2 Under-the-Radar Defense Stocks That Could Double as Military Budgets Surge

Core Viewpoint - Defense stocks are experiencing increased demand due to ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, with the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF rising over 11% while the S&P 500 is down around 1% [1] Group 1: Major Defense Stocks - Large-cap defense stocks like L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin are stable but may not see rapid growth [1] - Smaller defense stocks such as AeroVironment and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions are expected to deliver better returns due to their higher growth profiles [2] Group 2: AeroVironment Overview - AeroVironment specializes in small- and medium-sized drones, space-based platforms, and cyberwarfare products, with its drones being battle-tested in Ukraine [4] - The company has a market cap of $10 billion and its shares have increased over 68% in the past year, despite a recent decline of over 14% in 2026 due to disappointing earnings [5][6] - In fiscal Q3 2026, AeroVironment reported a loss of $0.06 per share, down from $0.16 in the prior year, but revenue surged 143% to $4.08 million, largely due to the acquisition of BlueHalo [7] - The company forecasts revenue between $1.85 billion and $1.95 billion for the current year, significantly up from $820.6 million last year, with adjusted EBITDA expected to increase by 14.5% at the midpoint [9] Group 3: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Overview - Kratos focuses on affordable military technology and has seen its shares rise over 200% in the past year, with a market cap of $16 billion [10][11] - The company reported revenue of $1.35 billion in 2025, an 18.5% increase, and predicts sales of $1.59 billion to $1.67 billion for 2026, marking a 21.4% jump at the midpoint [12] - Kratos is acquiring Orbit Technologies for $356.3 million and has received a $7 million contract for a counter-UAS system [13] Group 4: Long-term Prospects - Both AeroVironment and Kratos, despite being smaller companies, are expected to see double-digit percentage revenue growth due to their ability to quickly respond to U.S. defense needs [14] - Their willingness to expand through acquisitions and focus on high-margin technology positions them well for long-term growth, although their stocks may experience more volatility [15]