TIP738: HEICO: THE QUIET AEROSPACE COMPOUNDER

W/ CLAY FINCK

17 July 2025

In this episode, Clay dives deep into the remarkable story of Heico — a quiet compounder that’s delivered over 22% annual returns for more than three decades. While aerospace may seem like a commoditized or slow-moving industry, Heico flips that assumption on its head. 

Clay breaks down how the Mendelson family transformed a struggling parts supplier into a $38 billion industry leader through exceptional capital allocation, a culture of ownership, and a nearly unbreakable moat built on regulatory mastery and being a partner that customers can trust. Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or business strategist, this episode offers timeless lessons on how to build and sustain a truly durable business.

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IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

  • The story of how the Mendelsons took a tiny parts supplier and turned it into a $38B aerospace powerhouse.
  • How Heico turned strict FAA regulations into its biggest competitive advantage.
  • Why airlines prefer Heico parts over the OEM alternatives.
  • What makes Heico’s acquisition playbook similar to Berkshire Hathaway.
  • Why Heico’s products and services are extremely sticky and provide predictable, recurring revenue streams.
  • Why economic downturns benefit Heico, creating a countercyclical business model.
  • How Heico’s culture is unique and has created hundreds of millionaire factory workers.
  • And so much more!

TRANSCRIPT

Disclaimer: The transcript that follows has been generated using artificial intelligence. We strive to be as accurate as possible, but minor errors and slightly off timestamps may be present due to platform differences.

 

[00:00:00] Clay Finck: Heico is one of those companies that does not make the headlines often, but when you look under the surface, you realize it’s one of the greatest compounders. Over the past few decades since the Mendelson family took control in 1990, shares have compounded at an astounding 22% per annum. [00:00:17] Clay Finck: A $10,000 investment back then would be worth over $9 million today. At first glance, you might assume that a company supplying aerospace replacement parts would be slow growing or unexciting. The Heico story flips that narrative on its head. It’s an excellent case study on one of the strongest moats I’ve ever studied, thoughtful capital allocation in the power of long-term thinking. [00:00:41] Clay Finck: In this episode, I’ll break down how Heico built its competitive moat, how the Mendelson family turned a struggling parts supplier into a $38 billion aerospace leader, and why legendary investors like Warren Buffett and Francois Rochon have taken note with that. Let’s dive right into today’s episode on Heico. [00:01:03] Intro: Since 2014, and through more than 180 million downloads, we’ve studied the financial markets and read the books that influenced self-made billionaires the most. We keep you informed and prepared for the unexpected. Now for your host, Clay Finck. [00:01:27] Clay Finck: Welcome to The Investor’s Podcast. I’m your host, Clay Finck. On today’s episode, I’ll be discussing the story of Heico. Heico is a fascinating business that has delivered exceptional returns for shareholders and impressively Heico continues to deliver outstanding operating performance, which has led to continued market beating returns. [00:01:48] Clay Finck: Three members of the Mendelson family hold executive roles at the company. Lawrence or Larry is the executive chairman and former CEO. While Victor and Eric who are brothers, are co-CEOs combined, the three of them own over 9 million shares in the company, which today is valued at over $2.1 billion. For a company that trades at a quite elevated valuation level. [00:02:11] Clay Finck: I was also surprised to learn that Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway started purchasing shares in the company in Q2 of 2024. They have a $245 million position, which for Berkshire is really a rounding error. And Francois Rochon, who’s a legendary investor, I’ve interviewed here on the show earlier this year, has a core position in Heico in his fund.

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