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Why Lockheed Martin Stock Popped, Then Dropped Today
The Motley Foolยท 2025-05-02 16:19
Core Viewpoint - The cancellation of the Orion program could significantly impact Lockheed Martin's stock value, potentially costing the company billions in revenue due to reduced production and flight opportunities for the Orion space capsules [1][4]. Group 1: Financial Implications - Lockheed Martin's stock initially rose nearly 3% following a Wells Fargo report predicting a 13% year-over-year increase in the U.S. Pentagon's budget, potentially reaching $961 billion [3]. - Each Orion capsule is expected to generate approximately $900 million in revenue for Lockheed Martin, but the cancellation of the program limits the potential to just three launches, jeopardizing future revenue streams [4][6]. - Despite the challenges posed by the Orion program's cancellation, Lockheed Martin's share of a potential $150 billion increase in defense spending suggests that the impact may be relatively small in the broader context of the company's financial outlook [6]. Group 2: Market Reaction - Following the news of the Orion program's cancellation, Lockheed Martin's stock experienced a decline of 1.9% as of 11:50 a.m. ET [2]. - The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is noted to be above 20, indicating that while the stock is not considered "cheap," the cancellation of Orion may not deter investors who were already comfortable with the stock's valuation prior to the news [7].