Celestial Acquisition Valuation Multiples

GE Aerospace is the global leader in designing, manufacturing, and servicing commercial aircraft turbine engines, along with partner Safran in their CFM joint venture. With its massive global installed base of nearly 80,000 commercial and military engines, GE Aerospace earns most of its profits on recurring service revenue of that equipment, which operates for decades. GE Aerospace is the remaining core business of the company formed in 1892 with historical ties to American inventor Thomas Edison; that company became a storied conglomerate with peak revenue of $130 billion in 2000 until GE spun off its appliance, finance, healthcare, and wind and power businesses between 2016 and 2024.

RTX is an aerospace and defense manufacturer formed from the merger of United Technologies and Raytheon, with roughly equal exposure across three segments, mostly as a supplier to commercial aerospace and to the defense market: Collins Aerospace, a diversified aerospace supplier; Pratt & Whitney, a commercial and military aircraft engine manufacturer; and Raytheon, a defense prime contractor providing a mix of missiles, missile defense systems, sensors, hardware, and communications technology to the military.

Boeing is a major aerospace and defense firm operating in three segments: commercial airplanes; defense, space, and security; and global services. Boeing's commercial airplanes segment competes with Airbus in the production of aircraft that can carry more than 130 passengers. Boeing's defense, space, and security segment competes with defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to create military aircraft, satellites, and weaponry. Global services provides aftermarket support to airlines.

Airbus is a global aerospace and defense firm that designs, develops, and manufactures commercial and military jets and helicopters, as well as space launch vehicles and satellites. The company operates three divisions: commercial, defense and space, and helicopters. Commercial offers multiple configurations of aircraft ranging from the narrow-body (120-200 seats) A220 and A320 series to the much larger A330 and A350 wide-body models. The defense and space segment supplies governments with military hardware, including transport aircraft, aerial tankers, and the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole jet. The helicopter division manufactures turbine helicopters for the civil and public markets.

Honeywell traces its roots to 1885 with Albert Butz’s firm, Butz Thermo-Electric Regulator, which produced a predecessor to the modern thermostat. Other inventions by Honeywell include biodegradable detergent and autopilot. Today, Honeywell is a global multi-industry behemoth with one of the largest installed bases of equipment. It operates through four business segments: aerospace technologies, industrial automation, energy and sustainability solutions, and building automation. Recently, Honeywell has made several portfolio changes to focus on fewer end markets and align with a set of secular growth trends. The firm is working diligently to expand its installed base, deriving around one third of its revenue from recurring aftermarket services.

Mitsubishi Corp. is Japan’s largest general trading house, or sogo shosha, a type of conglomerate unique to Japan. Its core role is that of a trading intermediary in a variety of industrial sectors, including resources businesses like energy and metals as well as non-resources businesses, both industrial ones like automotive and non-industrial ones like food, healthcare, and retail. In addition to acting as a trading intermediary (including midstream processing functions to convert inputs into final products), Mitsubishi also participates in upstream production businesses and downstream distribution businesses.

Safran is a key player in the global commercial and military aerospace propulsion and equipment sectors. The group has three reportable segments: aerospace propulsion (commercial and military aircraft engines and spare parts); aircraft equipment, defense, and aerosystems (diversified business supplying components ranging from landing gear to avionics); and aircraft interiors (seats, cabins, and in-flight entertainment systems). Safran is a partner to the CFM joint venture with GE Aviation, which produces narrow-body engines.

Rolls-Royce operates three core business segments: civil aerospace, power systems, and defense. The civil aerospace segment builds engines powering wide-body aircraft, regional and business jets, and offers aftermarket services. Twenty years ago, the firm pioneered full-service flight hour contracts with the TotalCare package. Power systems provides power solutions to multiple end markets (defense, agriculture, marine, and power generation) while the defense business provides military, ground vehicle and naval propulsion solutions.

Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since it won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. Aeronautics is Lockheed’s largest segment, which derives upward of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed’s remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, mainly encompassing the Sikorsky helicopter business; missiles and fire control, which creates missiles and missile defense systems; and space systems, which produces satellites and receives equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture.

