CAE Inc. (NYSE:CAE) is one of the best stocks for beginners with little money in 2026. On February 12, CAE released its FQ3 2026 earnings report, with total revenue reaching $1.25 billion, which was a 2% increase year-over-year. The standout performer was the Defense segment, which saw a 14% revenue jump and a 38% increase in adjusted operating income, driven by superior program execution and strategic partnerships with entities like Saab and the Australian Defense Force. In contrast, the Civil segment f ...

Core Viewpoint - CAE is currently viewed as a more attractive investment option compared to AeroVironment based on valuation metrics and earnings outlook [3][7]. Valuation Metrics - CAE has a forward P/E ratio of 34.66, while AeroVironment has a significantly higher forward P/E of 70.42 [5]. - The PEG ratio for CAE is 2.28, indicating a more favorable valuation relative to its expected earnings growth compared to AeroVironment's PEG ratio of 3.61 [5]. - CAE's P/B ratio stands at 2.58, which is lower than AeroVironment's P/B ratio of 2.76, suggesting that CAE may be undervalued relative to its book value [6]. Earnings Outlook - CAE is experiencing an improving earnings outlook, which enhances its attractiveness in the Zacks Rank model [7]. - CAE holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger earnings estimate revision trend compared to AeroVironment's Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3]. Value Grades - CAE has a Value grade of B, while AeroVironment has a Value grade of F, reflecting a significant difference in perceived value based on key financial metrics [6].

Group 1 - Scotiabank raised its price target on CAE Inc. to C$57 from C$49, maintaining an Outperform rating due to confidence in the company's strategic transformation and margin recovery [1] - CAE Inc. reported revenue of C$1.25 billion in Q3, up from C$1.22 billion year-over-year, indicating operational improvement and progress in its transformation plan [3] - The Defense division achieved an adjusted segment operating margin above 10% for the first time in over six years, while the Civil segment showed year-over-year softness [3] Group 2 - CAE Inc. completed a portfolio review identifying non-core assets that represent approximately 8% of revenue and plans to pursue divestitures where value accretion is clear [3] - The company intends to rationalize its commercial airline simulator fleet by removing roughly 10% of deployed units to improve utilization and returns, which may temper near-term revenue but is expected to enhance long-term profitability [3] - CAE Inc. designs and manufactures simulation and training technologies for airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and defense customers worldwide [4]

Core Insights - CAE Inc. is a global leader in training for civil aviation, defense, and healthcare sectors, providing simulation technologies and integrated training solutions [1] - The company faces competition from L3Harris Technologies and FlightSafety International in the simulation and training industry [1] Financial Performance - Jefferies maintained a "Hold" rating for CAE, adjusting its price target from C$34 to C$31, reflecting a cautious outlook based on current market conditions [2][6] - The stock price of CAE is currently $30.22, representing a 3.70% decrease, or $1.16, from previous levels, which aligns with Jefferies' revised price target [3][6] - CAE's market capitalization is approximately $9.72 billion, with a trading volume of 1,965,720 shares, indicating significant market presence and investor interest [5][6] Stock Performance - The stock's trading range today is between $30.16 and $32.78, showing some volatility [4] - Over the past year, CAE's stock has fluctuated between a high of $34.24 and a low of $20.36, indicating sensitivity to market dynamics and investor sentiment [4]

Group 1: Canada's Defense Strategy - Canada has launched a C$500 billion ($369 billion) defense-industrial strategy aimed at shifting military spending towards domestic suppliers, with a goal of awarding 70% of defense acquisitions to local firms [2][9] - This strategy is expected to create 125,000 jobs and triple industry revenue while insulating the supply chain from global volatility [2][9] - The plan marks a significant shift from reliance on U.S. contractors, with domestic companies like CAE Inc. anticipated to benefit significantly from this investment cycle [3][9] Group 2: AI Investment and Market Volatility - The technology sector is experiencing a "Phase Two" of the AI bubble burst, with the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) dropping over 20% year-to-date as investors question current valuations [4][9] - A global survey indicates that 71% of CIOs may freeze or cut AI budgets if they cannot demonstrate measurable business value by mid-2026, highlighting a "monetization lag" in generative AI investments [5][9] - Despite $30-$40 billion invested in enterprise GenAI, nearly 95% of organizations have not seen a tangible return on investment, leading to a structural reset in industry-wide margin profiles [5][9] Group 3: Geopolitical Context - EU High Representative Kaja Kallas warned that Russia's diplomatic negotiations pose a greater threat than its military actions, as Russia seeks to gain what it could not achieve on the battlefield after suffering 1.2 million casualties [6][9] Group 4: Legal Transparency in the U.S. - The U.S. Justice Department has allowed lawmakers to access unredacted versions of the Jeffrey Epstein files, following pressure regarding previous redactions that included high-profile "politically exposed persons" [7][9]

