Impact of FAA Regulations and Rumors in Aerospace Stock Trading

2023年9月6日

Investing in aerospace-related stocks can be a lucrative endeavor due to the industry's potential for growth and innovation. You may find a lot of long-term investors holding major airline stocks (especially, positions added during COVID lows) and relatively new aerospace startups. However, it is essential to closely monitor and consider the impact of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and even rumors on their investment decisions even if you’re not day trading these stocks. In this article, we explore real-life examples of how FAA regulations have negatively affected the stock prices of companies in the aerospace sector, highlighting the crucial role of monitoring and reacting to regulatory developments.

Example #1. FAA Limits on Flight Numbers and the Plunge in US Airline Stocks:

The FAA recently imposed restrictions on the number of flights to alleviate pressure on the national airspace. While this regulation aims to enhance safety and efficiency, it has directly impacted US airline stocks, such as American Airlines (AAL). Airlines faced reduced capacity and higher operational costs. This resulted in decreased revenue and profitability, causing a sharp decline in American Airlines' stock price. Investors who were not prepared for this regulatory change suffered losses. However, in reality this has been a topic of conversation since April, so the late June announcement shouldn’t have caught anybody by surprise. If taken proper measures, the positions might have been cashed out at July highs until the FAA inevitable reduces the geography of this regulation. Which it already started as of 3-4 weeks ago, meaning we can expect a retracement soon.

Example #2. Minimum Flight Time Requirements and the Struggles of EVTOL Companies:

FAA regulations now require small aircraft, including Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (EVTOL) vehicles, to have a minimum flight time of 30 minutes. This regulation has posed significant challenges for EVTOL companies like Joby Aviation, as battery technology limitations make meeting this requirement very difficult. For instance, even industry leaders like Joby Aviation, despite its high potential, faced setbacks due to the FAA's minimum flight time regulation. The company's stock price suffered as investors became wary of the challenges presented by battery size limitations amid this new requirement.

Some other example of FAA regulations impacting aerospace stocks include:

1. Noise Restrictions: Recent FAA regulations aimed at reducing aircraft noise levels have affected companies specializing in quieter aviation technologies.
2. Safety Mandates: Stricter safety regulations have led to increased research and development costs for aerospace companies, impacting their profitability.
3. Environmental Regulations: Regulations promoting sustainable aviation and reducing carbon emissions have influenced aerospace companies' strategies, causing fluctuations in their stock performance.

As you may see FAA regulations have a substantial and immediate impact on the stock prices of companies in the aerospace sector. However, this analogy was just an example because of my personal interest as a PhD in Aerospace Engineering and investor into several aerospace stocks. In reality, when trading/investing you should always stay up to date with regulations imposed by your governing body (food or pharmacy should watch out for FDA and so on). Knowledge is power, dear community members. So stay alert and informed in any comfortable way for you. Some like to watch Bloomberg, some read yahoo finance. In reality, you can substitute that by reading through some of the deep good breakdowns by fellow TradingView writers. Make the most out of it!