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With its stock sitting at a high after a powerful run, it’s easy to see the bull case for GE Aerospace (GE). The skies are full, demand for new engines is strong, and the company’s large installed base provides a steady stream of high-margin services revenue. The story is compelling.
But when a stock is trading at a premium valuation that leaves little room for operational misses, your job as an investor is to look for the specific operational headwinds. For GE, one of the most telling numbers isn’t found in the headline income statement. It’s an operational metric that speaks volumes about the strain hiding within the company’s success: spare parts delinquency.
How Bad Has It Gotten?
Spare parts delinquency measures shipments that are late due to supply constraints. It’s a direct gauge of a company’s ability to meet the promises it has made to customers. And for GE Aerospace, that number is a point of concern. According to management, spare parts delinquency is up.
This is happening even as the company’s operational improvement initiatives are in full swing. The current reality is that, for now, demand continues to exceed supply. While strong demand is a good problem to have, an inability to meet it is still a problem. As the company’s management admitted on a recent call, regarding an internal initiative, “it is a number we are not proud of, because we are failing to meet customer expectations in that regard.”
Why This Number Matters More Than Most
This isn’t just an operational footnote; it strikes at the heart of GE’s profit engine. Spare parts are a critical component of the company’s services business, representing roughly 40% of services revenue. That services segment is the high-margin machine that drives profitability and underpins the entire investment case.
Every delayed part represents delayed revenue and profit. For an airline, a grounded plane waiting for a part is a significant financial issue. Persistent delays risk damaging the long-term customer…
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