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Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since it won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. Aeronautics is Lockheed's largest segment, which derives upward of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, mainly encompassing the Sikorsky helicopter business; missiles and fire control, which creates missiles and missile defense systems; and space systems, which produces satellites and receives equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture.

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Hadrian, a defense manufacturing startup, has successfully concluded a $260 million Series C funding round, led by Peter Thiel&#8217;s Founders Fund and Lux Capital.
What Happened: The funding will be utilized to establish a new 270,000 square foot factory in Mesa, Arizona, and expand its Torrance, California, location, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/17/hadrian-funding-round-thiel-founders-fund.html">reported</a> on Thursday.
The expansion is intended to strengthen Hadrian's shipbuilding and naval defense capabilities.
Hadrian&#8217;s CEO, Chris Power, emphasized the need for a substantial advancement in the U.S. manufacturing model compared to China&#8217;s.
The company is disrupting the traditional defense contracting industry, dominated by major players such as Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), to enhance U.S. defense production and secure Department of Defense contracts.
The new Arizona facility, set to commence operations by Christmas, will generate 350 local jobs. Hadrian plans to establish four to five additional facilities within the next year to support Department of Defense requirements.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46485087/jerome-powell-defends-2-5-billion-fed-hq-overhaul-says-no-vip-dining-rooms-no-priva" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jerome Powell Defends $2.5 Billion Fed HQ Overhaul, Says &#8216;No VIP Dining Rooms,&#8217; No Private Elevators As Trump Allies Slam Project Over Versailles-Style Excess</a>
Hadrian uses robotics and artificial intelligence to automate its factories, with the goal of boosting American worker productivity. The company says it can train employees in just 30 days and make them ten times more efficient.
Notable investors in this funding round include Andreessen Horowitz and Brad Gerstner&#8217;s Altimeter Capital. This round follows a $92 million funding round that the company closed in late 2023.
Why It Matters: The defense tech industry has been witnessing significant developments in recent times. In June, Anduril Industries secured <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/45810158/anduril-raises-2-5-billion-at-30-5-billion-valuation-doubling-in-a-year-as-defense-contracts-grow">$2.5 billion in fresh capital</a>, doubling its valuation to $30.5 billion. This marked a pivotal moment in the company&#8217;s rapid ascent within the national security sector. The funding was also led by Thiel&#8217;s Founders Fund.
Thiel&#8217;s influence in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46214540/palmer-luckey-peter-thiel-joe-lonsdale-launch-erebor-bank-for-startups-crypto-and-defense-a-digital-only-bet-on-the-post-svb-era-report">defense tech sector has been growing</a>. In July, defense tech billionaire Palmer Luckey spearheaded the launch of Erebor, a digital-only bank targeting startups, cryptocurrency businesses, and defense contractors. The venture brought together a powerhouse of tech investors, including Thiel&#8217;s Founders Fund.
In 2024, Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) formed a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/01/36613282/palantir-joins-forces-with-israeli-defense-ministry-in-war-tech-partnership-report">strategic partnership with the Israeli</a> Defense Ministry to support military operations, following talks in Tel Aviv between Israeli officials and Palantir co-founders Thiel and Alex Karp.
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Peter Thiel-Backed Hadrian Raises $260 Million To Build AI-Powered Mega Factory In Arizona