Parker Hannifin started out in 1917 as Parker Appliance, selling pneumatic brakes. Through the acquisition of branded components, the firm has expanded into aerospace engines, agricultural and construction machinery, freight and passenger vehicles, and industrial automation equipment. Within these larger systems, Parker sells a wide array of small, critical pieces such as hydraulic, electromechanical, climate control, and filtration components. Many of its products are designed to work together, resulting in a high rate of cross-selling.

General Dynamics is a defense contractor and business jet manufacturer. The firm’s segments are aerospace, marine, combat systems, and technologies. General Dynamics' aerospace segment manufactures Gulfstream business jets and operates a global aircraft servicing operation. Combat systems produces land-based combat vehicles such as the M1 Abrams tank and Stryker armored personnel carrier, as well as munitions. The marine segment builds and services nuclear-powered submarines, destroyers, and Navy support ships. The technologies segment contains two main units: an IT business that primarily serves the government market and a mission systems business focusing on electronics that provide command, control, computing, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to the military.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of ships, industrial machinery, and aircraft. The segments of the company are Energy; Plants and Infrastructure Systems; Logistics, Thermal and Drive Systems; and Aircraft, Defense, and Space. The company earns maximum revenue from the energy segment, which handles clean gas, steam power systems, nuclear power systems, compressors, and marine machinery. The Plants and Infrastructure Systems segment of the company deals with commercial ships, engineering, machine tools, and machinery systems; Logistics, Thermal, and Drive Systems provide material handling systems, engines, HVAC systems, and automotive air-conditioners; and the Aircraft, Defense, and Space cover commercial aircraft, defense aircraft, and others.

Northrop Grumman is a diversified defense contractor providing aeronautics, defense, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment produces autonomous and piloted aircraft such as Global Hawk drones and the new B-21 bomber, creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program, and maintains and upgrades numerous other military aircraft. Defense systems makes artillery and missile ammunition and guidance systems, long-range missiles, and missile defense systems. Mission systems creates and integrates a variety of radar, navigation, and communication systems for avionics, weapons control, and countermeasures on a range of platforms from helicopters to destroyers. Space systems produces satellites, sensors, space structures, and rocket motors.

BAE Systems is a British global defense, security, and aerospace company and the largest defense contractor in Europe; it is one of six prime contractors to the US Department of Defense. For reporting purposes, the company has five operating segments: electronics systems is the group's US- and UK-based electronic warfare systems; the cyber, security, and intelligence segment supplies intelligence and security solutions to the US government; platforms and services manufactures combat vehicles and munitions and performs ship repair services to the US Defense Department; the air segment includes BAE’s share of US and European air programs as well as its businesses in Saudi Arabia and Australia, and the maritime segment comprises UK land- and marine-based activities.

Rocket Lab Corp is engaged in space, building rockets, and spacecraft. It provides end-to-end mission services that provide frequent and reliable access to space for civil, defense, and commercial markets. It designs and manufactures the Electron and Neutron launch vehicles and Photon satellite platform. Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle has delivered multiple satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. The business operates in two segments Launch Services and Space Systems. Geographically it serves Japan, Germany, and rest of the world and earns key revenue from the United States.

Based in Toronto, Barrick is one of the world's largest gold miners. In 2025, the firm sold about 3.3 million attributable ounces of gold and about 220,000 metric tons of copper. At end-2025, Barrick had about two decades of gold reserves along with significant copper reserves. After buying Randgold in 2019 and combining its Nevada mines in a joint venture with competitor Newmont later that year, it operates mines in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company also has growing copper exposure, driven by the expansion of its Lumwana mine in Zambia and the development of its Reko Diq copper and gold project in Pakistan. It intends to undertake an IPO of its joint venture stakes in Nevada Gold Mines and Pueblo Viejo along with its Fourmile deposit later in 2026.

TransDigm manufactures and services a broad set of specialized parts for commercial and military aircraft. The firm organizes itself in three segments: power and control, airframes, and a small non-aviation segment, which serves mostly off-road vehicles and mining equipment. It operates as an acquisitive holding company that focuses on buying up smaller firms that make proprietary aerospace products with substantial aftermarket demand. TransDigm regularly employs financial leverage to amplify its operating results.

In addition to its legacy software-defined radio franchise, L3Harris Technologies has through a series of acquisitions established franchises producing uncrewed aerial vehicles, sensors, avionics, space-based systems, missiles, and solid rocket motors. It also adapts civilian aircraft for military use and provides military and commercial training services, and maintains the US Federal Aviation Administration's communications infrastructure.

