AAR Corp. (AIR) has emerged as one of the standout performers in the Aerospace sector, posting remarkable gains that far exceed the broader group’s average returns in 2026.
The stock has surged approximately 69.2% on a year-to-date basis, compared to the Aerospace sector’s average return of just 8.5% over the same period.
AAR is one of 77 individual stocks that make up the Aerospace sector, which currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #3 out of 16 total sector groups.
The Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, currently assigns AIR a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), reflecting a positive earnings outlook.
Analyst sentiment around AAR has been trending upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for AIR’s full-year earnings moving 1% higher within the past quarter.
This improvement in earnings estimates suggests that analysts are increasingly confident in the company’s ability to deliver stronger financial results going forward.
RTX Corporation (RTX) is another Aerospace stock that has managed to outperform its sector peers, returning 8.6% on a year-to-date basis, just edging past the sector average.
The consensus estimate for RTX’s current year earnings per share has increased 1.5% over the past three months, and the stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
When breaking down performance at the industry level, AAR belongs to the Aerospace – Defense Equipment industry, which includes 37 companies and currently ranks #71 in the Zacks Industry Rank.
That industry has gained an average of 18% so far this year, meaning AIR is still outperforming even its more narrowly defined peer group by a substantial margin.
RTX, by contrast, falls under the Aerospace – Defense industry, a 39-stock group ranked #107 that has moved just 5.1% higher so far this year.
Despite belonging to a lower-ranked industry group, RTX has still managed to beat that industry’s average return through its 8.6% year-to-date performance.
Both AAR and RTX carry Buy ratings and improving earnings estimate trends, making them stocks that Aerospace-focused investors may want to continue monitoring closely in the months ahead.