The defense sector is on fire in 2025 — and investors are watching earnings season for signs <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46344520/defense-stocks-outperform-tech-trump-budget-boost">the rally can continue.</a>
The iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>) is up 33% year-to-date through July 16, on track for its best annual return since 2013. 
The fund gained 25% in the first half alone, outperforming both the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) by double-digit margins.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46267993/lockheed-martin-tops-defense-peers-in-capital-efficiency-but-market-isnt-impressed">Lockheed Martin Tops Defense Peers In Capital Efficiency — But Market Isn&#8217;t Impressed</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Washington Fueled The Rally—Now Investors Want Results</h2>
Investors have already bought the rumors—now they want the facts. The explosive rally in defense stocks has been fueled by a fundamental shift in Washington's priorities and the rising tide of global tensions.
On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a sweeping defense package that injects $156.2 billion into the Pentagon—the largest single-year boost in over a decade. 
The bill directs tens of billions toward areas that could redefine the future of warfare and defense contracting. Shipbuilding alone receives $29.2 billion, while $24.4 billion is allocated to integrated air and missile defense—what the administration has dubbed the "Golden Dome" initiative. 
Another $25.4 billion is earmarked to strengthen munitions production and shore up supply chain resilience, and $16 billion will go toward scaling low-cost weapons systems. 
The budget also includes $10.8 billion to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal and $8.6 billion to support new air superiority projects.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Q2 2025 Defense Earnings Preview: Who Reports and When</h3>
Defense stocks slated to report earnings by the end of July include: 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Earnings Date</th>
<th>YTD % Change</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AAR Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIR#NYSE">AIR</a>)</td>
<td>Wed Jul 16 (After-Market)</td>
<td>+21.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</td>
<td>Thu Jul 17 (Pre-Market)</td>
<td>+58.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td>
<td>Tue Jul 22 (Pre-Market)</td>
<td>+29.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td>
<td>Tue Jul 22 (Pre-Market)</td>
<td>-3.25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td>
<td>Tue Jul 22 (Pre-Market)</td>
<td>+10.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>)</td>
<td>Wed Jul 23 (During-Market)</td>
<td>+13.64%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>)</td>
<td>Thu Jul 24 (Pre-Market)</td>
<td>+25.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Textron Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXT#NYSE">TXT</a>)</td>
<td>Thu Jul 24 (During-Market)</td>
<td>+9.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hexcel Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HXL#NYSE">HXL</a>)</td>
<td>Thu Jul 24 (After-Market)</td>
<td>-6.14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Woodward Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WWD#NASDAQ">WWD</a>)</td>
<td>Mon Jul 28 (After-Market)</td>
<td>+51.46%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)</td>
<td>Tue Jul 29 (During-Market)</td>
<td>+29.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Leonardo DRS Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRS#NASDAQ">DRS</a>)</td>
<td>Wed Jul 30 (During-Market)</td>
<td>+49.25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sturm, Ruger &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGR#NYSE">RGR</a>)</td>
<td>Wed Jul 30 (After-Market)</td>
<td>+0.66%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td>
<td>Thu Jul 31 (Pre-Market)</td>
<td>+67.99%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ATI Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATI#NYSE">ATI</a>)</td>
<td>Thu Jul 31 (Pre-Market)</td>
<td>+63.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>)</td>
