Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-07 19:59Core Viewpoint - President Trump has stated that he will not allow defense companies to issue dividends or repurchase their stock until they increase investments in production and research and development [1][2]. Group 1: Trump's Statements and Actions - Trump emphasized that defense companies should not issue large dividends or conduct stock buybacks at the expense of investing in factories and equipment [1][2]. - He proposed a salary cap of $5 million for executives of these companies until they build what he describes as "new and modern production facilities" [1][2]. - Trump indicated that he is considering issuing an executive order to enforce these requirements and plans to meet with executives from major defense contractors to discuss reallocating funds towards R&D instead of buybacks and executive compensation [2][3]. Group 2: Market Reaction - Following Trump's statements, major U.S. defense contractors experienced a decline in stock prices, with Northrop Grumman dropping by 3% as of 2:19 PM NY time [1][2]. - Other companies such as Lockheed Martin, RTX, and General Dynamics also saw their stock prices decrease in response to Trump's comments [1][2]. Group 3: Executive Compensation - In 2024, Northrop Grumman's CEO Kathy Warden has a total compensation of $24 million, with a base salary of $1.79 million [3]. - Lockheed Martin's CEO Jim Taiclet has a total compensation of $23.75 million, with a base salary of $1.75 million [3].