Core Viewpoint - Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. and has shown significant stock performance, outperforming the broader market and its industry peers, driven by strong earnings and a substantial backlog of contracts [1][2][4]. Company Overview - HII is valued at $12.1 billion and specializes in designing, building, and maintaining U.S. Navy vessels, including nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines [1]. - The company also provides mission technologies, including defense systems, cyber solutions, and unmanned technologies [1]. Stock Performance - HII shares have increased by 58.7% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which rose by 10.5% [2]. - In the last six months, HII stock has risen by 32.4%, compared to a 10.1% increase in the S&P 500 [2]. - HII has also outperformed the SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR), which gained 30.4% over the past year [3]. Financial Performance - In the third quarter, HII reported revenues of $3.2 billion, a 16.1% increase year over year, with net earnings of $145 million and EPS of $3.68 [4]. - Shipbuilding margins improved significantly due to higher volumes in surface combatants, submarines, and aircraft carriers [4]. - The consolidated operating margin rose to 5%, up from 3% a year earlier, supported by solid growth in Mission Technologies [4]. Contracts and Guidance - HII secured $2 billion in new contracts, increasing its total backlog to $55.7 billion [4]. - The company reaffirmed and slightly raised its full-year guidance [4]. Analyst Expectations - Analysts project HII's EPS to grow by 7.6% to $15.02 for the current fiscal year [5]. - The consensus among 11 analysts is a "Moderate Buy," with three "Strong Buy" ratings, seven "Holds," and one "Moderate Sell" [5].