Textron to Shed Industrial Unit, Focus on Cessna, Beechcraft and Bell

Textron Inc. has announced plans to separate its Industrial segment from its core aerospace and defense operations, positioning the company as a pure-play entity centered on Textron Aviation, Bell and Textron Systems.

The Industrial segment, comprising Kautex and Textron Specialized Vehicles—including brands like Cushman and E-Z-GO—generated $3.2 billion in revenue in 2025, a nearly 9% decline from $3.5 billion the prior year. In the first quarter of 2026, it reported $786 million, down 1% year-over-year.

Textron is considering options such as a sale or a tax-free spin-off into a standalone public company, with the process targeted for completion within 12 to 18 months, subject to regulatory approvals and board decisions. The move follows a 2023 restructuring and a December 2024 review of strategic alternatives for its powersports line, which includes Arctic Cat ATVs and snowmobiles, amid weak consumer demand that led to paused production and layoffs.

Post-separation, the restructured Textron expects over $12 billion in 2026 revenues and a $19 billion backlog, all tied to aerospace and defense. The company reported first-quarter 2026 revenues of $3.7 billion, up 12% from the prior year, and returned $168 million to shareholders via repurchases.

Textron Aviation encompasses the Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker brands, while Bell focuses on helicopters and Textron Systems on defense technologies.