<td>Thu Jul 31 (During-Market)</td>
<td>+33.78%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Analysts Are Watching In Defense Earnings</h2>
With defense stocks sitting at record highs, Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak cautions that expectations are running hot. 
In a July 16 preview, Poponak and his team mapped out where they see opportunity across the aerospace and defense landscape—and where the cracks might show.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Aerospace: Boeing Back in Focus</h4>
Goldman remains upbeat on aerospace industry, especially Boeing Co. , which delivered 60 aircraft in June—a clear improvement over earlier production trends. 
Supplier sentiment has also turned more positive, with stronger communication and steadier order flow.
Still, aircraft demand continues to exceed supply, a dynamic expected to last well into the next decade, supporting pricing power and margins across the industry.
&#8220;We like aerospace original equipment where supply remains below demand, there is multi-year growth visibility, and Boeing continues to improve production and delivery rates.&#8221; Poponak said. 
The aftermarket segment is thriving, growing faster than global available seat miles (ASMs) for four straight quarters. Goldman attributes this to pent-up demand, aging fleets, and strong pricing—a combination that should keep the sector buoyant even as near-term air travel shows signs of softening.
The business jet space looks more idiosyncratic. Leading indicators are plateauing, and while new production remains disciplined, Goldman expects fewer broad-based tailwinds going forward. Still, aftermarket sales here remain high quality and margin-rich.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Defense Tech: Emerging Winners</h4>
Goldman favors non-traditional defense tech firms, which stand to benefit from a Pentagon pivot toward nimble, cost-effective systems. 
While reconciliation funding may not hit second-quarter results directly, it's likely to surface in earnings call commentary—and eventually in backlog growth.
"Defense tech companies appear to be on the verge of receiving significant funding relative to their size," Poponak said.
Despite near-record Department of Defense funding, Goldman is cautious on legacy hardware contractors. 
Programs like the F-35 face funding cuts, and the Pentagon is pushing for tougher terms across the industry. Instead, Goldman prefers companies aligned with funded priorities like shipbuilding and missile defense.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Government IT: Pressure Mounts</h4>
In government IT, the risk is rising. DOGE contract reviews are leading to cancellations—most notably at Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAH#NYSE">BAH</a>). Margins, bookings, and guidance could all face pressure this quarter, particularly for firms reliant on traditional service contracts.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Goldman's Top Defense Picks And Red Flags For Q2</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>TransDigm (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDG#NYSE">TDG</a>) – Strong aftermarket growth, upside to earnings, and capital flexibility.</li>
<li>CAE Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAE#NYSE">CAE</a>) – Valuation play with improving execution under new management.</li>
<li>L3Harris – Well-positioned for growth; exposure to missile defense spending.</li>
<li>Huntington Ingalls – Beneficiary of shipbuilding funds, improving labor dynamics.</li>
</ul>
Stocks facing headwinds:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Booz Allen – DOGE scrutiny, slowing growth, and mounting contract risks.</li>
<li>Lockheed Martin – Uncertainty around core programs and contracting terms.</li>
<li>SAIC Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAIC#NYSE">SAIC</a>) – Back-end loaded year with potential margin compression.</li>
<li>V2X Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VVX#NYSE">VVX</a>) – Weak first quarter, high execution risk in the second half.</li>
</ul>
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Defense Stocks Head Into Earnings At Record Highs — Is The Boom Just Beginning?