Thales is a French aerospace and defense industrial and one of Europe's largest defense contractors. The company has three segments: defense and security provides sensors, mission systems, communications, and control systems to European and export defense customers; aerospace sells avionics and satellites to the civil, defense, and governmental markets; and digital identity and security provides biometric, data, and identity security solutions, payments services, and the manufacturing of SIM cards.

Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd is engaged in the manufacturing and technology businesses spanning aerospace, aviation, defense, industrial equipment, IT services, marine operations, and security solutions. Its Aerospace segment handles satellite system manufacturing; the Aviation segment covers aircraft engines and parts; the Defense industry segment produces self-propelled howitzers and armored vehicles; the Industrial equipment segment focuses on SMT machinery; the IT service segment provides consulting, SI, ITO, and logistics services; the Security department manufactures CCTVs and related peripherals; and the Marine segment includes merchant marine activities, marine and special vessel manufacturing, as well as plant and wind power operations.

Satellite television provides the bulk of EchoStar’s revenue. The firm serves about 5 million US satellite customers, about 10% of the traditional television market. It also serves 2 million customers under the Sling brand. EchoStar has also amassed an extensive portfolio of spectrum licenses and is building a nationwide wireless network. It acquired Sprint's prepaid business, serving approximately 7 million customers, primarily under the Boost brand. The firm has agreed to sell a portion of its wireless licenses to AT&T and SpaceX, and will rely heavily on the AT&T network to serve customers. EchoStar’s legacy businesses provide satellite telecom services and equipment to businesses and consumers, including about 800,000 internet customers.

Heico is an aerospace and defense supplier that focuses on creating replacement parts for commercial aircraft and components for defense products. In commercial aerospace, Heico is the largest independent producer of replacement aircraft parts. In the defense market, the company produces niche subcomponents used in targeting technology as well as simulation equipment, among other categories. It operates as two segments: the flight support group and the electronic technologies group. Both supply the aerospace and defense sectors to different degrees. Heico is persistently acquisitive, focusing on companies in similar or adjacent markets that offer strong cash flow and profitable growth potential.

Leonardo is one of the largest European defense firms, with 30% of its shares owned by the Italian government. The group’s divisions include helicopters; defense, electronics, and security systems; and aeronautics. The helicopter division serves both military and civil markets through AgustaWestland. DES has access to the US defense market through the DRS subsidiary. The aeronautics division cooperates in international programs, such as Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35, and the new Tempest, and supplies aerostructures to large commercial aircraft programs.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd operates in the aerospace and defense sector. The company is engaged in the design, manufacturing, and development of products like aircraft, helicopters, systems and accessories, power plants, avionics, materials like castings, rolled rings, rubber products, and aerospace which include structures, tanks, and cryogenic engines. Geographically the company derives revenue from India and other countries, of which a majority of revenue is generated from India.

Teledyne Technologies Inc provides enabling technologies to sense, analyze and distribute information for industrial growth markets that require advanced technology and high reliability. The firm operates in four segments: Digital Imaging, Instrumentation, Aerospace and Defense Electronics, and Engineered Systems. The Digital Imaging segment, that derives maximum revenue, includes high-performance sensors, cameras and systems, within the visible, infrared and X-ray spectra for use in industrial, government and medical applications, as well as MEMS and high-performance, high-reliability semiconductors including analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. Geographically, the company operates in United States, Europe, Asia, and All other.

AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Co Ltd is engaged in the research and production of complete aviation weapons and equipment and their accessories and mainly focuses on the aviation industry.

Kongsberg Gruppen is an international technology company that supplies products and services to the defense, maritime, oil, gas, and aerospace industries. The company is divided into two business segments: the maritime segment and defense and aerospace systems. Maritime, which earns most of the firm's revenue, creates navigation, automation, monitoring, and positioning products for commercial ships and offshore industry. The defense and aerospace segment provides defense and space-related products and systems. Outside of the two main segments, the firm operates Kongsberg Digital, which produces digital solutions for oil, gas, wind, and merchant marine markets. Products are delivered globally, with North America accounting for about one third of total revenue.

