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Ducommun (DCO)
NYSE:DCO

Ducommun (DCO) AI Stock Analysis

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DCO

Ducommun

(NYSE:DCO)

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Neutral 65 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
$113.00
▲(7.03% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by mixed financial performance (better margins/leverage and improved free cash flow, but ongoing losses and weak operating profitability). Technicals are supportive with strong trend strength, though momentum is stretched. Earnings-call fundamentals were strong (record revenue, defense-driven growth, and robust bookings/backlog), but valuation is penalized by a negative P/E and no dividend support; recent events are slightly positive overall due to improved financing flexibility despite legal settlement costs.
Positive Factors
Defense Segment Growth
Sustained double-digit defense growth reflects durable demand from military programs and higher-margin product mix (missiles, fixed/rotary-wing). Defense exposure reduces cyclicality versus commercial aerospace and supports steadier revenue and margin profile over coming quarters.
Strong Bookings and Backlog
A 1.6x book-to-bill and record $1.03B RPO provide multi-quarter revenue visibility and production cadence predictability. High backlog de-risks near-term growth, aids capacity planning, and supports smoother revenue recognition and investment decisions over the 2-6 month horizon.
Enhanced Liquidity and Capital Flexibility
Extended revolver and term loan through 2030 materially improve liquidity and reduce near-term refinancing risk. This capital flexibility supports strategic M&A, VISION 2027 execution, and provides a buffer for working capital or cyclical troughs without pressuring the balance sheet.
Negative Factors
Negative Operating Profitability
A negative EBIT margin signals persistent operating inefficiencies despite gross margin gains. Ongoing operating losses limit retained earnings for reinvestment, reduce resilience to demand shocks, and may require sustained margin improvement efforts to restore durable profitability.
Weak Cash Conversion
Low conversion of accounting income into cash indicates working capital or timing issues that constrain internal funding for capex and growth. Reliance on cash generation is impaired, raising dependence on external liquidity even with improved credit capacity.
Commercial Aerospace Headwinds
A 10% commercial revenue decline from destocking shows exposure to airline and OEM cycle risk. Recovery hinges on OEM production resumption (e.g., Boeing rates); prolonged destocking would pressure utilization, mix and margins, limiting overall revenue diversification near term.

Ducommun (DCO) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Ducommun Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionDucommun Incorporated provides engineering and manufacturing products and services primarily to the aerospace and defense, industrial, medical, and other industries in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electronic Systems and Structural Systems. The Electronic Systems segment provides cable assemblies and interconnect systems; printed circuit board assemblies; higher-level electronic, electromechanical, and mechanical components and assemblies, as well as lightning diversion systems; and radar enclosures, aircraft avionics racks, shipboard communications and control enclosures, shipboard communications and control enclosures, printed circuit board assemblies, cable assemblies, wire harnesses, interconnect systems, lightning diversion strips, surge suppressors, conformal shields, and other assemblies. It also supplies engineered products, including illuminated pushbutton switches and panels for aviation and test systems; microwave and millimeter switches and filters for radio frequency systems and test instrumentation; and motors and resolvers for motion control. In addition, this segment provides engineering expertise for aerospace system design, development, integration, and testing. The Structural Systems segment designs, engineers, and manufactures contoured aluminum, titanium, and Inconel aero structure components; structural assembly products, such as winglets, engine components, and fuselage structural panels; and metal and composite bonded structures and assemblies comprising aircraft wing spoilers, large fuselage skins, rotor blades on rotary-wing aircraft and components, flight control surfaces, engine components, ammunition handling systems, and magnetic seals. It serves commercial aircraft, military fixed-wing aircraft, military and commercial rotary-wing aircraft, and space programs, as well as industrial, medical, and other end-use markets. The company was founded in 1849 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyDucommun generates revenue primarily through the sale of its aerospace and defense-related products and services. The company's revenue model is based on long-term contracts and relationships with key customers, which include prominent aerospace and defense manufacturers. Key revenue streams include the manufacturing of precision components, assembly services, and engineering solutions. The company also benefits from the growing demand for advanced aerospace technologies and increased defense spending, which contribute to its earnings. Strategic partnerships with major defense contractors and ongoing investments in research and development further enhance Ducommun’s competitive position and revenue potential.

Ducommun Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture with significant achievements in defense sector growth, record revenues, and strong bookings, offset by challenges including the Guaymas Fire litigation settlement and a decline in commercial aerospace revenues.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Revenue Achievement
Revenues reached a new quarterly record of $212.6 million, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, with a 6% increase over the previous year.
Strong Defense Sector Growth
Defense business achieved a 13% growth in the quarter, with missile franchise up by 21%, military fixed-wing aircraft up by 17%, and rotary-wing aircraft platforms increasing by 22%.
Robust Bookings and Backlog
Ducommun reported $338 million in new orders in Q3, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.6x and remaining performance obligations reaching $1.03 billion, a new record for the company.
Gross and EBITDA Margin Improvements
Gross margins increased to 26.6% in Q3, up 40 basis points year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA reaching 16.2% of revenue, representing an expansion of 30 basis points from the prior year.
Commercial Aerospace Optimism
Despite a 10% decline in the commercial aerospace business, Boeing received FAA approval to increase build rates, indicating a promising outlook once destocking completes in 2026.
Negative Updates
Guaymas Fire Litigation Settlement
Ducommun recorded a settlement cost of $99.7 million due to the Guaymas Fire litigation, causing a GAAP EPS loss of $4.30 per share in Q3 2025.
Challenges in Commercial Aerospace
Commercial aerospace revenues declined by 10% due to lower rates on regional and business jets, and challenges with Boeing platforms, impacted by destocking.
Company Guidance
In the Ducommun Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company reported robust financial performance, with a new quarterly revenue record of $212.6 million, marking an increase of 6% year-over-year. This represents Ducommun's 18th consecutive quarter of revenue growth. The defense sector was a key driver, showing a 13% growth, fueled by a 21% rise in missile franchise sales and substantial increases in military fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft platforms. Despite a 10% decline in commercial aerospace revenue due to ongoing destocking, the company remains optimistic, especially as Boeing's production rates are expected to increase. Gross margins improved to 26.6%, and adjusted EBITDA reached 16.2%, setting record levels. Bookings were strong at $338 million, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.6x, leading to a record $1.03 billion in remaining performance obligations. The company reaffirmed its guidance for mid-single-digit revenue growth for the full year, with expectations of low double-digit growth in Q4 2025.

