Defense Budgets Are Increasing—Discover 3 Stocks Designed for Challenging Periods
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 21 2026
0mins
Source: Marketbeat
Rising Defense Spending: The U.S. defense budget is projected to increase to $1.5 trillion by 2027, driven by geopolitical tensions and the need for advanced military capabilities, leading to a surge in demand for defense stocks.
Lockheed Martin's Growth: Lockheed Martin remains a leader in U.S. defense contracting, expanding its global footprint and reporting a significant backlog of nearly $180 billion, which positions it favorably for future contracts.
Boeing's Challenges: Boeing faces ongoing difficulties, including a suspended dividend and cash flow issues, but is expected to ramp up production of its MAX aircraft to meet a growing backlog, which exceeds $600 billion.
Leidos Holdings' Position: Leidos Holdings is emerging as a strong player in modern defense technology, leveraging AI and cybersecurity solutions, and has secured a $455 million contract with the Air Force, indicating its potential for growth in the defense sector.
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Analyst Views on LMT
Wall Street analysts forecast LMT stock price to fall
12 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 658.080
Low
430.00
Averages
535.50
High
605.00
Current: 658.080
Low
430.00
Averages
535.50
High
605.00
About LMT
Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global aerospace and defense company. The Company is engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Its segments include Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) and Space. Aeronautics segment is engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, sustainment, support and upgrade of advanced military aircraft. MFC segment provides air and missile defense systems, manned and unmanned ground vehicles, energy management solutions, and others. RMS segment designs, manufactures, services and supports various military and commercial helicopters, surface ships, sea and land-based missile defense systems, and others. Its Space segment is engaged in the research and design, development, engineering and production of satellites, space transportation systems, and strategic, advanced strike, and defensive systems.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analysis of Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF Investment
- Dividend Growth Advantage: The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF focuses on high-quality dividend stocks, with the S&P 500 members historically delivering a 7.7% annualized total return, while dividend-paying companies achieved an average of 9.2%, highlighting the superiority of dividend stocks.
- Quality Holdings Performance: The ETF's top holding, Lockheed Martin (LMT), boasts a 2.1% dividend yield, nearly double that of the S&P 500, and has increased its dividend for 23 consecutive years, demonstrating strong cash flows and ongoing growth potential.
- Income and Value Growth: With an average yield of 3.5% and over 8% annual dividend growth over the past five years, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF not only provides investors with a stable cash flow but also enhances asset value through the earnings growth of its holdings.
- Long-Term Return Expectations: Since its inception in 2011, the ETF has achieved an annualized return of 12.88%, and its strategy of combining high-yield dividends with capital appreciation positions it to continue delivering strong total returns in the future, making it a preferred choice for investors.
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Defense Stocks Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Conflict
- Defense Stock Surge: Defense stocks experienced a significant rally on Monday following U.S. attacks on Iran, indicating strong market expectations for increased defense spending, which could enhance the financial performance of these companies.
- Congressional Holdings: Several members of Congress own shares in Lockheed Martin (LMT), Raytheon Technologies (RTX), and Palantir, suggesting they may profit from ongoing military actions, particularly those serving on defense committees.
- Potential Conflicts of Interest: Congressional members holding defense stocks may face conflicts of interest as they could receive insider information about military operations, potentially impacting market confidence and investor behavior.
- Increased Scrutiny: The rise in defense stocks has heightened public scrutiny on Congress members who own these shares, which may lead to increased examination of their trading activities and could affect their political careers and public image.
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- Funding Target: The transaction is projected to generate approximately $500 million in gross proceeds, positioning Xanadu as a definitive leader in photonic quantum computing, leveraging light instead of electricity for information processing to drive technological advancements.
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- Strategic Partnership: The collaboration with Lockheed Martin focuses on generative models that operate in low-data environments, aimed at advancing national security and aerospace sensing technologies, while the $500 million capital will accelerate Xanadu's hardware roadmap and expand its open-source software library, PennyLane.
