day presentation, Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (March 10, 2026) — Engine Products slides: technology, scale, capacity, airfoil cooling and coatings (accessed 2026-11-08)
  25. Howmet Aerospace Technology & Markets Day presentation, Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (March 10, 2026) — Gas turbines slide: revenue outlook and blade market position (accessed 2026-11-08)
  26. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Howmet (HWM) — balance sheet at 2026-09-30 (accessed 2026-11-04)
  27. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Item 1 Sales by Market and Significant Customer Revenue (accessed 2026-11-08)
  28. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Cover page and Item 1 Background: fiscal year, incorporation, principal office, name history, 2020 separation (accessed 2026-11-08)
  29. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Howmet (HWM) — quarterly 10-Q/10-K facts (accessed 2026-11-04)
  30. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Item 1 Employees and Executive Officers of the Registrant (accessed 2026-11-08)
  31. Howmet Aerospace press release: Third Quarter 2026 Results, Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (October 29, 2026) — Third quarter 2026 results, repurchases, dividend, 2026 and 2027 guidance, CEO comments (accessed 2026-11-08)
  32. Howmet Aerospace 2026 proxy statement, DEF 14A (filed 2026-04-06) — Board approach to CEO succession planning (accessed 2026-11-08)
  33. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-12) — Item 7 Results of Operations: sales drivers, engine spares, research and development (accessed 2026-11-08)
  34. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-29) — Note I and Part II Item 2: share repurchase authorization (accessed 2026-11-08)
  35. Howmet Aerospace Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-29) — Note O and MD&A Liquidity: debt financing, capital expenditure expectation (accessed 2026-11-08)
  36. General Electric Company Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 — Note 7: Consolidated Precision Products acquisition timing (accessed 2026-11-08)