Ducommun Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Ducommun's financial performance shows stability in its balance sheet with improved leverage and cash generation. However, profitability remains a concern due to a negative net income and operational challenges, as indicated by a negative EBIT margin.
Income Statement
Ducommun's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data indicates a slight improvement in gross profit margin to 25.71% from 25.08% in 2024, suggesting better cost management. However, the company reported a negative EBIT margin of -4.37% and a net loss, indicating operational challenges. Revenue growth is positive at 1.40% TTM, but the negative net profit margin highlights profitability issues.
Balance Sheet
The balance sheet reflects a stable financial position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36 in TTM, showing a decrease from 0.39 in 2024, indicating improved leverage. Return on equity is modest at 5.82%, suggesting moderate profitability. The equity ratio remains strong, indicating a solid capital structure.
Cash Flow
Cash flow analysis reveals a positive trend with a 9.99% growth in free cash flow TTM, indicating improved cash generation. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is low at 0.30, suggesting potential challenges in converting income into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.73 shows a decent cash conversion efficiency.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue806.22M786.55M756.99M712.54M645.41M628.94M
Gross Profit208.22M197.26M163.19M144.30M142.46M137.74M
EBITDA-653.00K85.65M69.72M76.31M210.06M74.48M
Net Income-34.61M31.50M15.93M28.79M135.54M29.17M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.25B1.13B1.12B1.02B978.74M837.35M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments50.92M37.14M42.86M46.25M76.32M56.47M
Total Debt271.47M272.14M295.59M282.84M320.59M336.61M
Total Liabilities599.52M443.57M484.82M495.55M504.13M508.01M
Stockholders Equity649.04M682.53M636.09M525.96M474.60M329.33M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow44.69M20.05M11.54M12.99M-17.43M101.00K
Operating Cash Flow59.71M34.18M31.07M32.68M-565.00K12.61M
Investing Cash Flow-12.68M-13.91M-133.50M-19.24M57.75M-5.47M
Financing Cash Flow-33.37M-26.00M99.05M-43.51M-37.34M9.74M

Ducommun Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price105.58
Price Trends
50DMA
93.08
Positive
100DMA
93.22
Positive
200DMA
83.33
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
2.50
Negative
RSI
72.88
Negative
STOCH
84.63
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DCO, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 105.58 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 96.35, above the 50-day MA of 93.08, and above the 200-day MA of 83.33, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 2.50 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 72.88 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 84.63 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for DCO.

Ducommun Risk Analysis

Ducommun disclosed 38 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Ducommun reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Ducommun Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
65
Neutral
$1.58B-45.19-5.27%3.16%-213.56%
65
Neutral
$2.31B-1.72%6.19%52.10%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
60
Neutral
$3.75B36.866.86%17.59%-56.15%
57
Neutral
$5.33B-2.24%8.63%72.72%
56
Neutral
$374.08M-141.25
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
DCO
Ducommun
105.58
39.68
60.21%
AIR
AAR
94.73
25.28
36.40%
ATRO
Astronics
64.81
48.63
300.56%
MRCY
Mercury Systems
88.74
46.99
112.55%
AIRO
Airo Group Holdings, Inc.
11.95
-19.05
-61.45%

Ducommun Corporate Events

Financial DisclosuresLegal Proceedings
Ducommun Settles Guaymas Fire Subrogation Claim for $4M
Negative
Jan 9, 2026

On January 7, 2026, Ducommun Incorporated entered into a confidential settlement agreement to resolve a previously disclosed subrogation claim arising from a June 2020 fire at its performance center in Guaymas, Mexico, which had been pursued in an Arizona arbitration by the insurer of the entity providing labor and facilities for that site after payments to customer Williams International Co., LLC. Following a December 9, 2025 mediation, the parties agreed to dismiss the arbitration with prejudice and mutually release all past, present and future claims related to the fire in exchange for a $4 million payment by Ducommun, which the company plans to expense in the quarter ended December 31, 2025 and fund from existing cash, while denying any admission of liability and stating it believes no material claims remain outstanding from the incident aside from a potential Mexican insurer claim it considers time-barred.

The most recent analyst rating on (DCO) stock is a Buy with a $124.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ducommun stock, see the DCO Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Ducommun Enhances Liquidity with Amended Credit Facility
Positive
Dec 1, 2025

On November 24, 2025, Ducommun Incorporated amended its credit facility to include a $450 million revolving line of credit and a $200 million term loan, maturing in November 2030. This strategic move aims to enhance liquidity, reduce capital costs, and extend the maturity profile, providing Ducommun with greater financial flexibility to pursue acquisition opportunities and support its VISION 2027 strategy.

The most recent analyst rating on (DCO) stock is a Hold with a $93.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ducommun stock, see the DCO Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 10, 2026