Industry Overview - The Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry is characterized by companies that design and manufacture heavy-built products, including commercial and military jets, helicopters, combat vehicles, missiles, and military satellites [2][3] - The industry also encompasses cybersecurity firms providing IT services and C4ISR solutions, with revenue streams from defense contractors offering spare parts and maintenance services [3] Key Trends - Increasing Defense Budget: The proposed U.S. defense budget is set to rise to approximately $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2027 from $901 billion in fiscal 2026, which is expected to support long-term contract awards and production rates for defense companies [4] - Air Traffic Growth: Global air passenger traffic increased by 5.7% year over year in November 2025, with a revised full-year forecast of 5.2% for 2025, indicating strong demand in the aviation sector that benefits defense companies [5] - Supply-Chain Challenges: The industry faces significant supply-chain disruptions leading to delivery backlogs of over 17,000 aircraft, which is nearly 60% of the world's active fleet, impacting growth potential despite rising air travel demand [6][7] Market Performance - The Aerospace-Defense industry has outperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite with a 36.6% increase over the past year, while the Zacks Aerospace sector rose by 40.5% [11] - The industry currently trades at an EV/Sales ratio of 3.39X, lower than the S&P 500's 5.84X and the sector's 3.82X, indicating potential valuation opportunities [14] Notable Companies - **Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)**: Focuses on nuclear-powered ships and has announced an expansion of its unmanned facility in the U.K. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HII's 2026 sales indicates a 4.9% improvement year over year [17][18] - **Intuitive Machines (LUNR)**: A diversified space company that recently acquired Lanteris Space Systems for $800 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LUNR's 2026 sales suggests a significant increase of 108.7% year over year [20][21] - **L3Harris Technologies (LHX)**: Engaged in advanced defense technologies and has proposed a partnership with the U.S. Department of War to expand solid rocket motor production. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LHX's 2026 sales indicates a 6.4% increase year over year [23][24]

Group 1 - HII will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results on February 5, 2026, and host an earnings conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern time on the same day [1] - The earnings call will feature remarks from Chris Kastner, president and CEO, and Tom Stiehle, executive vice president and chief financial officer, with supplementary slides available on the company website [2] - HII is a global, all-domain defense provider focused on delivering powerful ships and solutions to enhance national security [3] Group 2 - HII is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., with over 135 years of experience in advancing national security, providing capabilities from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML, and synthetic training [4] - The company is headquartered in Virginia and employs a workforce of 44,000 [4]

Core Insights - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is positioned as a strong investment option in the aerospace sector due to its robust market presence, solid liquidity, and low debt levels [1] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HII's 2026 earnings per share is $17.19, indicating a year-over-year growth of 14% [2] - The consensus estimate for 2026 sales is $12.66 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 4.9% [2] - HII's long-term earnings growth rate is projected at 14.4% over the next three to five years [2] - The company has delivered an average earnings surprise of 14.52% in the last four quarters [2] Debt Position - HII's total debt to capital ratio stands at 35.12%, which is significantly better than the industry average of 51.29% [3] - The times interest earned (TIE) ratio for HII at the end of Q3 2025 was 7.70, indicating strong capability to meet interest obligations [3] Liquidity - HII's current ratio at the end of Q3 was 1.14, demonstrating the company's ability to meet short-term liabilities without difficulties [4] Shipbuilding Focus - HII benefits from strong demand for U.S. Navy shipbuilding, with key projects like Virginia-class submarines and the CVN 79 Kennedy aircraft carrier advancing [5] - The company has a record backlog of $55.68 billion as of September 30, 2025, which supports expected revenue growth of around 4 to 5 percent annually through 2027 [5] - HII is expanding its capabilities in autonomous and unmanned systems, positioning itself well for long-term naval modernization [6] Stock Performance - HII shares have gained 46.9% over the past three months, outperforming the industry's growth of 8.3% [7]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, with the aim of buying high and selling higher, capitalizing on established price movements [1]. Company Overview: Huntington Ingalls (HII) - Huntington Ingalls currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong momentum characteristics [2]. - The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is positioned for potential outperformance in the market [3]. Performance Metrics - HII shares have increased by 10.65% over the past week, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry, which rose by 7.17% during the same period [5]. - Over the last month, HII's price change is 25.97%, significantly higher than the industry's 12.53% [5]. - In the past quarter, HII shares have surged by 43.17%, and over the last year, they have gained 108.51%, while the S&P 500 has only increased by 4.96% and 20.67%, respectively [6]. Trading Volume - HII's average 20-day trading volume is 537,237 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7]. Earnings Outlook - Recent earnings estimate revisions for HII show one upward revision and one downward revision for the current fiscal year, leading to a consensus estimate increase from $15.02 to $15.07 [9]. - For the next fiscal year, three estimates have moved upwards with no downward revisions, indicating positive sentiment [9]. Conclusion - Given the strong performance metrics and positive earnings outlook, HII is positioned as a 2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A, making it a compelling option for investors seeking short-term gains [11].

