Lockheed Martin's Recent Deal - Lockheed Martin secured a $270 million contract from the US Air Force to integrate next-generation infrared defensive sensors on the F-22 Raptor [1] - The new Infrared Defensive System, developed by Lockheed, enhances the F-22's capability and endurance [1] F-22 Raptor Capabilities - The F-22 is one of the most advanced fifth-generation fighter jets, known for its stealth, speed, agility, and situational awareness [2] - It provides unparalleled battlespace awareness by gathering and exchanging tactical information with friendly assets [3] Military Aviation Market Growth - Rising military conflicts and technological advancements are driving increased defense spending on combat-proven jets [4] - The military aviation market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2025 to 2030 [4] Lockheed Martin's Growth Prospects - Lockheed's robust portfolio of combat jets, including the F-35, F-21, F-2, F-16, and F-22, positions it well to benefit from market growth [5] Opportunities for Other Aerospace Defense Companies - Northrop Grumman (NOC) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 19% and is expected to see a 3.6% improvement in 2025 sales [6][7] - Boeing (BA) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 19.3% and is expected to see a 23.5% improvement in 2025 sales [7][8] - Embraer (ERJ) is expected to see a 17.8% growth in 2025 sales and delivered an average earnings surprise of 127.28% in the last four quarters [8][9] Lockheed Martin Stock Performance - Lockheed's shares rose 1.9% in the past month, compared to the industry's growth of 4% [10] - The company currently carries a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [11]

Wall Street analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin (LMT) will report quarterly earnings of $6.60 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year decline of 16.5%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $18.85 billion, exhibiting a decline of 0.1% compared to the year-ago quarter.The current level reflects a downward revision of 1.1% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised ...

Lockheed Martin's Contract and Market Position - Lockheed Martin secured a $17.9 million contract modification for continued flight test support under Foreign Military Sales, expected to be completed by March 2027 [1][2] - The contract includes maintenance, safety inspections, and infrastructure support for aircraft testing, with work to be executed in multiple locations including Fort Worth, TX, and Patuxent River, MD [2][3] - The company's Sikorsky unit offers extensive MRO services, including dynamic systems, blades, and avionics, contributing to its ability to secure significant MRO contracts [6] Growth in Military Aviation MRO Market - The global military aviation MRO market is projected to grow from $42.49 billion in 2025 to $48.81 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 2.8% [5] - Rising demand for fighter jets and related MRO services is driven by increased global defense spending, positioning Lockheed Martin as a key player in this market [4][5] - Lockheed Martin's partnership with Asia Pacific Aerospace in September 2024 aims to enhance Black Hawk fleet repair services, further solidifying its market position [7] Opportunities for Other Defense Companies - RTX Corporation's Pratt & Whitney unit opened a $255 million facility in October 2024 to meet growing demand for engine MRO services, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.3% [9][10] - BAE Systems offers comprehensive aircraft support, including spare parts and advanced systems, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 11.1% and projected 2025 sales growth of 58.4% [10][11] - AAR Corp, the largest independent aerospace MRO provider in North America, secured a $1.2 billion contract in September 2024 for P-8A Poseidon jet maintenance, with projected fiscal 2025 sales growth of 19.5% [12] Lockheed Martin's Stock Performance - Lockheed Martin's stock has risen 18.8% in the past year, outperforming the industry's 2.5% growth [13] - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [13]

Earnings Release and Estimates - Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is scheduled to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results on January 28 [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q4 revenues is $18.85 billion, implying a 0.1% decline from the year-ago quarter [2] - The consensus mark for Q4 earnings is $6.52 per share, suggesting a 17.5% decline from $7.90 reported in the prior-year quarter [2] - The bottom-line estimate has decreased by 1.2% over the past 60 days [2] Earnings Surprise History - LMT has consistently outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.48% [3] - In the most recent quarters, the earnings surprise percentages were 5.72%, 10.23%, 9.14%, and 8.82% respectively [4] Earnings Whisper and Model Predictions - The proven model predicts an earnings beat for LMT, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +1.98% and a Zacks Rank 3 [5] Segment Performance - The Aeronautics segment, contributing nearly 40% to the company's top line, is expected to post solid sales with a 3.5% rise to $7,877.6 million in Q4 [8] - The Space segment is projected to see a 4% decline in revenues to $3,242.7 million due to lower sales from the Orion program [9] - The Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) segment is expected to grow 4.5% to $3,115.2 million, driven by higher sales volume from missile defense programs [10][11] - The Rotary and Mission Systems segment is likely to benefit from higher production volume of helicopter programs [11] Factors Impacting Q4 Results - Unimpressive sales performance from one of LMT's major business segments may weigh down overall earnings [12] - A potential $1.3 billion loss associated with a classified missile program in the MFC unit could adversely impact operating margins and bottom-line growth [13] - Unfavorable cost pressure in the Sikorsky business may also affect overall earnings performance [14] Price Performance and Valuation - LMT's shares have risen 10.5% over the past year, outperforming the aerospace-defense industry's decline of 2.4% [15] - The stock is trading at a premium with a forward 12-month P/E of 18.09X, higher than its peer group's 15.92X and its five-year median of 15.95X [18] Industry and Investment Thesis - Global defense spending has increased due to widespread hostilities, acting as a growth catalyst for defense contractors like LMT [20] - LMT's dividend yield of 2.69% outpaces the S&P 500's 1.20%, reflecting strong shareholder rewards [21] - Elevated leverage, indicated by a higher long-term debt-to-capital ratio compared to peers, remains a concern [21] Conclusion - LMT is less likely to disappoint in its Q3 earnings release, supported by solid share price performance, favorable Zacks Rank, and positive Earnings ESP [26]