Core Insights - The company reported a solid third quarter for fiscal 2026, with defense performance offsetting weaker civil aviation activity [6] Financial Performance - Civil segment revenue declined 5% to CAD 717.2 million, with adjusted operating income falling 6% to CAD 141.8 million, resulting in a 19.8% margin [1] - Consolidated revenue rose 2% year over year to CAD 1.25 billion, with adjusted segment operating income increasing 3% to CAD 195.8 million, and adjusted earnings per share rising to CAD 0.34 from CAD 0.29 [5] - Defense revenue increased 14% to CAD 534.9 million, with adjusted operating income rising 38% to CAD 54 million, achieving a 10.1% margin [8] Debt and Cash Flow - Net debt at the end of the quarter was approximately $2.8 billion, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2.3x, surpassing the previous goal of 2.5x [2] - Net cash flow from operating activities was CAD 407.6 million, while free cash flow was $411.3 million, slightly higher than the previous year [3] Transformation Plan - The company is undergoing a multi-phase transformation plan focused on portfolio sharpening, capital discipline, and operational performance improvement [6][12] - CAE has identified non-core assets representing about 8% of revenue for potential divestiture, with strategic alternatives being explored [13] - A shared services outsourcing initiative has been launched to modernize finance and HR processes, aiming for reduced administrative costs [15] Market Outlook - The outlook for civil aviation has softened, with expectations of a mid-single-digit percentage decline in annual adjusted segment operating income, while defense adjusted segment operating income growth is raised to over 20% year over year [9][11] - Training center utilization decreased to 71% from 76% a year earlier, with plans to rationalize the simulator network to improve capacity and utilization [7][14] Recent Developments - Recent program wins include a partnership with Saab on the GlobalEye platform and a contract for Australia's Future Air Mission Training System valued at over $270 million [16] - The company had a successful Singapore Airshow, signing agreements totaling more than $160 million [16] - Leadership changes include the appointment of Ryan McLeod as CFO, with the evaluation phase of the transformation plan expected to be completed by May [17]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenue for Q3 was CAD 1.25 billion, a 2% increase year-over-year [16] - Adjusted Segment Operating Income rose to CAD 195.8 million, up 3% from CAD 190 million in the same quarter last year [16] - Adjusted EPS increased to CAD 0.34, compared to CAD 0.29 a year ago [16] - Net finance expense decreased to CAD 54.1 million from CAD 56.6 million in the previous year [17] - Free cash flow was CAD 411.3 million, slightly above CAD 409.8 million recorded in the same quarter last year [18] - Capital expenditures totaled CAD 50.6 million, with expectations for full-year CapEx to be over 10% lower than last year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Civil segment, revenue decreased by 5% year-over-year to CAD 717.2 million, with adjusted operating income down 6% to CAD 141.8 million [19] - Training Center Utilization in the Civil segment was 71%, down from 76% in the prior year [20] - In the Defense segment, revenue increased by 14% year-over-year to CAD 534.9 million, with adjusted operating income up 38% to CAD 54 million, achieving a margin of 10.1% [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The civil aviation market is expected to grow at 4%-5% annually over the long term, despite current disruptions [52] - Defense spending is projected to grow significantly, with Canada committing CAD 82 billion over the next five years [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is implementing a multi-pronged transformation plan focusing on portfolio sharpening, disciplined capital management, and operational excellence [5][12] - The transformation plan aims to improve margins, cash flow, and returns on investment, with specific targets to be shared in the next quarter [7][35] - The company is rationalizing its civil training network to align capacity with current demand, which may impact near-term revenue [30][39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges near-term revenue impacts from the transformation plan but believes it will lead to stronger long-term performance [8][34] - The defense segment is expected to see over 20% growth in adjusted segment operating income year-over-year, reflecting a favorable market environment [32] - The company is confident in its long-term growth prospects in both civil and defense