Core Insights - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has doubled the size of its unmanned systems facility in Portchester, U.K., enhancing its support capacity for the U.K. Royal Navy and European operators of REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) [2][10] Group 1: Facility Expansion and Capabilities - The expanded Portchester facility strengthens HII's presence in the U.K. and Europe, increasing support for unmanned systems, maintenance, training, logistics, and sustainment for REMUS UUV operators [3][10] - The facility is set to prepare for the deployment of the ROMULUS family of unmanned surface vessels starting in 2026, serving as a European hub for HII's Mission Technologies division [3][10] - Advanced capabilities supported by the expansion include artificial intelligence, C5ISR, electronic warfare, and fleet modernization, ensuring effective program execution through collaboration with global teams [4] Group 2: Market Outlook and Demand - The unmanned sea systems market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.78% from 2025 to 2030, driven by rising investments in undersea combat capabilities, positioning HII to benefit significantly as the world's largest UUV manufacturer [5] - HII has delivered REMUS UUVs to 30 countries, including 14 NATO members, supporting critical naval missions such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and mine countermeasures [6] Group 3: Opportunities for Other Stocks - Other companies that may benefit from the expanding Unmanned Sea Systems market include BAE Systems, Leidos Holdings, and General Dynamics [7] - BAE Systems' Riptide UUV-12 has a long-term earnings growth rate of 14.57%, with 2026 sales estimated at $44.09 billion, indicating a rise of 54.9% [8] - Leidos' Sea Dart is designed for a wide range of missions, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 11.62% and 2026 sales estimated at $17.80 billion, indicating a rise of 3.4% [9] - General Dynamics' Bluefin-9 UUV has a long-term earnings growth rate of 13.16%, with 2026 sales estimated at $54.11 billion, indicating a rise of 4.1% [11] Group 4: Stock Performance - HII shares have increased by 25.1% over the past month, outperforming the industry's growth of 5.3% [12]

Core Insights - HII's Mission Technologies division has been awarded a significant contract for the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program, with a ceiling value of $151 billion, allowing for rapid competition and delivery of innovative capabilities [1][2]. Group 1: Contract Details - The SHIELD contract is an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, which encompasses a wide range of work areas aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the warfighter with increased speed and agility [1]. - This contract opens opportunities for HII to advance solutions in various fields, including directed energy, command and control system integration, data and cyber operations, microelectronics, spectrum management, and logistics [2]. Group 2: Company Commitment and Expertise - HII's executive vice president emphasized the company's commitment to supporting national security and homeland protection through the SHIELD mission, highlighting the importance of directed energy, microelectronics, and systems integration [3]. - HII is recognized as the nation's largest military shipbuilder, with over 135 years of experience in advancing U.S. national security, providing critical capabilities that range from ships to unmanned systems and cyber operations [4].

Core Viewpoint - Investors are evaluating Huntington Ingalls (HII) and Howmet (HWM) for potential value opportunities in the Aerospace - Defense sector, with HII currently presenting a more favorable investment case [1]. Valuation Metrics - HII has a forward P/E ratio of 23.17, while HWM has a significantly higher forward P/E of 49.87 [5]. - HII's PEG ratio stands at 1.61, indicating a more favorable valuation relative to its expected earnings growth, compared to HWM's PEG ratio of 2.09 [5]. - HII's P/B ratio is 3.14, which is substantially lower than HWM's P/B ratio of 17.4, suggesting HII is more attractively valued based on market versus book value [6]. Earnings Estimates and Rankings - HII holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while HWM has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3]. - The stronger estimate revision activity for HII suggests that its earnings outlook is improving more significantly than that of HWM [7]. Value Grades - HII has been assigned a Value grade of B, whereas HWM has a Value grade of D, reflecting HII's superior valuation metrics [6].