In a world where technology and resources shape economic power, recent strategic moves by major companies reflect broader market shifts and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/wall-street">growing global challenges.</a>
On <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/07/14/final-trades-lockheed-martin-netflix-ishares-u-s-industrials-etf-and-check-point.html">CNBC's </a>&#8220;Halftime Report Final Trades,&#8221; Jim Lebenthal, chief equity strategist at Cerity Partners, named Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) as his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46390158/lockheed-martin-in-talks-to-tap-untouched-pacific-mining-licenses-amid-global-mineral-push">final trade</a>.
Lockheed Martin is reportedly in talks with mining companies to enable the development of its licensed areas on the Pacific seabed. The move comes as global competition for critical minerals intensifies.
Stephen Weiss, chief investment officer and managing partner of Short Hills Capital Partners, said Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) will continue going higher despite a couple of analysts downgrading the stock over the last couple of weeks.
Lending support to his choice, Piper Sandler analyst Matt Farrell maintained a Netflix rating of Overweight on Friday and raised the price target from $1,150 to $1,400. In contrast, Needham analyst Laura Martin maintained a Buy rating and boosted the price target from $1,126 to $1,500.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Shannon Saccocia, chief investment officer of NB Private Wealth, picked iShares U.S. Industrials ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYJ#NYSE">IYJ</a>) as her final trade.
Joseph M. Terranova, senior managing director for Virtus Investment Partners, said he likes Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHKP#NASDAQ">CHKP</a>).
On the earnings front, Check Point Software will release its financial results for the second quarter on Wednesday, July 30. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at $2.36 per share on revenue of $662.11 million.
Price Action:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Lockheed Martin shares gained 1.3% to close at $473.57 on Monday.</li>
<li>Netflix rose 1.4% to close at $1,261.95 during the session.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Industrials ETF gained 0.5% on Monday.</li>
<li>Check Point Software shares gained 2.4% to close at $220.68 during the session.</li>
</ul>
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Netflix, Lockheed Martin, Check Point Software And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) is re-entering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mining" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep-sea mining</a> and talking to potential partners about activating two exploration zones it holds in the lucrative Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean.
The leading U.S. defense contractor first obtained the licenses in the early 1980s before exiting the sector by selling its U.K.-based subsidiary, U.K. Seabed Resources, to Norway's Loke Marine Minerals in 2023. However, following Loke's bankruptcy in April, an asset auction returned the licenses to Lockheed's control.
"We are in early stages of conversations with several companies about giving them access to our licenses and allowing them to process those materials," Frank St. John, Lockheed's chief operating officer, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/53ae1dee-1377-48fe-b852-1bbd2167609d" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> for the Financial Times.
The CCZ, located between Hawaii and Mexico, contains polymetallic nodules rich in nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese—metals essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and defense systems. Lockheed's deposits had remained untouched for decades until recently, when shifting geopolitical and industrial priorities renewed momentum.
Yet, the broader regulatory environment remains complex. Though companies like The Metals Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMC#NASDAQ">TMC</a>) have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44543787/tmc-pushes-for-the-fastest-pathway-to-commercial-production-despite-environmental-risks" rel="noreferrer noopener">applied for exploration rights</a>, the legal foundation is still uncertain.
The United Nations-backed International Seabed Authority (ISA), based in Jamaica, regulates mining in international waters and is currently convening the second part of its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.isa.org.jm/sessions/30th-session-2025/" rel="noreferrer noopener">30th session</a>, running until July 25. The organization has yet to finalize a regulatory framework.
However, the U.S. has never ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, from which the ISA derives its authority. Instead, the U.S. operates its permitting regime via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In April, President Donald Trump signed an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/45005308/sea-mining-stocks-soar-as-trump-signs-executive-order-to-jumpstart-sector" rel="noreferrer noopener">executive order</a> declaring seabed minerals "strategic assets," reinforcing the U.S. right to issue mining licenses and develop critical supply chains independently.
Other nations are also exploring undersea mining. Sweden's Scandinavian Ocean Minerals, for example, plans to <a target="_blank" href="http://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/scandinavian-ocean-minerals-wants" rel="noreferrer noopener">harvest manganese nodules</a> from the Baltic Sea. Yet, large-scale Pacific operations will face greater environmental, technical, and geopolitical challenges compared to those in shallower, more contained waters like the Baltic.
While critics argue that deep-sea mining is costlier and riskier than land-based alternatives, Lockheed sees long-term potential.
"Mining companies have done the homework and determined there is value there," said St John. "We believe the US has the opportunity to develop a gold standard for commercial recovery of nodules in an environmentally responsible manner," he concluded.
Price Action: LMT stock traded higher 0.09% to $474 premarket at the last check Tuesday.
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xAI Posts On X "Announcing Grok for Government - a suite of products that make our frontier models available to United States Government customers. We are especially excited about two new partnerships for our US Government partners. 1) a new contract from the US Department of Defense. 2) our products being available to purchase via the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule. This allows every federal government department, agency, or office, to purchase xAI products .."

