These stocks are already up more than 26% this year.The S&P 500 is off to a fairly underwhelming start. As of Monday's close, it was up less than 2% since January. Many growth stocks have been struggling, while dividend stocks are suddenly becoming hot buys.Two dividend stocks that are off to hot starts since the beginning of the year are Lockheed Martin (LMT +2.29%) and Texas Instruments (TXN 1.21%). They have soared past the broad index, and here's why it might not be too late to invest in them. Lockheed ...

Core Viewpoint - Lockheed Martin has approved a dividend of $3.45 per share for the first quarter of 2026 [1] Company Summary - The approved dividend reflects the company's ongoing commitment to returning value to shareholders [1]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding the company or industry [1]

Core Viewpoint - Lockheed Martin Corporation's board of directors has authorized a dividend of $3.45 per share for the first quarter of 2026 [1] Company Summary - The dividend announcement reflects the company's ongoing commitment to returning value to shareholders [1]

Global military spending hit a record $2.7 trillion during 2024. The U.S. alone makes up about half of that figure with its 2026 budget coming in at $1.48 trillion, up about half a trillion dollars from 2025. But perhaps the biggest surprise in 2025 was Germany boosting its defense spending to become the fourth-largest spender on the planet behind the U.S., China, and Russia. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when y ...

Group 1 - Japan is heading to the polls on February 8, with expectations that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will remain in power [1] - Markets anticipate aggressive policy continuity, including massive fiscal stimulus and a slower path to interest rate hikes from the Bank of Japan [2] - The yen is trading heavily, with USD/JPY near the 157 level ahead of the vote [2] Group 2 - Polymarket traders are betting on a "Supermajority" scenario for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), indicating a low 22% probability for the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) [3] - A potential supermajority would allow Takaichi to implement her hawkish policies without needing to negotiate with coalition partners [3]

Core Insights - Lockheed Martin's shares have increased by 17.8% in the past month, significantly outperforming the Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry's growth of 4% [1][8] - The company benefits from a strong presence across various military branches and defense IT programs, leading to high switching costs and long-term government commitments [1][4] Company Performance - Lockheed Martin has secured a $328.5 million Foreign Military Sales contract for advanced infrared sensing technology, enhancing its position in international defense markets [5][8] - The F-35 program is a key growth driver, contributing approximately 27% of total consolidated net sales in 2025, with a backlog of 368 jets [10][20] - The company's Aeronautics segment reported a year-over-year sales growth of 6.4% in Q4 2025 [10] Financial Metrics - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lockheed Martin's 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has increased by 0.47% over the past 60 days, with a long-term earnings growth rate projected at 14.69% [12] - Lockheed Martin has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 14.01% [14] - The company's total debt to capital ratio stands at 76.35%, which is higher than the industry average of 51.29% [15] Valuation - Lockheed Martin's forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 1.78X, which is a discount compared to the industry's average of 2.73X, indicating a lower price relative to expected sales growth [17] Market Outlook - The rising U.S. defense budget and key contract wins are expected to strengthen Lockheed Martin's global reach and innovation capabilities [19] - Despite the positive growth projections, the company faces financial pressures and higher debt levels, suggesting that new investors may want to wait for a better entry point [20]

Core Insights - Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) has shown significant stock price appreciation, with a 31% increase last month, marking it as one of the best performers in the S&P 500 [1] - The company's stock performance has dramatically improved over the past year, recovering from fears of reduced defense spending under the previous administration to a favorable outlook with a proposed 50% increase in the defense budget [1] - Lockheed Martin reported strong quarterly results, exceeding both top and bottom line expectations, and provided a positive full-year forecast, indicating potential for further stock upside [1] Company Overview - Lockheed Martin designs and maintains various military and government-related technologies, including aircraft, missile systems, helicopters, satellites, naval vessels, and cybersecurity tools [3]

Core Insights - Lockheed Martin's stock surged by 31.1% in January, driven by President Trump's proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, significantly higher than the $900 billion approved for 2026 [1][2] - The Trump administration's aggressive stance on defense spending and its relationship with defense contractors presents both opportunities and challenges for companies like Lockheed Martin [2][4] Financial Performance and Guidance - Lockheed Martin's revenue guidance for 2024, 2025, and 2026 is projected at $71 billion, $75 billion, and $78.75 billion respectively, indicating a positive growth trajectory [6] - The segment operating profit is expected to increase from $6.1 billion in 2024 to $8.525 billion in 2026, with profit margins improving from 8.6% to 10.8% over the same period [6] - Capital spending is set to rise significantly, from $1.7 billion in 2024 to $2.65 billion in 2026, which will lead to a decline in free cash flow (FCF) from $5.3 billion in 2024 to $6.7 billion in 2026 [6] Strategic Implications - The Trump administration's executive order aims to ensure that defense companies fulfill their contracts, even if they incur losses, which could impact the operational strategies of companies like Lockheed Martin [4] - Investors are closely monitoring how defense companies will manage capital spending and profit margins in light of the new directives from the Trump administration [5]

Core Insights - Lockheed Martin Corp. has experienced a significant increase in its quality score, reflecting its strong fundamental performance and robust future demand for its defense platforms [1][2] Financial Performance - The company reported a record backlog of approximately $194 billion, a 17% year-over-year increase, which is about 2.5 times its annual sales, indicating multi-year revenue certainty [2] - Full-year 2025 sales reached $75 billion, marking a 6% increase from the previous year, with all business segments contributing to this growth [3] - Lockheed generated $6.9 billion in free cash flow for the year, surpassing expectations despite a substantial $860 million pension contribution [3] Operational Developments - A series of landmark agreements with the U.S. Department of War have driven production increases, including a deal to quadruple THAAD interceptor production from 96 to 400 units annually and to triple PAC-3 MSE production to 2,000 units [5] - The company is investing in a new Munitions Acceleration Center in Camden, Arkansas, as part of a multi-billion-dollar modernization plan for over 20 facilities across five states [6] Future Outlook - For 2026, Lockheed Martin projects sales between $77.5 billion and $80 billion, with anticipated segment operating profit growth exceeding 25% year-over-year [7] - The company has outperformed the S&P 500 significantly, with shares advancing by 26.39% year-to-date and 48.28% over the last six months [8]