VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS & COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES ★
PRICE: 0 CENTS
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
HEICO Corporation
HEI · NYSE
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Request update
Spot something outdated? Send a quick note and source so we can refresh this profile.
Overview
HEICO operates two reported segments: Flight Support Group (aftermarket FAA-approved replacement parts, repair/overhaul and distribution) and Electronic Technologies Group (high-reliability electronics and subsystems for defense, space and other markets). FSG’s moat is anchored by regulatory/process barriers around FAA PMA approvals plus accumulated engineering know-how and a reputation for quality and lead times that helps customers adopt non-OEM parts. ETG’s moat is more program-level: mission-critical subcomponents designed and qualified into larger systems, supported by specialized IP in certain niches and established positions with government and defense-prime customers. Key erosion risks include OEM countermeasures or regulatory shifts affecting PMA economics, and defense-program cyclicality/technology shifts that can change sourcing on long-lived platforms.
Primary segment
Flight Support Group (FSG)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Market share
—
HHI: —
Coverage
2 segments · 7 tags
Updated 2025-12-30
Segments
Flight Support Group (FSG)
Aerospace aftermarket replacement parts and MRO services (jet engine and aircraft components), including FAA-approved PMA parts
Revenue
69.5%
Structure
Oligopoly
Pricing
moderate
Share
—
Peers
Electronic Technologies Group (ETG)
High-reliability aerospace/defense/space electronics and subsystems (electro-optical, RF/microwave, power, interconnect) for mission-critical applications
Revenue
30.5%
Structure
Oligopoly
Pricing
moderate
Share
—
Peers
Moat Claims
Flight Support Group (FSG)
Aerospace aftermarket replacement parts and MRO services (jet engine and aircraft components), including FAA-approved PMA parts
Revenue_share and operating_profit_share are computed from FY2025 segment disclosures (Form 10-K, Note 15): net sales to external customers FSG $3,115.616B of $4,485.044B total; segment operating income FSG $750.395M of $1,075.347M (FSG+ETG).
Regulated Standards Pipe
Legal
Regulated Standards Pipe
Strength: 5/5 · Durability: durable · Confidence: 4/5 · 1 evidence
HEICO's FAA PMA portfolio and ongoing approval pipeline gate entry into the non-OEM replacement-part niche; management states PMA requirements and throughput limits create a barrier to entry.
Erosion risks
- Regulatory changes that reduce PMA friction or expand alternative approvals
- OEM countermeasures (pricing, bundled service agreements, litigation/policy pressure)
- Shift toward newer engine/airframe platforms where HEICO has less approved content
Leading indicators
- Number of PMAs granted per year
- Size and growth of the approved parts catalog
- FSG operating margin trend
Counterarguments
- FAA PMA pathway is available to other capable entrants; approvals are not exclusive
- OEMs retain strong positions and can compete aggressively on price and bundled services
Learning Curve Yield
Supply
Learning Curve Yield
Strength: 4/5 · Durability: medium · Confidence: 4/5 · 1 evidence
Repeated PMA submissions, advanced design/manufacturing capability, and a favorable FAA track record can reduce cycle time and improve approval throughput versus less experienced entrants.
Erosion risks
- Talent poaching and diffusion of PMA engineering know-how
- Process tooling and reverse-engineering methods becoming more standardized
Leading indicators
- Time from development start to PMA approval for new part families
- Success rate of submitted PMA applications
Counterarguments
- Experienced aerospace suppliers can hire DER/engineering talent and build PMA capability over time
- FAA resource constraints can create delays for everyone, not just new entrants
Brand Trust
Demand
Brand Trust
Strength: 4/5 · Durability: medium · Confidence: 4/5 · 1 evidence
In safety-critical aftermarket parts and repairs, HEICO emphasizes reputation for quality and strong relationships with air carriers and repair stations, which can reduce adoption friction for non-OEM parts.
