December 16, 2025 — GE Aerospace stock (NYSE: GE) traded around $299 in late morning U.S. hours Tuesday, modestly lower on the day, as investors digested a mix of fresh Wall Street coverage, a regulatory update tied to CFM’s LEAP engine family, and a steady drumbeat of defense and manufacturing headlines. [1]
After a powerful 2025 run, the near-term question for many shareholders is whether GE can keep converting strong demand into deliveries and high-margin services growth—while navigating engine durability scrutiny and an increasingly high bar set by bullish analyst price targets.
GE Aerospace stock price check: where GE shares stand on Dec. 16, 2025
As of 11:00 a.m. EST on Dec. 16, 2025, GE Aerospace shares were at $299.29, down 0.56% on the session. The same snapshot showed a market cap near $315.7 billion, with the stock’s trailing P/E around 39.9 and a listed forward P/E around 44.1. [2]
Those valuation levels matter because many of the most optimistic “GE stock forecast” narratives assume continued execution: higher engine output, rising shop visits, and pricing discipline in services.
The headlines moving GE Aerospace stock right now
Several storylines have dominated the latest GE Aerospace stock news cycle heading into mid-December:
- New bullish analyst coverage: Citi initiated coverage with a Buy and a $386 price target, arguing GE could potentially become a $1 trillion market-cap aerospace and defense company within about five years. [3]
- Another major initiation: Susquehanna initiated with a Positive rating and a $350 target, emphasizing GE’s large installed base and the long runway in services. [4]
- A notable bearish counterpoint: BNP Paribas Exane initiated coverage with an Underperform rating and a $275 price target (a reminder that not all analysts agree the risk/reward still works after the rally). [5]
- FAA action on LEAP-1A inspections: A new FAA airworthiness directive (AD) addresses inspection requirements tied to LEAP-1A turbine blade issues, with an effective date at the end of December. [6]
- Capital return + calendar catalysts: GE declared a $0.36 quarterly dividend with an ex-dividend date of Dec. 29, 2025, and scheduled its Q4 2025 earnings webcast for Jan. 22, 2026. [7]
Why Citi’s “$1 trillion” thesis got investors’ attention
Citi’s initiation landed as GE Aerospace stock hovered near recent highs, and it was notable for two reasons: (1) the ambition (a trillion-dollar market cap) and (2) the explicit megatrend framing—commercial aerospace growth, defense demand, and long-cycle programs that can compound for years. [8]
Citi’s published $386 target implies a meaningful premium to recent prices and positions GE as a “top pick” style name within aerospace and defense coverage. [9]
Susquehanna’s GE stock outlook: “services flywheel” and installed base
Susquehanna’s initiation leaned heavily into a core GE Aerospace equity story: the installed base and the aftermarket economics.
In its coverage note summary, Susquehanna highlighted that—counting GE’s own engines plus its 50/50 CFM International joint venture—GE powers “three out of every four” commercial engine flights globally. The firm also pointed to an installed base exceeding 45,000 commercial and 25,000 military engines, expecting mid-single-digit growth that can support services demand for years. [10]
Crucially for forecasts, Susquehanna also cited an estimated 14.7% EPS CAGR (2025–2028) and described services as roughly 65% of revenues, a mix shift that typically supports margins. [11]
FAA LEAP-1A directive: what it is, and why GE investors care
One of the most important pieces of non-earnings news for the GE Aerospace story in December is the FAA’s updated directive affecting certain CFM LEAP-1A engines (used on Airbus A320neo-family aircraft).
The FAA’s rule cites reports including two in-flight shutdowns and findings of cracks in high-pressure turbine rotor stage 1 blades, and sets requirements around initial and repetitive borescope inspections (and replacement actions depending on results). The directive lists an effective date of Dec. 29, 2025, with comments due later in January. [12]
A key nuance for investors: the headlines can sound alarming, but the operational and financial impact can cut multiple ways.
- FlightGlobal reported the FAA expanded inspection requirements after determining more engines are susceptible to turbine blade cracks and failures due to dust exposure, and said the risk applies beyond a previously known region. [13]
- In the same reporting, CFM (co-owned by GE Aerospace and Safran) characterized it as a “known issue,” said customers had already been complying with a related service bulletin, and added it did not expect operational disruption from the directive. [14]
For GE’s investment narrative, this matters because:
- Durability and reliability are central to OEM competitiveness and airline relationships.
- The services business (parts, shop visits, field support) is a major earnings driver—and inspection and maintenance cycles can influence demand patterns, timing, and cost sharing.
The fundamental engine: services-heavy earnings and raised 2025 guidance
GE’s most recent reported quarter (Q3 2025) reinforced the bull case that demand is strong and output is improving:
- GE reported Q3 2025 adjusted revenue of $11.3B (+26%), operating profit of $2.3B (+26%), adjusted EPS of $1.66 (+44%), and free cash flow of $2.4B (+30%). [15]
- The company also raised full-year 2025 guidance. In its guidance table, GE indicated adjusted EPS of $6.00–$6.20, operating profit of $8.65–$8.85B, and free cash flow of $7.1–$7.3B, alongside “high-teens” adjusted revenue growth. [16]
Reuters’ reporting around that Q3 release highlighted the economic structure that often underpins GE Aerospace stock: parts and services. Reuters wrote that more than 70% of GE’s commercial engine revenue comes from parts and services, and noted GE expected aircraft departures to rise 3%–4% in the second half of 2025—important because departures are a key driver of maintenance demand. [17]
2025 shipment and delivery forecasts: what analysts are modeling
Beyond company guidance, “GE stock forecast” discussions increasingly center on the production recovery—especially for LEAP engines in the narrowbody market.