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) is in talks with mining companies to enable the development of its licensed areas on the Pacific seabed. The move comes as global competition for critical minerals continues to intensify.
What Happened: Lockheed Martin is in preliminary discussions with several companies to utilize its two eastern Pacific licenses. These licenses, secured from US regulators in the early 1980s, have recently garnered significant interest from undersea mining groups, despite never being utilized, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/53ae1dee-1377-48fe-b852-1bbd2167609d">reported</a> the Financial Times.
Frank St John, Lockheed's COO, confirmed that the companies have &#8220;done&nbsp;the homework and determined there&nbsp;is value there&#8221;, but refrained from commenting on the potential worth of the deposits. The rising demand for critical raw materials, used in industries ranging from electric vehicle batteries to modern defense technologies, has sparked this interest.
&nbsp;&#8220;We&nbsp;are in early stages of&nbsp;conversations with several companies about&nbsp;giving them access to our&nbsp;licenses&nbsp;and allowing them to process&nbsp;those materials,&#8221; stated St John.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/25/07/46385051/bitcoin-zooms-past-121000-to-finish-historic-week-whats-fueling-the-rally" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Zooms Past $121,000 To Finish Historic Week: What&#8217;s Fueling The Rally? &#8211; Benzinga</a>
Why It Matters: The global demand for critical minerals, used in products ranging from electric vehicle batteries to modern defense technologies, has surged. This demand, coupled with China&#8217;s dominant position in the critical minerals market, has prompted Western countries to seek ways to strengthen their domestic supply chains.
President Donald Trump's executive order in April, asserting the U.S. right to grant mining licenses in international waters, has intensified the global competition. Although the U.S. has not ratified the treaty that grants authority to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), it has signed an agreement acknowledging the treaty's provisions related to the seabed. 
Economist Craig Shapiro suggested a $2 billion plan to secure the U.S. supply of these <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46214341/china-showed-its-death-grip-on-rare-earths-during-trump-tariff-war-but-craig-shapiro-says-this-2-billion-plan-will-secure-us-supply-heres-how">vital materials</a>. The plan aims to strengthen rare earth supply chains by fast-tracking projects via the Defense Production Act and NEPA, building domestic processing and manufacturing facilities, creating an international "Allied REE Bloc," and stockpiling key rare earth materials.
Benzinga's Edge Rankings place Lockheed in the 47th percentile for quality and the 53rd percentile for growth, reflecting its strong performance in both areas. Check the detailed report <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a>.&nbsp;
On a year-to-date basis, Lockheed Martin stock dropped 3.06%.
READ MORE: 
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<li><a href="http://Forget Tech—Trump Just Made Defense The Hottest Trade On Wall Street">Forget Tech—Trump Just Made Defense The Hottest Trade On Wall Street </a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Lockheed Martin In Talks To Tap Untouched Pacific Mining Licenses Amid Global Mineral Push

