U.S. Space Launch System (SLS)
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From Short-Term Struggles to Long-Term Wins: Lockheed's Space Story
ZACKSยท 2025-08-12 15:21
Core Insights - Rising global demand for satellite-based communications, Earth observation, and cybersecurity systems is driving the space technology market, benefiting Lockheed Martin's Space segment through major contracts [1][9] - Lockheed's space business unit is involved in designing and testing lunar and deep space exploration capabilities, securing contracts for various space capabilities including Mars exploration and weather satellites [2][9] - The space business segment registered a 4% revenue growth in Q2 2025 after previous declines, driven by satellite, missile-defense, and space exploration contracts [3][9] Revenue Trends - Prior to Q2 2025, Lockheed's Space segment experienced declining revenues in 2024 and early 2025, with a 2% year-over-year sales drop in Q1 2025 and a 13% decline in Q4 2024 due to slower production and program delays [4][9] - The near-term challenges include delays in the Artemis mission, affecting Orion's revenue cadence, but long-term prospects remain solid with over $3 billion annual demand for Next Gen OPIR satellites and substantial Artemis program funding [5][9] Competitive Landscape - Other defense stocks like Boeing and L3Harris Technologies are also involved in space programs, with Boeing being the prime contractor for the U.S. Space Launch System and L3Harris supporting the Artemis II mission [6][7] Market Performance - Lockheed Martin's shares have lost 12.3% year-to-date, contrasting with the industry's 27.3% growth [8] - The company's shares are trading at a relative discount, with a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 15.67X compared to the industry's average of 27.55X [10]