Contract Details - Lockheed Martin has received a $270 million contract from the U S Air Force to integrate next-generation infrared defensive sensors on the F-22 Raptor [1] Technology Integration - The F-22 will feature newly developed TacIRST sensors, known as the Infrared Defensive System (IRDS), to enhance aircraft survivability and lethality [2] - Lockheed Martin will manage IRDS integration on the F-22 and support integration on other platforms [2] Company Statements - Hank Tucker, VP of Mission Systems, emphasized the importance of advanced infrared systems like IRDS for pilot survivability and mission effectiveness [3] - Justin Taylor, VP of the F-22 program, highlighted Lockheed Martin's commitment to partnering with the Air Force for modernization efforts and ensuring U S air superiority [3] Company Overview - Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company focused on innovation and advancing scientific discovery [4] - The company's all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security vision aim to deliver transformative technologies to maintain readiness [4]

Dividend Growth Investing Strategy - Building lasting wealth through dividend investing involves identifying companies with sustainable payout ratios and consistent dividend growth, benefiting from rising income streams and potential capital appreciation [1] - Stocks with payout ratios below 75% and five-year annualized dividend growth rates above 6% tend to generate superior total returns over extended holding periods [2] Microsoft (MSFT) - Microsoft has transformed from a software company into a diversified technology powerhouse, with significant growth in cloud computing through Azure [3] - The company has a modest 0.77% dividend yield but has increased payouts by 10.3% annually over the past five years, with a low payout ratio of 24.7% [4] - Microsoft trades at a forward P/E of 32.5, reflecting its cloud-computing leadership, enterprise-software ecosystem, and AI research capabilities [5] - Its cloud leadership and strong balance sheet make it an ideal cornerstone holding for dividend growth investors [6] Mastercard (MA) - Mastercard operates one of the world's largest payment networks, benefiting from the global shift toward digital transactions [7] - The company has a 0.58% dividend yield, with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 14.5% and a lean payout ratio of 19.3% [8] - Mastercard trades at a forward P/E of 32.3, justified by its duopoly position in global payments, high-margin business model, and growth potential in digital payments [9] Lockheed Martin (LMT) - Lockheed Martin is the largest U.S. defense contractor, specializing in advanced military systems and space technology, poised to benefit from increased global defense spending [10] - The company offers a 2.69% dividend yield, with a 7.21% five-year annualized dividend growth rate and a reasonable payout ratio of 45.6% [11] - Lockheed Martin trades at a forward P/E of 17.2, making it a bargain relative to the S&P 500, given its expertise in hypersonics, space systems, and predictable government contracts [12] Overall Investment Strategy - Successful dividend growth investing involves identifying quality companies like Microsoft, Mastercard, and Lockheed Martin, and accumulating shares through dollar-cost averaging [13] - These companies offer robust economic moats, strong fundamentals, clear growth trajectories, shareholder-focused management, and well-structured dividend programs, making them attractive for dividend growth investors [14]

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Lockheed Martin (LMT) , which belongs to the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry.This aerospace and defense company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 7.98%.For the most recent quarter, Lockheed was expected to post earnings of $6.47 per s ...

Lockheed Martin (LMT) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2024. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on January ...

Lockheed Martin Corporation’s (LMT) unit, Rotary and Mission Systems, recently clinched a modification contract to support the MH-60S aircraft program. The award has been provided by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.Details of LMT’s DealValued at $19 million, the contract is expected to be completed by March 2028. Per the terms of the deal, Lockheed will provide two initial structural modification kits for the MH-60S aircraft, non-recurring engineering support and components that are not ex ...

Lockheed Martin (LMT) ended the recent trading session at $484.46, demonstrating a +0.27% swing from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.12%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.52%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.23%.Shares of the aerospace and defense company witnessed a loss of 1.73% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Aerospace sector with its loss of 1.36% and outperforming the S&P 500's loss of 3.45%.The investment comm ...