Bank of America dropped its top 10 stock ideas for the third quarter of 2025, and the list includes some familiar names like Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) and Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>)—but also a couple of bearish calls investors <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/expert-ideas">might not see coming.</a>
While Wall Street debates rate cuts, BofA is sticking to one of the most hawkish forecasts out there: no Fed pivot until 2026. 
Next year, the central bank is expected to slash rates by 100 basis points, but until then inflation is likely to remain sticky in the second half of this year due to tariffs, limiting policy flexibility. 
This creates a trading environment where stock-specific catalysts matter more than macro tailwinds.
The updated list features eight Buy-rated stocks and two Underperform-rated names, all chosen for their potential to outperform—or underperform—due to major business or macro developments expected in the coming months.
The 8 Buys: From Aerospace to AI
1. Boeing Co. After a rough year of delays and scrutiny, BofA thinks Boeing is finally gaining altitude. "787 production is ramping, 737 deliveries are recovering, and positive changes to leadership including new CFO hire," said analyst Anthony Cassamassino. The firm sees upside as production hits 38 jets per month, and the new CFO—who came from Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) —adds stability. Bank of America set a price target of $260, which implies a 14% upside from Boeing's current price near $225.
2. Cisco Systems Inc. AI is fueling Cisco's momentum. "AI infrastructure orders YTD exceeded $1.3bn," already beating its full-year target, BofA wrote. With deep ties to Nvidia and a strong hold in enterprise switching, Cisco is positioned well as companies gear up for AI deployment. With shares trading around $68, BofA's $76 target suggests a 11% gain in the near term.
3. Datadog Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>) rounds out the AI-heavy picks. BofA likes Datadog's improving usage growth and its 8.5% AI-native revenue contribution, calling it one of the best-positioned software stocks for the next wave of generative AI adoption. BofA sees shares climbing to $150, offering about a 9% upside from the current level of $137.
4. Fair Isaac Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FICO#NYSE">FICO</a>). Despite some Washington noise around credit scoring, Cassamassino says, "FICO remains a best-in-class software compounder." With a $1 billion buyback plan and strong ACV growth, the firm gave a bold price target of $3,700, more than double the current price. 
5. KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>) is BofA's top value play in regional banking. A 5% yield, clean credit profile, and capital expenditure tailwinds give it a path higher. At a current price of $18.32, BofA's $20 target represents a 13% move higher.
6. Levi Strauss &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEVI#NYSE">LEVI</a>) is on the list thanks to solid brand momentum and better-than-expected U.S. wholesale growth. "Execution remains strong across both denim and lifestyle apparel," BofA wrote. 
7. Medtronic PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDT#NYSE">MDT</a>) could be a breakout play if its new heart treatment technology gets greenlit. Cassamassino says approval of Pulse Field Ablation and renal denervation "could drive meaningful upside." BofA sees the stock climbing to $100, a 15% gain from its current price of $87.
8. Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>). BofA sees the company's upcoming corporate split, Superman reboot and $2 billion debt reduction as key catalysts. At just $11.73 now, the stock could rally 40% to $16, if BofA's view plays out.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bear Calls: Hims &amp; Hers and Conagra</h3>
Not every name on the list is a winner. BofA slapped Underperform ratings on two stocks it believes are overvalued or facing headwinds.
Hims &amp; Hers Health Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>) has soared on buzz around compounded weight-loss drugs, but BofA says patent risks are being ignored. "Litigation risk is underappreciated," the analysts wrote, and growth in the company's base business is slowing. Target: $28, well below the stock's recent level near $50.
Conagra Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>) is the other short idea. Cassamassino sees a soft year ahead due to "rising protein costs and elasticity in frozen." Add in margin pressure and dividend risk, and BofA is skeptical the stock holds up. 
Read now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/25/07/46374279/jamie-dimon-europe-losing-us-tech-dominance">Magnificent 7 Crush EU Giants—Jamie Dimon Tells Europe: &#8216;You&#8217;re Losing&#8217; </a></li>
</ul>

