HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) was pleased be recognized in the 2025 Australia Defense Magazine’s Top 40 Defense Contractor list. The recognition as one of Australia’s leading defense companies reflects the company’s commitment to being a trusted industry partner, delivering innovative solutions that support the Australian Defence Force (ADF). “KBR is proud to once again be named a leading partner to the ADF by Australia Defense Magazine. As Australia invests in world-leading, so ...

U.S. Southern Command confirmed a deadly maritime strike against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean.The operation marked the first publicly acknowledged attack since U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.Military officials said in a post on X, “On Jan. 23, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed ...

If Trump follows through on his dividend ban threat, two (or three) defense stocks could be at particular risk.No doubt about it -- President Donald Trump spooked a lot of investors in defense stocks earlier this month.Writing on Truth Social about "exorbitant and unjustifiable" executive compensation in the defense industry, "massive Dividends," and "massive Stock Buybacks," all paid "at the expense and detriment of investing in Plants and Equipment," the president declared that "no Executive should be all ...

Core Insights - European defense stocks are becoming increasingly attractive as Europe aims to enhance its security autonomy, indicating potential investment opportunities in this sector [1]. Group 1: Industry Analysis - The demand for investments in the defense sector necessitates a careful assessment of each defense contractor's stock, highlighting the importance of individual analysis [1]. - The aerospace, defense, and airline industry is characterized by significant growth prospects, driven by evolving geopolitical dynamics and increased focus on security [1]. Group 2: Analyst Background - The analysis is conducted by an experienced aerospace, defense, and airline analyst with a background in aerospace engineering, providing a comprehensive understanding of the industry's complexities [1]. - The investing group, The Aerospace Forum, aims to identify investment opportunities within the aerospace, defense, and airline sectors, utilizing data-informed analysis to guide investment decisions [1].

Core Insights - Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has experienced a nearly 120% gain over the past year, indicating growing confidence in the company's long-term positioning rather than short-term speculation [1][8] - The company's elevated valuation reflects market conviction in its execution, expanding use cases, and durable customer relationships, with a trailing 12-month price-to-earnings ratio exceeding 495 times and a forward 12-month multiple above 158 times [2][8] Valuation and Growth - Palantir is no longer valued solely on promise; it has shown improving operating leverage, rising commercial adoption, and a clearer path to scaling beyond its traditional government roots, justifying its premium valuation [3][5] - The valuation risk is more about pacing than overextension, as Palantir does not require explosive growth to support its current multiple but rather consistency in contract wins, customer expansion, and platform stickiness [4][5] Competitive Landscape - As Palantir's valuation increases, companies like Lockheed Martin (LMT) and RTX Corporation (RTX) provide more stable defense exposure with lower earnings multiples and large backlogs, offering steadier cash flow and less volatility [6][9] - Lockheed Martin's trailing and forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratios are just above 19 times, benefiting from global rearmament, while RTX's ratios are above 31 times and 28 times respectively, highlighting their stability in the defense sector [9]

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is among the 10 Best Defense Stocks to Buy in the S&P 500. On January 15, UBS analyst Gavin Parsons lifted the firm’s price target on the stock to $777 from $770, while keeping a Buy rating. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) a Moderate Buy, Analysts See 4% Upside The update follows Citigroup’s adjustment on the stock on January 13, when the firm hiked its price target on the company’s shares to $715 from $654 and reiterated a Buy rating, as it revised its position ...

Quick Read Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF (NATO) surged 65% over the past year. RTX, GE Aerospace and Boeing comprise nearly 25% of assets. Lockheed Martin missed Q2 2025 earnings by 77% and posted full-year earnings down 30% to $15.69. European defense budget increases face 12 to 24 month lags before translating into defense contractor contracts. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to reality. Read more here. ...

Core Insights - Lockheed Martin (LMT) is the largest defense contractor globally, valued at $134 billion, serving defense, space, homeland security, and cybersecurity needs for both government and commercial customers [1] Stock Performance - LMT has gained 19.42% since a new "Buy" signal was issued on December 15, indicating strong momentum [2] - The stock reached a new 52-week high of $586.85 on January 20, with shares up nearly 20% over the past year [5] - LMT has a Weighted Alpha of +27.70 and a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 75.75, indicating strong technical performance [6] Technical Indicators - Barchart maintains a 100% "Buy" technical opinion for Lockheed Martin, supported by consistent price appreciation and a Trend Seeker "Buy" signal [5][6] - The stock recently traded at $578.06, with a 50-day moving average of $484.88, and has seen 14 new highs with a 21.95% gain in the last month [6] Financial Metrics - Lockheed Martin has a trailing price-earnings ratio of 19.8x, with analysts projecting a 2.35% decrease in earnings for 2025, followed by a 6.4% increase in 2026 [7]

分组1: Lockheed Martin - Lockheed Martin may face volatility due to a new initiative from President Donald Trump, which prohibits defense companies from stock buybacks, dividend distributions, and large executive salaries [1] - The potential lack of buybacks and dividends could make Lockheed Martin less attractive to investors [2] 分组2: Broadcom - Broadcom's AI semiconductor revenue surged by 74% year over year in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with expectations for AI revenue to double year over year in the first quarter [6] - Broadcom's stock has increased by almost 700% over the past five years, indicating strong market performance and potential for continued growth [11] - The introduction of Broadcom's Wi-Fi 8 platform enhances its position in the AI market by providing stronger Wi-Fi for energy-intensive applications, which could lead to lucrative deals with various clients [9][10]

As we kick off a New Year, investors looking to rebalance their portfolios or put new capital to work in retirement accounts have plenty to consider. Which sectors, markets, and economies investors choose to put their capital to work in matter a great deal. Of course, for those who expect to retain a significant amount of exposure to the U.S. market, politics matter a great deal. And on this note, I think one of the only realities that's indisputable about the first year and a bit of Trump's second presiden ...