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U.S. Congress Briefed on Military Action in Iran
- Congress Briefing Schedule: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to brief congressional leaders on the Iran war on Monday afternoon, while the Secretary of Defense and CIA Director will hold an all-Congress briefing on Tuesday, indicating the government's serious attention to the situation.
- Consequences of Military Action: The strikes against Iran resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, prompting Democratic lawmakers to question the legality of the military action and demand intelligence to justify the U.S. preemptive strikes.
- Bipartisan Concerns: Both parties in Congress have expressed concerns over the military action, with Democrats vowing to push for votes this week to limit President Trump's authority for further attacks on Iran, reflecting deep apprehension about the future situation.
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- Retail Inflows: On Monday, retail investors net bought over $14 million in the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) following U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, marking a more than 425% increase compared to Friday's trading volume, indicating strong interest in energy stocks.
- Defense Stock Surge: During the same hour, Palantir saw net inflows exceeding $800,000, a dramatic shift from the net selling of over $500,000 observed on Friday, leading to a more than 6% rise in its stock during midday trading, reflecting a reassessment of the defense sector.
- Market Sentiment Analysis: While retail investors showed activity in specific stocks, the broader market did not experience widespread panic, with analysts noting that investors are engaging in selective repositioning, indicating a more defensive strategy amid rising uncertainty.
- Hedging Strategies Evident: There was a notable increase in demand for the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) and ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ), suggesting that retail investors are not only reallocating their portfolios but are also actively hedging against potential market volatility.
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- Market Reaction: Stocks initially retreated following the US and Israel's joint military actions against Iran, but rebounded after the February ISM manufacturing index exceeded expectations, indicating investor focus on economic data.
- Surge in Energy Prices: The halt of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to Iran's attacks on three oil tankers led to WTI crude oil prices soaring over 65% to an 8.25-month high, potentially exacerbating global inflationary pressures.
- Defense Stocks Rise: The ongoing conflict in Iran has bolstered earnings prospects for defense companies, with Aerovironment's stock rising over 12%, while Northrop Grumman and RTX Corp also saw increases of over 4%, reflecting market optimism about defense spending.
- Economic Data Focus: Investors are keenly awaiting upcoming economic data releases, including ADP employment changes and the ISM services index, which are expected to influence future monetary policy directions amid rising inflation concerns.
See More
Analysis of Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF Investment
- Dividend Growth Advantage: The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF focuses on high-quality dividend stocks, with the S&P 500 members historically delivering a 7.7% annualized total return, while dividend-paying companies achieved an average of 9.2%, highlighting the superiority of dividend stocks.
- Quality Holdings Performance: The ETF's top holding, Lockheed Martin (LMT), boasts a 2.1% dividend yield, nearly double that of the S&P 500, and has increased its dividend for 23 consecutive years, demonstrating strong cash flows and ongoing growth potential.
- Income and Value Growth: With an average yield of 3.5% and over 8% annual dividend growth over the past five years, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF not only provides investors with a stable cash flow but also enhances asset value through the earnings growth of its holdings.
- Long-Term Return Expectations: Since its inception in 2011, the ETF has achieved an annualized return of 12.88%, and its strategy of combining high-yield dividends with capital appreciation positions it to continue delivering strong total returns in the future, making it a preferred choice for investors.
See More
Defense Stocks Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Conflict
- Defense Stock Surge: Defense stocks experienced a significant rally on Monday following U.S. attacks on Iran, indicating strong market expectations for increased defense spending, which could enhance the financial performance of these companies.
- Congressional Holdings: Several members of Congress own shares in Lockheed Martin (LMT), Raytheon Technologies (RTX), and Palantir, suggesting they may profit from ongoing military actions, particularly those serving on defense committees.
- Potential Conflicts of Interest: Congressional members holding defense stocks may face conflicts of interest as they could receive insider information about military operations, potentially impacting market confidence and investor behavior.
