Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar
Published . Updated .
Lockheed Martin's latest agreements with the Department of Defense are signaling a more productive relationship between defense companies and the government, and that's a good thing for sector investors.
Directly affected
- LMT Lockheed Martin+19.0% 30d
Named in this report.
- RTX Rtx+2.3% 11d
Named in this report.
- BA Boeing-14.7% 30d
Named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF-3.0% 30d
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story.
- XAR SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF-6.6% 30d
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story.
- GE GE Aerospace-5.4% 30d
GE Aerospace (electronic and other electrical equipment (no computer equip)): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “boeing” (aerospace) in this story.
- HWM Howmet Aerospace-13.3% 30d
Howmet Aerospace (rolling drawing and extruding of nonferrous metals): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “boeing” (aerospace) in this story.
- NOC Northrop Grumman+5.9% 30d
Northrop Grumman (search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical sys): defense contractors gain when military spending rises. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story.
- GD General Dynamics+5.3% 30d
General Dynamics (ship and boat building and repairing): defense contractors gain when military spending rises. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story.
- LHX L3Harris Technologies+11.5% 30d
L3Harris Technologies (search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical sys): defense contractors gain when military spending rises. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story.
- TDG TransDigm Group
TransDigm Group (aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “boeing” (aerospace) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMT | -0.27% | -1.10% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| RTX | -1.19% | -1.88% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| BA | +9.66% | -2.68% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| ITANo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XARNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| GE | -4.44% | -0.15% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| HWM | -2.50% | -2.02% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| NOC | +1.43% | -0.90% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| GDNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LHXNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| TDG | -1.53% | -0.79% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Market Call
Think this story will push the stock up or down over the next three trading days? Make a free call and see what other readers think. Points are play money with no cash value.
Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar The Motley Fool
Source: The Motley Fool
Price since this story was published: IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing (BA) | three days earlier | -2.68% | final price |
| Boeing (BA) | five days earlier | +9.66% | final price |
| General Electric (GE) | three days earlier | -0.15% | final price |
| General Electric (GE) | five days earlier | -4.44% | final price |
| HWM | three days earlier | -2.02% | final price |
| HWM | five days earlier | -2.50% | final price |
| Lockheed Martin (LMT) | three days earlier | -1.10% | final price |
| Lockheed Martin (LMT) | five days earlier | -0.27% | final price |
| Northrop Grumman (NOC) | three days earlier | -0.90% | final price |
| Northrop Grumman (NOC) | five days earlier | +1.43% | final price |
| Rtx (RTX) | three days earlier | -1.88% | final price |
| Rtx (RTX) | five days earlier | -1.19% | final price |
| TDG | three days earlier | -0.79% | final price |
| TDG | five days earlier | -1.53% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 17 Sep 2026. That is 46 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Boeing (BA), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 39 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Boeing (BA), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 70 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold Boeing (BA), worth $500,001 - $1,000,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 73 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold General Electric (GE), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 39 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold General Electric (GE), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 70 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Byron Donalds sold Howmet Aerospace (HWM) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 11 Aug 2026. That is 83 days before publication. Filed 15 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Byron Donalds sold Howmet Aerospace (HWM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 11 Aug 2026. That is 83 days before publication. Filed 15 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold L3Harris Technologies (LHX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Aug 2026. That is 66 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold L3Harris Technologies (LHX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 70 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
Companies tied to this story
- ITA IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 2 Nov 2026 story “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar.” Reason on file: iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story
- XAR Spdr Series Trust
For “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar,” Spdr Series Trust (XAR) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story
- LMT Lockheed Martin
In “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar,” Lockheed Martin (LMT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Lockheed Martin (guided missiles and space vehicles and parts): defense contractors gain when military spending rises. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story
- BA Boeing
For “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar,” Boeing (BA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: The Boeing (aircraft): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “boeing” (aerospace) in this story
- RTX Rtx
Rtx (RTX) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 2 Nov 2026 story “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar.” Reason on file: Rtx (aircraft engines and engine parts): defense contractors gain when military spending rises. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story
- GE General Electric
In “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar,” General Electric (GE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: GE Aerospace (electronic and other electrical equipment (no computer equip)): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “boeing” (aerospace) in this story
- NOC Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman (NOC) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 2 Nov 2026 story “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar.” Reason on file: Northrop Grumman (search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical sys): defense contractors gain when military spending rises. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story
- GD General Dynamics
In “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar,” General Dynamics (GD) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: General Dynamics (ship and boat building and repairing): defense contractors gain when military spending rises. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is the company in “Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar,” the 2 Nov 2026 this story story.
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is on the page because iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story
A second company, Spdr Series Trust (XAR), is listed for a different reason: SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story
Dates in the story, and the IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) price range
ITA traded between 197.59 and 215.76 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 209.72. LMT traded between 497.32 and 656.35 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 637.17. XAR traded between 210.89 and 237.55 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 227.38.
What the saved facts support for IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
46 out of 100
“Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.