Shares of FTAI Aviation Ltd (FTAI) skyrocketed 9.32% in Friday's pre-market trading session, following a significant upgrade from Stifel and the company's strong first-quarter 2025 earnings report. The surge reflects growing investor confidence in the aviation services provider's business prospects and financial performance.

Stifel analyst Frank Galanti upgraded FTAI Aviation to Buy from Hold, maintaining a price target of $123. This upgrade appears to be a key driver behind the stock's rally, as it signals increased optimism about the company's near-term outlook. The positive sentiment was further bolstered by FTAI's impressive Q1 results, which showcased robust growth across its business segments.

During the earnings call, FTAI Aviation reported a strong start to 2025, with adjusted EBITDA of $268.6 million for Q1, up 7% quarter-over-quarter and 64% year-over-year. The company's aerospace products segment was particularly noteworthy, generating $130.9 million in EBITDA at a 36% margin. Management expressed confidence in achieving their 2025 business segment EBITDA goal of $1.1 billion to $1.15 billion, with expectations to reach approximately $1.4 billion in 2026. These positive results and forward-looking guidance have likely contributed to the stock's significant pre-market gain.