We recently published a list of Why These 15 Aerospace Stocks Are Surging In 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where VSE Corporation (NASDAQ:VSEC) stands against other aerospace stocks that are surging in 2025.
The aerospace industry is riding a wave of growth as global conflicts across the world have sparked a surge in demand. This has led to swelling backlogs and a flood of orders from every corner of the globe. Meanwhile, recent administration changes in the United States have shaken things up. European countries are ramping up their aerospace orders and are eager to secure advanced technology.
Some nations have hesitated over U.S. orders amid shifting policies, but cancellations seem unlikely since trade wars have simmered down a bit. Beyond geopolitics, the industry is buzzing with other trends. The commercial aviation sector is roaring back with record passenger traffic. This has pushed airlines to modernize fleets with fuel-efficient aircraft.
Moreover, AI software is making defense aircraft more potent, and the entire industry has seen a bump in growth.
Methodology
For this article, I screened the best-performing aerospace stocks year-to-date.
I will also mention the number of hedge fund investors in these stocks. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A close-up of a technician’s hands assembling parts for a commercial aircraft.
VSE Corporation (NASDAQ:VSEC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 17
VSE Corporation (NASDAQ:VSEC) provides aftermarket distribution, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for aviation and fleet assets.
The stock is up significantly so far in 2025 as VSE Corporation (NASDAQ:VSEC) announced an agreement to sell its Fleet business (Wheeler Fleet Solutions) to One Equity Partners for up to $230 million, including $140 million upfront cash, a $25 million seller note, and $65 million in potential earn-outs.
This divestiture streamlines operations to focus on higher-margin aviation services, with proceeds earmarked for debt reduction.
In Q4 2024, the aviation segment revenue surged 45% year-over-year, and 2025 guidance projects 35-40% year-over-year aviation revenue growth, with EBITDA margins at 15.5-16.5%.
The company’s December 2024 acquisition of Kellstrom Aerospace expanded VSE’s commercial aerospace engine aftermarket capabilities and contributed 26% year-over-year total revenue growth in 2024 to $1.08 billion and $52 million in Q4 free cash flow.
The consensus price target of $118.67 implies 5.29% downside.
VSEC stock is up 31.87% year-to-date.
Overall, VSEC ranks 7th on our list of aerospace stocks that are surging in 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of VSEC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VSEC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