Core Insights - HII successfully demonstrated the shipboard deployment and recovery of a REMUS autonomous underwater vehicle (UUV) using its automated launch and recovery system, Sea Launcher [1][2] Group 1: Technology and Innovation - The demonstration marks a significant milestone in enhancing manned-unmanned teaming for maritime missions, showcasing HII's capability to integrate advanced automation and autonomy into ship-ready systems [2] - HII validated key performance aspects of the system to support a fully autonomous launch and recovery sequence, using a vehicle configured for real-world mission conditions [3] Group 2: Operational Advantages - Automated launch and recovery reduces risks to sailors, expands mission range and flexibility, and shortens mission timelines, which is crucial in contested or high-sea-state environments [4] - The REMUS UUV has been widely deployed by over 30 navies for various missions, including mine countermeasures and environmental sensing, demonstrating its reliability and flexibility [7][8] Group 3: Future Developments - HII plans to further integrate REMUS with its new ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel family and other manned and unmanned ships to meet evolving customer requirements across U.S. and allied navies [8]

Core Viewpoint - Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) is a prominent U.S. defense contractor with a market capitalization of $15.2 billion, specializing in military ship design, construction, and advanced mission technologies. Financial Performance - HII is expected to report Q4 2025 earnings of $3.75 per share, reflecting a 19.1% increase from $3.15 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, analysts project an EPS of $15.07, an increase of nearly 8% from $13.96 in fiscal 2024, with further growth anticipated to $17.19 in fiscal 2026, representing a 14.1% year-over-year increase [3] Stock Performance - HII's stock has increased by 107.1% over the past 52 weeks, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 19.4% rise and the State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF's 23.7% return during the same period [4] - Following the release of strong Q3 2025 results, HII shares rose by 6.9%, with record revenues of $3.2 billion and net earnings of $145 million, or $3.68 per share [5] Operational Highlights - The company has raised its full-year free cash flow guidance to between $550 million and $650 million, supported by a robust backlog of $55.7 billion and $2 billion in new contract awards during the quarter [6] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts maintain a cautiously optimistic view on HII, with a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating; among 12 analysts, five recommend a "Strong Buy," six suggest a "Hold," and one advises a "Moderate Sell" [7]

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets ended positively with the Nasdaq Composite, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and S&P 500 gaining 1.18%, 1.08%, and 0.93% respectively despite mid-week volatility [1] - Market direction was influenced by U.S. policy developments regarding Venezuela, enthusiasm for AI-linked technology stocks, and mixed economic data [1] Economic Indicators - The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 47.9 in December 2025, the lowest since October 2024, indicating contraction [2] - Conversely, the Services PMI unexpectedly rose to 54.4 in December from 52.6 in the previous month, indicating expansion [2] - Nonfarm Payrolls increased by 50,000 jobs in December, below expectations, while the unemployment rate slightly declined to 4.4% from 4.5% in November [2] - Average Hourly Earnings increased by 3.8% year-over-year, up from 3.6% in November [2] Stock Performance - Indivior PLC shares rose 21.7% since being upgraded to Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) on October 31, outperforming the S&P 500's 2% increase [4] - FormFactor, Inc. shares increased by 15.9% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) on October 31, also outperforming the S&P 500 [5] - An equal-weight portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks outperformed the equal-weight S&P 500 index by 7 percentage points, returning +17.81% compared to +10.85% for the index [5] Focus List and Model Portfolios - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +22.1% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's +17.9% gain [12] - The Focus List has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 over various time frames, including a +22.1% return in the last year compared to +17.9% for the index [14] - The Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) returned -1.67% in 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +17.9% gain [15] - The Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -0.6% in 2025, also underperforming compared to the S&P 500 [19] Notable Stock Recommendations - FIGS, Inc. shares surged 56.8% since being upgraded to Outperform on November 7, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 3.5% increase [8] - Five Below, Inc. shares increased by 21.7% since its upgrade on October 29, again outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - Mettler-Toledo International Inc. and Accenture plc saw returns of 16.6% and 16.5% respectively over the past 12 weeks [14]