Government Procurement - Swiss voters oppose the government's deal to purchase 36 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin due to contract disagreements [1] - The potential price increase of the F-35 deal could reach as much as $1.6 billion [1]

Core Viewpoint - Boeing Co has secured a significant US Air Force contract for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which is expected to be worth tens of billions of dollars over its multi-decade lifespan [1][2][3] Group 1: Contract Details - The contract is for the design, construction, and delivery of the sixth generation fighter jet, known as the F-47, and is valued at potentially $20 billion over the next five years [2] - This award marks a pivotal moment for Boeing, as it has not held the prime contractor role for a US fighter jet in decades [3] Group 2: Market Impact - Analyst Noah Poponak has maintained a Buy rating for Boeing with a price target of $213, reflecting confidence in the company's future prospects following the contract win [1][2] - Boeing's shares increased by 2.97% to $183.40 at the time of publication, indicating positive market sentiment [4] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The loss of the contract for Lockheed Martin raises questions about its future offerings following the F-35, which currently constitutes approximately 25% of its earnings [3]

Core Viewpoint - Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) stock has declined by 2.8% to $427.50 following downgrades from BofA Global Research and Melius Research, which changed their ratings to "neutral" and "hold" from "buy" respectively, and reduced the price target from $685 to $485 [1] Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Market Sentiment - Despite recent downgrades, 12 out of 22 analysts still rate LMT as a "buy" or better, with a 12-month consensus target price of $532.09, indicating a 23.5% premium over current levels [2] - The recent downgrades and price target cuts may lead to further downward pressure on Lockheed Martin's stock [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Technical Analysis - LMT is trading below its 20-day moving average, which previously supported the stock during a failed attempt to surpass the $500 mark earlier this month [3] - The stock is on track for its third consecutive daily loss and has decreased by more than 26% over the past six months [3] Group 3: Options Market Activity - There is significant activity in the options market, with 3,217 calls and 1,181 puts traded, which is three times the typical volume for this time [3] - The most popular options contract is the weekly 3/28 450-strike call, indicating new positions are being opened [3] Group 4: Volatility and Performance Metrics - Defense stocks, including Lockheed Martin, have historically outperformed options traders' volatility expectations, as indicated by a Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) score of 97 out of 100 [4]