markets, supported by strong fundamentals [46] Other Important Information - The company has identified non-core assets representing approximately 8% of revenue for potential divestiture [36] - Recent leadership changes include the appointment of Ryan McLeod as Chief Financial Officer, expected to enhance operational finance and capital discipline [13] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Long-term perspective on civil business returns - Management indicated that the civil business could generate solid mid-teen returns over the long term, with a focus on improving utilization and profitability [50][54] Question: Conversations with civil customers regarding network rationalization - Initial conversations with civil customers have been positive, focusing on resizing the network to meet current demand [58][60] Question: Nature of identified non-core assets - Non-core assets are present in both civil and defense segments, and the company is focused on finding suitable buyers for these businesses [66][67] Question: Outlook for civil aviation training demand - Management noted that while current demand is softer than expected, the long-term growth trajectory remains strong at 4%-5% [72][74] Question: Timing of potential divestitures - The company is moving cautiously through the divestiture process, with a timeline of 18-24 months for completion [75][76] Question: Defense segment margin improvements - The defense segment's margin improvements are attributed to better contract mix and cost controls, with expectations for continued growth [80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenue for Q3 was CAD 1.25 billion, a 2% increase year-over-year [16] - Adjusted Segment Operating Income rose to CAD 195.8 million, up 3% from CAD 190 million in the same quarter last year [16] - Adjusted EPS increased to CAD 0.34, compared to CAD 0.29 a year ago [16] - Net finance expense decreased to CAD 54.1 million from CAD 56.6 million in the previous year [17] - Free cash flow was CAD 411.3 million, slightly above CAD 409.8 million recorded in the same quarter last year [18] - Capital expenditures totaled CAD 50.6 million, with expectations for full-year CapEx to be over 10% lower than last year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the civil segment, revenue decreased by 5% year-over-year to CAD 717.2 million, with adjusted operating income down 6% to CAD 141.8 million [19] - Training Center Utilization in the civil segment was 71%, down from 76% in the prior year [20] - In the defense segment, revenue increased by 14% year-over-year to CAD 534.9 million, with adjusted segment operating income rising 38% to CAD 54 million, achieving a margin of 10.1% [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The civil aviation market is expected to grow at 4%-5% annually over the long term, despite current disruptions [52] - The defense segment is also projected to grow at a similar rate, supported by increased defense spending across allied nations [32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is implementing a multi-pronged transformation plan focusing on portfolio sharpening, disciplined capital management, and operational excellence [5][12] - The transformation plan aims to improve margins, cash flow, and returns on investment, with specific targets to be shared in the next quarter [7][35] - The company is rationalizing its civil training network to align capacity with current demand, which may have a near-term revenue impact [30][39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the softness in the civil business but remains optimistic about the defense segment's performance [5][30] - The company expects the fourth quarter to be the strongest of the year in the civil segment, despite a mid-single-digit percentage decline in annual adjusted segment operating income [30] - Long-term fundamentals in aviation remain strong, with significant backlogs reported by major OEMs [31][32] Other Important Information - The company has identified non-core assets representing approximately 8% of revenue for potential divestiture [36] - Recent leadership changes include the appointment of Ryan McLeod as Chief Financial Officer, expected to enhance operational finance and capital discipline [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Long-term perspective on civil business returns - Management indicated that the civil business could generate solid mid-teen returns over the long term, with a focus on improving utilization and profitability [50][54] Question: Conversations with civil customers regarding network rationalization - Initial conversations with civil customers have been positive, focusing on resizing the network to meet current demand [58][59] Question: Nature of identified non-core assets - Non-core assets are present in both civil and defense segments, with the intention to divest those that do not align with the company's strategic focus [66] Question: Outlook for civil aviation training demand - Management noted that while current demand is softer than expected, the long-term growth trajectory remains at 4%-5% annually [72][74] Question: Timing of potential divestitures - Management emphasized a cautious approach to divestitures, indicating that the process could take 18-24 months [75][76] Question: Defense segment margin improvements - The defense segment's margin improvements are attributed to better contract mix and cost controls, with expectations for continued growth [80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenue for Q3 was CAD 1.25 billion, a 2% increase year-over-year [14] - Adjusted Segment Operating Income rose to CAD 195.8 million, up 3% from CAD 190 million in the same quarter last year [14] - Adjusted EPS increased to CAD 0.34, compared to CAD 0.29 a year ago [14] - Net finance expense decreased to CAD 54.1 million from CAD 56.6 million in the previous year [15] - Free cash flow was CAD 411.3 million, slightly above CAD 409.8 million recorded in the same quarter last year [17] - Capital expenditures totaled CAD 50.6 million, with expectations for full-year CapEx to be over 10% lower than last year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the civil segment, Q3 revenue decreased by 5% year-over-year to CAD 717.2 million, with adjusted operating income down 6% to CAD 141.8 million [18] - Defense segment revenue increased by 14% year-over-year to CAD 534.9 million, with adjusted operating income up 38% to CAD 54 million, achieving a margin of 10.1% [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The civil aviation market is expected to grow at 4%-5% annually over the long term, despite current softness [29] - Defense spending is projected to grow significantly, with Canada committing CAD 82 billion over the next five years [33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is implementing a multi-pronged transformation plan focusing on portfolio sharpening, disciplined capital management, and operational excellence [4][5] - The transformation plan aims to increase earnings and cash flow while creating long-term sustainable value [5] - The company is rationalizing its civil training network to align capacity with current demand and improve utilization [30][39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges near-term revenue impacts from transformation actions but believes these are necessary for long-term resilience and returns [6] - The defense segment is expected to see adjusted segment operating income growth of over 20% year-over-year, surpassing previous guidance [32] - The company anticipates the fourth quarter to be the strongest of the year in the civil segment, despite a mid-single-digit percentage decline in annual adjusted segment operating income [29] Other Important Information - The company has identified non-core assets representing approximately 8% of revenue for potential divestiture [36] - Recent leadership changes include the appointment of Ryan McLeod as Chief Financial Officer, expected to enhance operational finance and transformation execution [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Long-term perspective on civil business returns - Management indicated that the civil business could generate solid mid-teen returns over the next few years, with a focus on improving utilization and profitability [50][53] Question: Conversations with civil customers regarding network rationalization - Initial conversations with civil customers have been positive, focusing on resizing the network to meet current demand [59][60] Question: Nature of identified non-core assets - Non-core assets are present in both civil and defense segments, and the company is focused on ensuring these businesses perform better under different ownership [67] Question: Outlook for civil aviation training demand - Management noted that while current demand is softer than expected, the long-term growth trajectory remains strong at 4%-5% [72][74] Question: Defense margins and contract performance - Defense margins improved due to a favorable contract mix and cost control measures, with expectations for continued margin expansion [78][80]

Core Insights - CAE reported revenue of $898.18 million for the quarter ended December 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 2.7% and an EPS of $0.24 compared to $0.21 a year ago [1] - The reported revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $904.94 million, resulting in a surprise of -0.75%, while the EPS exceeded expectations by 11.37% against a consensus estimate of $0.22 [1] Financial Performance - CAE's shares have returned -4.1% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.3% change, indicating underperformance relative to the broader market [3] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting potential for outperformance in the near term [3] Civil Aviation Metrics - Simulator equivalent units (SEU) stood at 305, surpassing the average estimate of 301 based on eight analysts [4] - Full Flight Simulator (FFS) deliveries were 15, slightly below the average estimate of 16 from seven analysts [4] - The utilization rate for Civil Aviation was reported at 71%, aligning closely with the average estimate of 71.7% from six analysts [4] - The number of FFSs in CAE's network reached 373, slightly above the average estimate of 372 from four analysts [4]