S&P Global Market Intelligence (Visible Alpha consensus) published a late-November research note that projected:
- 2025 shipments rising 19% to 2,273 units, and
- LEAP deliveries jumping 26% to 1,773 units in 2025. [18]
That same note also summarized a consensus view of 2025 total revenue around $44.4B (+15% YoY), with commercial engines and services driving the bulk of the growth. [19]
These forecasts align with GE’s own narrative that supply chain improvements and higher material input are enabling higher output—while airlines keep older fleets flying longer and spending heavily on maintenance.
Defense and industrial momentum: LM2500 orders and manufacturing investments
While commercial engines and services dominate most GE Aerospace valuation models, defense and marine programs remain meaningful—and can help smooth cycles.
On Dec. 10, 2025, GE Aerospace said its Marine Engines & Systems business received orders to supply eight LM2500 marine gas turbines for the U.S. Navy’s next two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (USS Intrepid and USS Robert Kerrey). [20]
GE added that, as of January 2025, 74 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers were active with LM2500 engines as the prime mover, and that the program represented 296 LM2500 engines across 74 ships. [21]
On the manufacturing side, GE has continued to publicize capacity investments tied to ramping output and supporting MRO:
- West Jefferson, North Carolina: GE announced a nearly $53M investment to expand the facility by 35,000+ square feet, aimed at boosting production for in-demand narrowbody engines, and said the project would create 40+ new jobs. [22]
- Wales (Nantgarw, UK): GE announced a £19M investment over three years to refurbish its Wales MRO site, including upgrades to roof space and infrastructure improvements. [23]
- Pune, India: GE announced a $14M investment to expand manufacturing capability, building on a prior $30M announcement, with upgrades including automation for advanced components. [24]
And on the customer/order front, GE highlighted a strategic deal with Saudia Group to equip its Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft order with GEnx-1B engines plus a multi-year MRO program and spare engines. [25]
Dividend and earnings calendar: key dates for GE stock investors
For near-term positioning, two dates stand out on the GE Aerospace calendar:
- Dividend: GE declared a $0.36 per share quarterly dividend, payable Jan. 26, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 29, 2025 (with an ex-dividend date of Dec. 29, 2025). [26]
- Earnings: GE listed its Q4 2025 earnings webcast for Jan. 22, 2026 (7:30 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. EST). [27]
Analyst price targets: why GE’s “consensus” depends on the source
If you’re searching “GE Aerospace stock forecast” or “GE stock price target,” one confusing reality is that the “consensus” target can vary depending on the dataset.
Here’s what major, widely referenced feeds show recently:
- Citi: $386 target (Buy initiation). [28]
- Susquehanna: $350 target (Positive initiation). [29]
- BNP Paribas Exane: $275 target (Underperform initiation). [30]
- Nasdaq/Fintel summary: average one-year target $345.22 (range $277.75–$392.70) as of early December. [31]
- StockAnalysis snapshot: “Strong Buy” with a listed price target of $311. [32]
What to take away: even when ratings skew positive, the spread between high and low targets is wide—often reflecting different assumptions around durability costs, LEAP ramp cadence, shop visit timing, and how much of the current premium valuation is already “priced in.”
Risks to watch: what could challenge the bull case
No matter which forecast you prefer, the biggest swing factors for GE Aerospace stock heading into 2026 are likely to include:
- Durability and reliability headlines tied to LEAP and other engine families (including inspection mandates and airline cost-sharing debates). [33]
- Supply chain execution (can GE and key suppliers keep material input rising, maintain quality, and hit delivery schedules?). [34]
- Commercial cycle sensitivity: GE benefits when aircraft utilization is high; a macro shock that hits air traffic can slow service growth. [35]
- Valuation risk: after a major run, even “good news” can disappoint if it isn’t better-than-expected.
A note on “today’s” ownership headlines
Two automated, filing-driven items circulated on Dec. 16 related to institutional activity in GE Aerospace shares—highlighting that professional ownership remains high and positions shift quarter to quarter:
- MarketBeat summarized that Caldwell Trust disclosed a new stake (4,360 shares valued around $1.12M) based on a 13F filing. [36]
- Another filing-driven recap highlighted NWF Advisory Services selling 10,228 shares (as reported in the same automated feed). [37]
These aren’t usually primary fundamentals drivers, but they do contribute to daily “GE stock news” flow.
Bottom line: On Dec. 16, 2025, GE Aerospace stock is being pulled by a classic late-cycle aerospace mix: bullish multi-year services and production recovery forecasts, offset by durability/regulatory headlines and a valuation that leaves less room for execution slips. Investors now turn toward the Dec. 29 dividend date and the Jan. 22, 2026 earnings event for the next major catalysts. [38]
References
1. stockanalysis.com, 2. stockanalysis.com, 3. www.tipranks.com, 4. www.investing.com, 5. www.tipranks.com, 6. www.federalregister.gov, 7. www.geaerospace.com, 8. www.investors.com, 9. www.tipranks.com, 10. www.investing.com, 11. www.investing.com, 12. www.federalregister.gov, 13. www.flightglobal.com, 14. www.flightglobal.com, 15. www.geaerospace.com, 16. www.geaerospace.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.spglobal.com, 19. www.spglobal.com, 20. www.geaerospace.com, 21. www.geaerospace.com, 22. www.geaerospace.com, 23. www.geaerospace.com, 24. www.geaerospace.com, 25. www.geaerospace.com, 26. www.geaerospace.com, 27. www.geaerospace.com, 28. www.tipranks.com, 29. www.investing.com, 30. www.tipranks.com, 31. www.nasdaq.com, 32. stockanalysis.com, 33. www.federalregister.gov, 34. www.geaerospace.com, 35. www.reuters.com, 36. www.marketbeat.com, 37. www.marketbeat.com, 38. stockanalysis.com