Saab supplies products and services for military, defense, and civil security. The company operates in four segments: aeronautics, dynamics, surveillance, and Kockums. Aeronautics involves the manufacturing and support of defense and commercial aerial systems. Dynamics produces combat weapons and defense training and management systems. Surveillance supplies security services, and creates traffic management technology and aviation parts. Kockums offers solutions for naval missions. Over three fourths of Saab’s sales are from the defense sector. The company sells to multiple geographic regions, but over half of its sales come from Europe.

ST Engineering is a Singaporean government-linked commercial and defense engineering group. Its key businesses include aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services, in which it is the world’s largest independent third-party provider. The company’s fastest-growing activities involve applications to defense and smart city solutions where it provides tolling solutions, traffic control systems, command and control dashboards, cybersecurity tools, and other related components. Around two thirds of the company’s revenue comes from commercial clients while the remainder is defense.

AST SpaceMobile Inc is a satellite designer and manufacturer. The company is building a cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices, and off-the-shelf mobile phones based on extensive IP and patent portfolio. It has focused on eliminating the connectivity gaps faced by mobile subscribers. The Company's spaceMobile Service is being designed to provide cost-effective, high-speed Cellular Broadband services to end-users who are out of terrestrial cellular coverage using existing mobile devices.

Dassault Aviation, a subsidiary of French multinational company Dassault Group, designs, builds, and maintains military fighter jets and is one of the largest manufacturers of business jets. It has a 26% stake in Thales, which contributes significantly to Dassault’s net profit. In 2024, Dassault Aviation generated EUR 6.2 billion in revenue with 14,600 employees. About 62% of revenue comes from defense aircraft equipment sales and services, while Falcon business jets generate the remaining 38% of sales.

China Satellite Communications Co Ltd is engaged in the development and management of communication and broadcasting satellite systems; the design and development of satellite ground application systems and related equipment. It also offers technical consulting, engineering design, engineering contracting services related to the satellite business.

Avic Shenyang Aircraft Co Ltd is engaged in manufacturing aviation product. Its products offerings include aviation defense equipment and civil aviation products. Civil aviation products include domestic and foreign civil aircraft parts.

CSG NV is a defence group in terms of medium, large- and small-calibre ammunition sales based in Prague, Czech Republic, operating in Europe, the United States and in other regions including Asia Pacific. The Group's business is divided into two segments: CSG Defence Systems and CSG Ammo.

Bombardier designs, manufactures, markets, and provides parts and maintenance for its large, long-range Global and medium-to-large Challenger families of business jets. Most of the company's revenue is generated in North America, 60% of which is from customers in the US. It also has operations in Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and other markets.

AECC Aviation Power Co Ltd is a China-based manufacturer of aeronautical engines. It engaged in the design, development, production, maintenance, marketing, and after-sales service of military aircraft and civil aircraft power devices, second power devices, gas turbines, helicopter transmission systems, and aero-engine technology derivative products; customers involved in aviation, aerospace, ships, weapons, Energy, and airspace and other fields. The company designs and produces products such as turbojets, turbofans, turboshafts, turboprops, and pistons, such as aero engines, gas turbines, and helicopter transmission systems.

IHI Corp produces power systems and plants, large steel structures, marine machinery, aerospace engines, and other industrial solutions. The company operates its business through four segments. The Aviation, Space, and Defense segment covers aero engines, rocket systems, space utilization, and defense equipment. The Industrial System and General-purpose Machinery segment includes turbochargers, compressors, logistics systems, and industrial machinery. The Resources, Energy, Environment segment focuses on nuclear power, carbon solutions, and related equipment. The Social Infrastructure segment involves bridges, transportation systems, shield systems, construction materials, and urban development.

MTU Aero Engines specializes in the development and production of commercial and military aircraft engine components and spare parts. It also performs maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for aircraft engines. More than 30% of commercial aircraft have MTU technology on board. The company is also a major assembler of aircraft engines. The commercial and military engine segment develops and manufactures engine components for new engine production and spare parts for the aftermarket. The commercial maintenance business reports MTU’s MRO services.

China Spacesat Co Ltd is a China-based company engages in the development of small satellites, satellite ground systems, and related equipment. Its products offer aerospace system integration, large-scale ground station systems integration, satellite communications applications, satellite navigation applications and information transmission. The company operates its business in North China, northwest of China and South China.

