Boardroom Alpha
Meeting calendar
AIR · Annual meeting · Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Aar Corp

3 nominees · 4 ballot items.

Four proposals: (1) election of three director nominees; (2) advisory (non-binding) approval of Fiscal Year 2026 executive compensation (say-on-pay); (3) approval of the AAR CORP. 2026 Stock Plan (replacement stock plan and new share reserve); and (4) ratification of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal Year 2027.

Market cap
$6.0B
1Y TSR
+82.6%
Board grade
B+
Record date
Jul 28, 2026
Filing
DEF 14A
Filed Aug 4, 2026 · DEF 14A
Proposals

On the ballot4

  1. 1

    Election of director nominees

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Elect three director nominees (John W. Dietrich, Robert F. Leduc, and Peter Pace) to the Board.

  2. 2

    Advisory proposal to approve our Fiscal Year 2026 executive compensation

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Non-binding advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company's named executive officers for Fiscal Year 2026 (say-on-pay).

    More detail

    This advisory (non-binding) proposal asks stockholders to approve AAR’s Fiscal Year 2026 executive compensation as disclosed in the proxy statement, including the CD&A and compensation tables. Management seeks this annual say-on-pay vote to obtain stockholder feedback and affirm alignment between pay and performance. The Company’s FY2026 compensation structure emphasized performance-based and at-risk pay: annual cash bonuses tied primarily to adjusted diluted earnings per share (80%) and adjusted net working capital turns (20%), and a long‑term equity mix of performance-based restricted stock (60%), time‑based restricted stock (20%) and stock options (20%). Management adjusted targets and retained discretion to exclude unusual or one-time items when appropriate, and made certain supplemental and new-hire awards tied to retention and transition of the finance organization. The Board’s recommendation for a FOR vote rests on strong FY2026 financial results (record adjusted diluted EPS), a review by the Human Capital and Compensation Committee and an independent compensation consultant, and on ongoing stockholder engagement where no significant opposition to the program was reported. The proposal is non-binding but serves as a governance signal; a FOR vote indicates stockholder support for the pay framework and specific FY2026 outcomes, while a negative vote would prompt the Committee to consider changes. Given the Committee’s use of rigorous performance metrics, multi-year vesting and stock ownership guidelines — and its conclusion that the program did not encourage excessive risk-taking — management argues the program appropriately aligns executive incentives with long‑term stockholder value creation. The Board notes that it will consider the vote results and stockholder feedback in future compensation design decisions.

  3. 3

    Approval of our new stock plan

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Approve the AAR CORP. 2026 Stock Plan, which would replace the 2013 Plan and add 2,943,000 new shares (plus any remaining 2013 Plan shares rolled into the new plan) for equity awards to employees, non‑employee directors and service providers.

    More detail

    This management proposal seeks shareholder approval of the AAR CORP. 2026 Stock Plan, which would supersede the 2013 Plan and add up to 2,943,000 new shares plus any remaining 2013 Plan shares rolled into the new plan. Management is seeking authority to continue granting stock options, restricted stock, stock units, SARs and other equity- or cash‑based awards to employees, non‑employee directors and service providers as a central part of compensation and retention strategy. The Board frames the requested share reserve as calibrated to recent burn rates and intended to fund roughly four years of typical grants, while acknowledging that actual longevity depends on future grant practices, hiring, acquisitions, and stock price. Governance features highlighted by management include non-liberal share recycling rules, a minimum one-year vesting requirement (with limited exceptions), prohibition on repricing without shareholder approval, a $750,000 annual cap on non-employee director compensation, and discretionary Committee authority over adjustments in connection with corporate events. Management argues that approving the plan avoids materially increasing cash compensation (which could reduce alignment with stockholders and use company cash) and that equity awards align employee incentives with long‑term shareholder value. The Committee and Board also considered dilution metrics (fully-diluted overhang and projected burn rate) and consulted an independent compensation advisor in sizing the request. The proposal is presented with full disclosure of potential dilutive impact, plan mechanics and the actual plan text (Appendix C) so stockholders can evaluate the tradeoff between talent incentives and dilution. The Board unanimously recommends a FOR vote, concluding that the plan’s design and requested share reserve are reasonable and in the best interest of the company and its shareholders.

  4. 4

    Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal Year 2027

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal Year 2027.

Director elections

Nominees on the ballot3

Independent
Tenure on this board
3.4 yrs
Also a director at
First Horizon Corp (FHN)American Airlines Group Inc (AAL)
Independent
Tenure on this board
6.1 yrs
Also a director at
Howmet Aerospace Inc (HWM)Jetblue Airways Corp (JBLU)
Ownership

Top institutional holders10

Latest 13F quarter
1Tributary Capital Management, LLC0.3%109,224$16M
2Phocas Financial Corp.0.2%96,446$14M
3HENNESSY ADVISORS INC0.2%83,300$12M
4Canal Insurance CO0.2%80,000$11M
5PEREGRINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC0.2%75,372$11M
6NEW YORK STATE COMMON RETIREMENT FUND0.2%72,470$10M
7WISCONSIN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC0.2%70,469$10M
8NEW YORK STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM0.1%50,578$7M
9Hennion Walsh Asset Management, Inc.0.1%46,194$7M
10Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC0.1%24,349$3M
Filings

Recent key filings

Periodic reports
Definitive proxies
Reference

Frequently asked questions

When is the Aar Corp 2026 annual meeting?
Aar Corp (AIR) holds its 2026 annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
What is the record date for the Aar Corp 2026 meeting?
The record date for the Aar Corp 2026 meeting is Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Shareholders of record on or before that date are eligible to vote.
Who are the director nominees for Aar Corp's 2026 meeting?
The board is presenting 3 director nominees at the Aar Corp 2026 meeting, listed with their independence status and background.
What proposals will shareholders vote on at the Aar Corp 2026 meeting?
Shareholders will vote on 4 proposals at the Aar Corp 2026 meeting, each tagged with who proposed it and the board's recommendation.
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