Erosion risks
- Quality escapes, reliability events, or regulatory findings damaging trust
- Airlines standardizing more tightly on OEM parts via long-term service agreements
- Rising use of used serviceable material reducing demand for new parts
Leading indicators
- Customer concentration and renewal/retention signals in MRO exchange programs
- Warranty/return rates and regulatory audit outcomes
Counterarguments
- Airlines may prefer OEM parts for perceived warranty/support advantages
- Procurement can shift quickly in downturns as airlines seek lowest-cost alternatives
Electronic Technologies Group (ETG)
High-reliability aerospace/defense/space electronics and subsystems (electro-optical, RF/microwave, power, interconnect) for mission-critical applications
Revenue_share and operating_profit_share are computed from FY2025 segment disclosures (Form 10-K, Note 15): net sales to external customers ETG $1,369.428B of $4,485.044B total; segment operating income ETG $324.952M of $1,075.347M (FSG+ETG).
Design In Qualification
Demand
Design In Qualification
Strength: 4/5 · Durability: durable · Confidence: 4/5 · 1 evidence
ETG targets mission-critical subcomponents used inside larger systems/platforms (aircraft, satellites, ships, etc.), where qualification, reliability testing, and re-certification can make re-sourcing slow and risky.
Erosion risks
- Program redesigns that remove content or switch architectures
- Prime contractors insourcing or dual-sourcing components
- Technology shifts causing product obsolescence
Leading indicators
- Design-win cadence / new program content
- Backlog and book-to-bill in defense/space categories
- ETG operating margin trend
Counterarguments
- Many programs intentionally qualify multiple suppliers for resilience
- Low-volume niches can attract specialized entrants with comparable certifications
IP Choke Point
Legal
IP Choke Point
Strength: 3/5 · Durability: medium · Confidence: 4/5 · 1 evidence
In certain product lines (e.g., laser rangefinder receivers/photodetectors), patented designs and specialized know-how can protect niche positions and limit direct substitution.
Erosion risks
- Patent expiry or design-arounds
- Alternative sensing modalities reducing addressable demand
- Export controls limiting market access
Leading indicators
- New product introductions and R&D spend intensity
- Customer platform diversification (not reliant on one program)
Counterarguments
- IP may not fully block competitors in adjacent designs; customers can fund alternatives
- Some ETG offerings are custom-engineered where IP protection is less central than execution
Government Contracting Relationships
Legal
Government Contracting Relationships
Strength: 4/5 · Durability: medium · Confidence: 4/5 · 1 evidence
A material share of ETG sales goes to military agencies and defense primes; incumbency, compliance, and past performance can improve win probability on repeat buys and follow-on programs.
Erosion risks
- Defense budget shifts and program delays (lumpy orders)
- Contracting preference changes (e.g., push for competition or new entrants)
- Acquisition integration issues affecting performance ratings
Leading indicators
- Defense/space order growth and backlog
- Contract win rate and recompete outcomes
- Customer concentration across major primes/agencies
Counterarguments
- Government buyers can re-compete contracts and drive price pressure
- Primes can shift sourcing or redesign to reduce dependence on any single supplier
Evidence
significant barrier to entry
10-K states non-OEMs must obtain FAA PMAs and that the PMA process creates a significant barrier to entry; it also discloses ~400-550 PMAs/year and ~20,000 PMA parts.
10-K notes that FAA confidence in the applicant and an established favorable track record can contribute to faster PMA processing turnaround.
10-K cites competitive pricing, reputation for high quality, short lead times, strong relationships with air carriers/repair stations, and a track record of PMA/DER approvals as positioning factors.
mission-critical subcomponents
10-K describes ETG’s strategy to design/manufacture highly-engineered, mission-critical subcomponents for niche markets that are utilized in larger systems and platforms.
complex and patented products
10-K notes that much of ETG’s rangefinder receiver offering consists of complex and patented products.
Showing 5 of 6 sources.
Risks & Indicators
Erosion risks
- Regulatory changes that reduce PMA friction or expand alternative approvals
- OEM countermeasures (pricing, bundled service agreements, litigation/policy pressure)
- Shift toward newer engine/airframe platforms where HEICO has less approved content
- Talent poaching and diffusion of PMA engineering know-how
- Process tooling and reverse-engineering methods becoming more standardized
- Quality escapes, reliability events, or regulatory findings damaging trust
Leading indicators
- Number of PMAs granted per year
- Size and growth of the approved parts catalog
- FSG operating margin trend
- Time from development start to PMA approval for new part families
- Success rate of submitted PMA applications
- Customer concentration and renewal/retention signals in MRO exchange programs
Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.