- Increased Scrutiny: The rise in defense stocks has heightened public scrutiny on Congress members who own these shares, which may lead to increased examination of their trading activities and could affect their political careers and public image.
See More
Xanadu Quantum Technologies Completes Public Debut
- Merger Completion: Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. has finalized its merger with Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp., receiving SEC approval, with the deal expected to close by the end of March 2026, leading to a listing on both Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange under ticker XNDU.
- Funding Target: The transaction is projected to generate approximately $500 million in gross proceeds, positioning Xanadu as a definitive leader in photonic quantum computing, leveraging light instead of electricity for information processing to drive technological advancements.
- Industry Hotspot Timing: Xanadu's public debut coincides with a peak moment for the quantum computing sector, following Infleqtion's successful listing last month, where shares surged nearly 15%, indicating strong market interest in quantum technologies, with Xanadu aiming to achieve large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computing through its photonic architecture.
- Strategic Partnership: The collaboration with Lockheed Martin focuses on generative models that operate in low-data environments, aimed at advancing national security and aerospace sensing technologies, while the $500 million capital will accelerate Xanadu's hardware roadmap and expand its open-source software library, PennyLane.
See More
U.S. Congress Briefed on Military Action in Iran
- Congress Briefing Schedule: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to brief congressional leaders on the Iran war on Monday afternoon, while the Secretary of Defense and CIA Director will hold an all-Congress briefing on Tuesday, indicating the government's serious attention to the situation.
- Consequences of Military Action: The strikes against Iran resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, prompting Democratic lawmakers to question the legality of the military action and demand intelligence to justify the U.S. preemptive strikes.
- Bipartisan Concerns: Both parties in Congress have expressed concerns over the military action, with Democrats vowing to push for votes this week to limit President Trump's authority for further attacks on Iran, reflecting deep apprehension about the future situation.
- Lessons Not Learned: House Intelligence Committee Democrat Jim Himes noted that military actions rarely end well and warned that conflict with Iran could spiral out of control, showcasing strong opposition to current policies.
See More
Retail Investors Actively Position in Energy and Defense Stocks
- Retail Inflows: On Monday, retail investors net bought over $14 million in the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) following U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, marking a more than 425% increase compared to Friday's trading volume, indicating strong interest in energy stocks.
- Defense Stock Surge: During the same hour, Palantir saw net inflows exceeding $800,000, a dramatic shift from the net selling of over $500,000 observed on Friday, leading to a more than 6% rise in its stock during midday trading, reflecting a reassessment of the defense sector.
- Market Sentiment Analysis: While retail investors showed activity in specific stocks, the broader market did not experience widespread panic, with analysts noting that investors are engaging in selective repositioning, indicating a more defensive strategy amid rising uncertainty.
- Hedging Strategies Evident: There was a notable increase in demand for the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) and ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ), suggesting that retail investors are not only reallocating their portfolios but are also actively hedging against potential market volatility.
See More
Iran War Drives Market Volatility and Sector Performance
- Market Reaction: Stocks initially retreated following the US and Israel's joint military actions against Iran, but rebounded after the February ISM manufacturing index exceeded expectations, indicating investor focus on economic data.
- Surge in Energy Prices: The halt of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to Iran's attacks on three oil tankers led to WTI crude oil prices soaring over 65% to an 8.25-month high, potentially exacerbating global inflationary pressures.
- Defense Stocks Rise: The ongoing conflict in Iran has bolstered earnings prospects for defense companies, with Aerovironment's stock rising over 12%, while Northrop Grumman and RTX Corp also saw increases of over 4%, reflecting market optimism about defense spending.
- Economic Data Focus: Investors are keenly awaiting upcoming economic data releases, including ADP employment changes and the ISM services index, which are expected to influence future monetary policy directions amid rising inflation concerns.
See More