Textron is a conglomerate that designs, manufactures, and services a range of specialty aircraft including small jets, propeller-driven airplanes, helicopters, and tilt-rotor aircraft. Textron Aviation manufactures and services Cessna and Beechcraft planes. Bell is a helicopter and tilt-rotor manufacturer and servicer for both commercial and military customers. Textron Systems produces uncrewed aircraft and armored vehicles for the military market as well as aircraft simulators and training for the commercial and military markets. Textron Industrial houses the Kautex business, which manufactures plastic fuel tanks for conventional and hybrid motor vehicles, and other subsidiaries that produce specialized vehicles such as golf carts and all-terrain vehicles.

Planet Labs PBC is an Earth-imaging company. It uses space to help life on Earth by imaging the world every day and making change visible, accessible, and actionable. Its platform includes imagery, insights, and machine learning that empower companies, governments, and communities around the world to make timely decisions about the evolving world. Its solutions are Broad Area Management. Its products are Planet Monitoring, Planet Tasking, Planet Analytic Feeds, Planetary Variables, Planet Basemaps, Planet Insights, and Platform Pricing. The group provides solutions to the Agriculture Science Program, Energy & Infrastructure, Forestry & Land Use, Mapping, Sustainability, Maritime, Civil Government, U.S. State and Local, Europe, Planet Federal, Defense & Intelligence, and Armed Services.

Hanwha Systems Co Ltd is a South Korean-based company engaged in the areas of avionics and space, security and safety, and information systems services. The company operates through three segments: Defense, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and Other. The Defense segment focuses on the manufacturing and sales of military equipment. The ICT segment provides services such as IT outsourcing. The Other segment includes manufacturing activities, new business engineering, data processing, and applied software services. It generates the majority of its revenue from the Defense segment.

China Aerospace Times Electronic Co Ltd is a China-based company. It engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of aerospace electronic products. Its products include satellite applications, inertial navigation, Integrated circuit, Drone.

Globalstar Inc is a telecommunications company that derives revenue from the provision of mobile satellite services. Mobile satellite services are typically used by customers where existing terrestrial wireline and wireless communications networks are impaired or do not exist. The company provides communications services such as two-way voice and data transmission. In addition, one-way data transmission is also offered. Both services are offered using mobile or fixed devices. The company is an owner of satellite assets. It has one reportable segment: MSS business. The company generates the vast majority of its revenue within the United States.

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd is engaged in the manufacture and sale of aircraft in Korea. The company builds military aircraft for national defense and civil aircraft parts. The company operates through four segments: Airframe, Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, and Others. The Airframe sector produces airframe structures for prominent aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. The Fixed Wing sector focuses on mass-produced aircraft, including the T-50 series exported overseas, and the development of the KF-21 Korean fighter. The Rotary Wing sector is centered on helicopter programs such as the KUH and LAH series. The Others sector covers satellites, UAVs, training systems, and related aerospace solutions. It generates the majority of its revenue from the Fixed wing segment.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd is a defense public sector undertaking shipyard under the Ministry of Defence. The company is engaged in building and repairing ships, submarines, various types of vessels, and related engineering products for its customers. The company's activities are the construction of warships, ferries, tugs, dredgers, barges, submarines, merchant ships, etc., with facilities situated in Mumbai and Nhava. It also offers ship designing, ship repairs and refit, tug support, and other related services. The company is organized into two segments: Shipbuilding and Submarine (New Construction and Repairs) and others.

OHB SE provides space technology, security, telematics, and satellite services. It has three business segments, namely Space systems and Aerospace, and Digital. Space systems segment develops and produces low Earth orbit and geostationary satellites for navigation, scientific, communication, and earth observation purposes. The Aerospace segment manufactures products for aviation, space travel, and electronic data transmission. Digital segment is on ground-based space systems (e.g., mechatronic systems for antennas and radio and optical telescopes), the operation of space-borne systems, digital applications based on satellite data, as well as information technology and IT security (cybersecurity). The company derives the majority of its revenue from the space systems segment.

Embraer SA based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, manufacturer of jets. Its focus is to achieve customer satisfaction with and services addressing the commercial airline, executive jets, and defense and security markets. It has developed a customer-centric technology-driven portfolio of commercial aviation products and services that allows it to build long-term relationships with clients in the commercial aviation, executive jets, and defense and security markets. It operates through the various segments namely Commercial Aviation, Defense and Security, Executive Aviation, Service and Support, and Other Segments. The company generates maximum revenue from the Commercial Aviation segment.