Global Air Travel Surge Will Fuel Aviation Expansion

Key Takeaways

• Rising global demand, aircraft replacement trends, and expanding aftermarket services are driving strong order backlogs and revenue growth in key segments.
  
• Operational efficiencies and diversification into defense and future mobility are enhancing profitability, resilience, and long-term growth prospects.
  
• Exposure to tariffs, inflation, execution risks, client credit issues, and reliance on U.S. markets threaten Embraer's profitability, growth prospects, and financial stability.

Catalysts

Designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aircraft and systems in North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Brazil, Europe, and internationally.

• Strong growth in global and emerging-market air travel is fueling a record $29.7 billion backlog for Embraer, especially in regional jets and executive aviation, positioning the company to benefit from increasing demand for regional connectivity and new airport infrastructure-directly supporting revenue growth in the coming years.
  
• Heightened airline focus on replacing aging aircraft with more fuel-efficient, lower-emission models is translating into large new orders for Embraer's E2 jets (e.g., SAS, SkyWest), indicating the company is well positioned to capture market share amid tightening sustainability requirements-supporting both revenue visibility and future gross margin expansion.
  
• Rapid expansion of Embraer's aftermarket services and MRO business-demonstrated by record backlogs and new international locations-provides a growing, higher-margin and recurring revenue base that improves net margin resilience through industry cycles.
  
• Production and operational efficiency improvements (e.g., production-leveling and working capital optimization) are expected to drive significant free cash flow gains and support ongoing margin expansion, as evidenced by all-time high quarterly EBIT margins and future inventory reduction plans worth ~$1 billion in the next three years.
  
• Diversification into new high-growth segments-such as advanced defense platforms (KC-390, A29) with international traction and eVTOL via Eve Air Mobility-are expanding Embraer's long-term addressable market, which should drive multi-cycle earnings growth and further reduce exposure to commercial aviation cycles.

Embraer Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

• Analysts are assuming Embraer's revenue will grow by 8.2% annually over the next 3 years.
• Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from 5.4% today to 6.8% in 3 years time.
• Analysts expect earnings to reach R$3.4 billion (and earnings per share of R$5.43) by about August 2028, up from R$2.1 billion today. However, there is a considerable amount of disagreement amongst the analysts with the most bullish expecting R$5.0 billion in earnings, and the most bearish expecting R$2.7 billion.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 27.0x on those 2028 earnings, up from 26.7x today. This future PE is greater than the current PE for the US Aerospace & Defense industry at 17.5x.
• Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to decline by 0.15% per year for the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 19.94%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Embraer Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

• Prolonged or worsening U.S. tariffs on Brazilian aerospace imports could erode Embraer's price competitiveness in its largest market, increase cost burdens for customers, and depress commercial aviation revenues and margins if not resolved, especially given management's admission that 80% of the tariff impact is still to come in the second half of the year.
  
• Persistent inflationary pressures and foreign exchange volatility, particularly a weakening dollar and strengthening real, are expected to drive up Embraer's cost base and reduce the company's profitability, as higher domestic costs (in reais) are not fully offset by revenue growth, impacting net margins and earnings.
  
• Execution risk around scaling new programs and technology platforms remains high-particularly in eVTOL (Eve) and next-generation products-as substantial capital outlays and uncertain market adoption could result in R&D overruns and delayed earnings benefits, with management noting the need for more liquidity and no immediate plans to unlock standalone value.
  
• Customer credit issues are evident (e.g., Azul restructuring), leading to increased credit provisions and bad debt write-offs in the Services division; if financial health of key buyers deteriorates, delayed deliveries or defaults could translate to lower revenue realization and increased balance sheet risks.
  
• Heavy reliance on U.S. suppliers and markets exposes Embraer to supply chain disruptions, potential trade barriers, and deglobalization trends; any escalation in cross-border tensions or changes in trade policy could constrain revenues, increase cost of goods sold, and limit future order growth.

Valuation

• The analysts have a consensus price target of R$73.371 for Embraer based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of R$91.74, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just R$55.94.
  
• In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be R$50.5 billion, earnings will come to R$3.4 billion, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 27.0x, assuming you use a discount rate of 19.9%.
  
• Given the current share price of R$77.88, the analyst price target of R$73.37 is 6.1% lower. The relatively low difference between the current share price and the analyst consensus price target indicates that they believe on average, the company is fairly priced.
  
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.