In this article, we discuss 5 of the biggest aerospace companies in the world. If you want to see more of the biggest aerospace companies in the world, go directly to 15 Biggest Aerospace Companies in the World.
5. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)
2021 Aerospace Revenue: $35.67 billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is a leading American defense contractor that designs and builds cutting edge aircraft and spacecraft. Some of the company’s aerospace products include the B-2 bomber and the X-47B. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) also makes state of the art integrated avionics. For 2021, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) had aerospace revenue of $35.67 billion. LRT Capital Management commented on Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) in a Q2 2022 investor letter,
Based in Virginia, Northrop Grumman is one of the world’s largest defense contractors with annual revenue of more than $30 billion. The company operates in a cozy oligopoly, that after decades of consolidation the US defense market is now controlled by five large companies: The Boeing Company, General Dynamics Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Raytheon Technologies Corporation.
Industry barriers to entry are immense, government procurement cycles are extremely long, and the consolidated industry structure reflects this. This industry structure has allowed Northrop to earn stable mid-teens returns on invested capital (ROIC) and grow earnings per share at a rate of over 13% per year in the past decade, despite a topline that has grown only in-line with inflation.
4. Airbus
2021 Aerospace Revenue: $61.64 billion
Airbus is a leading European multinational that designs and manufactures civil and military aerospace products. In terms of civil aviation, Airbus along with The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) dominate the medium to large aircraft market given their scale and experience. As of 2021, Airbus had aerospace revenue of $61.64 billion, ranking it #4 on our list of 15 Biggest Aerospace Companies in the World.
3. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)
2021 Aerospace Revenue: $62.29 billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is a leading American multinational that makes the Boeing 747 which the American President uses for long air trips. In addition to forming a duopoly with Airbus in terms of civil aviation in the medium to large aircraft market, The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) also makes a variety of military aircraft. In 2021, The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) had aerospace revenue of $62.29 billion.
2. Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX)
2021 Aerospace Revenue: $64.39 billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45
Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate. In terms of its products, Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) makes advanced military technology such as engines for the F35 while also working on potential 6th generation engine technologies. In terms of civil aviation, the company makes flight systems and control tower services. For 2021, Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) ranks #2 on our list of 15 Biggest Aerospace Companies in the World with aerospace revenue of $64.39 billion.
1. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)
2021 Aerospace Revenue: $67.04 billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 55
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) ranks #1 on our list of 15 Biggest Aerospace Companies in the World given its 2021 aerospace revenue of $67.04 billion. Although it makes a variety of products such as helicopters and drones, none are more famous than Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)’s F22 and F35 which are the best 5th generation aircraft in the skies today. If military aerospace spending increases in the future, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) could benefit if it maintains its market share.
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) also has a space division that “build satellites and spacecraft that do amazing things in space for government and commercial customers. Lockheed Martin-built satellites give earlier warning of severe weather, connect troops on the battlefield, and deliver GPS directions to a billion people worldwide.”
You can also take a look at 20 Most Admired Companies in the World in 2022 and 15 Biggest Dow Companies By Market Cap.
