HII Expands Partnership With Babcock to Build Virginia-Class Submarine

Core Insights - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has signed a contract with Babcock International Group to enhance Virginia-class submarine construction throughput at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division [1][9] - The contract allows Babcock to manufacture complex submarine assemblies at its Rosyth facility in Scotland for Virginia-class Block VI submarines, marking the first time Babcock will support NNS-specific submarine work [2][9] Partnership Benefits - The expanded partnership with Babcock is expected to increase production throughput, reduce workload strain at Newport News, and enhance the resilience of HII's submarine supply chain [3][4] - Leveraging Babcock's expertise will reinforce HII's supplier base and strengthen submarine production in the U.S., positioning HII for future U.S.-U.K. submarine collaborations, including potential AUKUS-related opportunities [4] Market Growth Potential - The submarine market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.17% from 2025 to 2030, indicating substantial growth prospects for HII in the military submarine sector [5] - Other defense players like General Dynamics, BAE Systems, and Northrop Grumman are also positioned to benefit from the expanding submarine market [6][8] Financial Performance - General Dynamics has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12.81%, with 2025 sales estimated at $51.97 billion, reflecting an 8.9% increase [7] - BAE Systems has a long-term earnings growth rate of 14.57%, with 2025 sales projected at $40.68 billion, suggesting a significant increase of 62.9% [9] - Northrop Grumman has a long-term earnings growth rate of 4.16%, with 2025 sales estimated at $41.89 billion, indicating a 2.1% rise [10] Stock Performance - HII shares have increased by 39.3% over the past six months, significantly outperforming the industry average growth of 6% [11]