RTX Has a $340 Billion Backlog and Trades at 32 Times Earnings. Is It the Best Defense Stock to Buy Right Now?
Published . Updated .
Covered by 2 outlets: The Motley Fool, Yahoo Finance.
Who covered it: Center 1 · Not rated 1. How we rate outlets
The aerospace and defense company's backlog continues to grow, strengthening the long-term value case for the stock.
Directly affected
- RTX Rtx+1.1% 7d
Named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF-3.2% 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-7.5% 30d
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “defense” (defense) in this story.
- GE GE Aerospace-6.1% 30d
GE Aerospace (electronic and other electrical equipment (no computer equip)): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “aerospace” (aerospace) in this story.
- TDG TransDigm Group+1.6% 30d
TransDigm Group (aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “aerospace” (aerospace) in this story.
- HWM Howmet Aerospace-13.5% 30d
Howmet Aerospace (rolling drawing and extruding of nonferrous metals): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “aerospace” (aerospace) in this story.
- DAL Delta Air Lines+0.4% 30d
Delta flies the 737, so a Boeing aircraft story reaches its fleet. Linked by “aerospace” in this story
- UAL United Airlines Holdings+1.0% 16d
United flies the 737, so a Boeing aircraft story reaches its fleet. Linked by “aerospace” in this story
- BA The Boeing-10.2% 30d
The Boeing (aircraft): aircraft makers and suppliers move with orders and air travel. Linked by “aerospace” (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX | -2.10% | -1.45% | base | -1.29% | after close | after close | after close |
| ITA | -0.49% | -1.27% | base | -0.36% | after close | after close | after close |
| XARNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| GE | +3.99% | +1.83% | base | +3.25% | after close | after close | after close |
| TDG | +1.15% | +1.08% | base | +0.09% | after close | after close | after close |
| HWM | +8.89% | -0.55% | base | -1.18% | after close | after close | after close |
| DAL | -3.17% | +0.08% | base | +2.85% | after close | after close | after close |
| UAL | -2.65% | +1.35% | base | +4.00% | after close | after close | after close |
| BA | +1.16% | -0.32% | base | -10.67% | 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.
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RTX Has a $340 Billion Backlog and Trades at 32 Times Earnings. Is It the Best Defense Stock to Buy Right Now? The Motley Fool
Source: The Motley Fool
This story
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA | that day | -10.67% | final price |
| BA | three days earlier | -0.32% | final price |
| BA | five days earlier | +1.16% | final price |
| DAL | that day | +2.85% | final price |
| DAL | three days earlier | +0.08% | final price |
| DAL | five days earlier | -3.17% | final price |
| GE | that day | +3.25% | final price |
| GE | three days earlier | +1.83% | final price |
| GE | five days earlier | +3.99% | final price |
| HWM | that day | -1.18% | final price |
| HWM | three days earlier | -0.55% | final price |
| HWM | five days earlier | +8.89% | final price |
| ITA | that day | -0.36% | final price |
| ITA | three days earlier | -1.27% | final price |
| ITA | five days earlier | -0.49% | final price |
| RTX | that day | -1.29% | final price |
| RTX | three days earlier | -1.45% | final price |
| RTX | five days earlier | -2.10% | final price |
| TDG | that day | +0.09% | final price |
| TDG | three days earlier | +1.08% | final price |
| TDG | five days earlier | +1.15% | final price |
| UAL | that day | +4.00% | final price |
| UAL | three days earlier | +1.35% | final price |
| UAL | five days earlier | -2.65% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold RTX, worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Jul 2026. That is 88 days before publication. Filed 22 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold General Electric (GE), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 33 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 64 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold TransDigm Group (TDG), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 28 Aug 2026. That is 60 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. April McClain Delaney sold TransDigm Group (TDG) (held by a dependent child), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 25 Aug 2026. That is 63 days before publication. Filed 9 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought TransDigm Group (TDG), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 64 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Byron Donalds sold Howmet Aerospace (HWM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 11 Aug 2026. That is 77 days before publication. Filed 15 Sep 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 77 days before publication. Filed 15 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold United Airlines Holdings (UAL) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 53 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought United Airlines Holdings (UAL) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 3 Aug 2026. That is 85 days before publication. Filed 4 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Boeing (BA), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 33 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 64 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).
This story
25 out of 100
“RTX Has a $340 Billion Backlog and Trades at 32 Times Earnings. Is It the Best Defense Stock to Buy Right Now?” scores 25 out of 100. The score uses 2 sources.