Is AAR Corp. (NYSE:AIR) a buy in 2026?
Hold. AAR Corp. is a wait-and-watch at today's price, not a fresh buy.
Best-positioned independent MRO into the post-COVID parts shortage, but the easy money has already been made at $131.
Where AIR is headed
The aerospace aftermarket is in the middle of the longest tight-supply cycle since the 1990s, and AAR is the largest pure-play independent benefiting from it. Boeing's 737 MAX delivery rate is still running well below pre-grounding plans, Airbus has pushed A320neo family targets right again, and Pratt & Whitney's GTF inspection program has parked hundreds of aircraft through 2027. Every one of those problems creates the same outcome for AAR: airlines fly older airframes longer, those airframes need more parts, more heavy checks, and more component repairs, and the work flows to the independents because the OEMs are flat out building new jets. Trax (the cloud MRO software business acquired in 2023) is now the dominant ERP for mid-tier airlines and gives AAR a sticky data layer most competitors can't match.
Read the full Compass Direction on AIR
The complete destination call, the overlooked angle, milestones, and bull, base, and bear price scenarios (around $131.18).
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Frequently asked questions
Is AAR Corp. (NYSE:AIR) a buy in 2026?
Hold. AAR Corp. is a wait-and-watch at today's price, not a fresh buy. Best-positioned independent MRO into the post-COVID parts shortage, but the easy money has already been made at $131.
What is AIR's Compass Score?
AAR Corp. scores 77/100 on Alexandria's Compass, placing it in the "Favorable" tier. Scores blend eight factors and update weekly.
What is the price target for AIR?
Alexandria's full Compass Direction includes bull, base, and bear price scenarios with the valuation math behind each. Read the full breakdown on the AIR page.
Compass verdicts are AI-generated, forward-looking editorial research from publicly available data, not investment advice or a recommendation regarding any security. Scores and verdicts update as the data changes.