HEICO continues its consistent execution since GPM provided our initial insight into the company last August. The Flight Support Group (FSG) is on its fifth consecutive quarter of 20%+ organic growth. In Q3 2022, FSG's sales were $330 million, exceeding pre-covid levels for the first time. While the 20%+ organic growth is unlikely to continue forever, there are still areas within FSG that must catch up, in widebody aircraft, for example. Over in the Electronic Technology Group (ETG), sales are steady, with low-to-mid-single digits organic growth. [1]
(source: GPM's public viz; company filings)
During the Q3 2022 earnings conference call, management noted that market prices look better when considering mergers & acquisitions. HEICO typically competes with private equity firms for deals, and now with higher interest rates, private equity is unable to pay as high of prices as before, allowing HEICO the chance to participate in deals at reasonable prices. Since July, HEICO announced the acquisitions of Exxelia (HEICO's largest acquisition ever), Accurate Metal Machining, Sensor Systems, Charter Engineering, and Ironwood Electronics. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
HEICO's management described its acquisition criteria at the Gabelli conference in September, stating, "we avoid most acquisitions actually. We avoid most business. What we don't want are fast-moving technologies where we've got kind of consumer product like businesses. We're not taking things, as a rule of thumb, that go in cell phones. We've got a lot of opportunity to buy Apple suppliers and Samsung suppliers that had this great hockey stick, and we've stayed away from that. We don't want to buy from serial entrepreneurs. So, somebody who's on business #3 and wants to sell that or #4 to us and talks about how great their businesses were, we don't want that. We want somebody who loves the business and is really excited about it."
GPM likes that HEICO's management does not chase growth and invests in products that have consistent, long term cash flows. HEICO's businesses are in aerospace, defense, and electronic industries that are slower moving, as opposed to the "bleeding edge". Its products can be found in airplanes and other defense equipment that are used and deployed for decades. On top of this, every HEICO team member in the U.S. is a HEICO shareholder, which helps align the long term goals.
Sources:
[2] HEICO acquired ~80% of capital stock of Ironwood Electronics
[3] HEICO acquires Charter Engineering, Inc.
[4] HEICO Corp. acquires aircraft antenna company Sensor Systems
[6] HEICO acquires Accurate Metal Machining
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