CSCO

DDOG

FICO

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

LEVI

Bank Of America Loves These 8 Stocks For Third Quarter—And Says To Dump These 2 Fast

Rocket Lab and Kratos aren&#8217;t only sending drones and satellites into space—they&#8217;re putting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">defense ETFs</a> into orbit. While these cutting-edge defense stocks rocket on the coattails of fresh Pentagon policy changes and Trump-era deregulation, investors are flocking to ETFs that combine military might with next-generation innovation. With drone demand through the roof and red tape getting burned, funds like Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>) and SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) are becoming stealth champs in 2025&#8217;s search for returns.
Defense ETFs are no longer simply the unflappable corner of the marketplace that performs well in times of war. In 2025, they&#8217;ve become high-speed vehicles catching the tailwind of advanced technology, military modernization, and now—America&#8217;s drone boom. Drone stocks jumped on Thursday night after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released sweeping memos to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46356963/drone-stocks-fly-as-defense-secretary-fast-tracks-drone-production-deployment">accelerate domestic drone production</a> and deployment. The memos, shared on X (formerly Twitter), will remove bureaucratic roadblocks and give the military the freedom to quickly embrace what Hegseth described as &#8220;vital&#8221; technologies.
Drone Stocks Get Off the Ground
Investors didn&#8217;t hesitate to respond. Kratos Defense (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>), Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCAT#NASDAQ">RCAT</a>), AeroVironment (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVAV#NASDAQ">AVAV</a>) and Unusual Machines (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UMAC#AMEX">UMAC</a>) surged after hours on Thursday. 
The rally came on the heels of a series of pro-defense, pro-tech executive orders issued in June by President Donald Trump, designed to enhance domestic drone capabilities and counter foreign incursions in U.S. airspace. These policies are speedily reshaping the makeup and appeal of contemporary defense ETFs.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46371876/the-tesla-that-flies-archer-is-ready-for-liftoff-on-trumps-defense-boom">The Tesla That Flies? Archer Is Ready For Liftoff On Trump&#8217;s Defense Boom</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Tanks To Tech</h2>
With higher worldwide tensions and a Trump 2.0 platform that aligns with Pentagon growth and deregulated purchases, investors are increasingly using defense ETFs as closet growth plays. The Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>), which aims for pure-play military tech and cybersecurity over old-school aerospace exposure, is heavily invested in Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) and international defense players BAE Systems (OTCPK: BAESF) and Rheinmetall (OTCPK: RNMBF).
Other ETFs, such as the SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>), also take a more diversified tack with equal-weight strategies that target giants such as Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) and leaner disruptors such as Kratos, which also designs unmanned aerial systems.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ETF Rotation Amid Policy And Dispersion</h2>
CFRA Research&#8217;s Aniket Ullal observed in an event by Yahoo Finance last month that policy uncertainty during the Trump era is fueling all-time high market dispersion, and sector-specific ETFs such as iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) and Select STOXX Europe Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EUAD#BATS">EUAD</a>) are becoming top beneficiaries of defense and trade-fueled tailwinds.
Defense and aerospace ETFs have been some of the strongest performers in 2025, said Ullal, adding that when dispersion is high, active ETF strategies and focused thematic exposure, particularly in sectors such as drones and military technology, will outperform.
Meanwhile, European defense exposure is warming up as NATO countries rush to keep up with U.S. defense spending. EUAD, the sole European defense ETF available in the U.S., is 77% higher this year so far on the back of heavy atop positioning in Airbus and Safran.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Stealth Tech Play For Growth Chasers</h2>
Defense ETFs were once seen as &#8220;safe&#8221; or defensive plays, offering stable returns via long-term government contracts. But in today's market, they&#8217;re increasingly about disruption, not just protection.
For weary investors of mega-cap tech prices, defense ETFs exposed to autonomy, AI, and drone systems provide a backdoor entrance into next-generation innovation. As Hegseth dismantles regulatory walls and the Pentagon leans further into automation, these funds are quickly becoming 2025&#8217;s biggest surprise growth play.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/07/46372447/the-bitcoin-etf-boom-is-here-but-is-it-built-to-last">The Bitcoin ETF Boom Is Here — But Is It Built To Last?</a></li>
</ul>

ETFs

AVAV

BAESF

EUAD

KTOS

RCAT

RNMBF

SHLD

UMAC

Rocket Lab And Kratos Are Setting Defense ETFs On Fire

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Citigroup raised Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVY#NYSE">AVY</a>) price target from $177 to $185. Citigroup analyst Anthony Pettinari maintained a Neutral rating. Avery Dennison shares closed at $182.21 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/avy/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan boosted the price target for Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>) from $52 to $80. JP Morgan analyst Richard Shane maintained an Overweight rating. Synchrony Financial shares closed at $70.61 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/syf/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Piper Sandler raised Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) price target from $1,150 to $1,400. Piper Sandler analyst Matt Farrell maintained an Overweight rating. Netflix shares closed at $1,245.11 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/nflx/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stoc</a>k.</li>
<li>JP Morgan boosted the price target for Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) from $195 to $200. JP Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth maintained an Overweight rating. Alphabet shares closed at $181.31 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/goog/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Mizuho cut the price target for Centene Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNC#NYSE">CNC</a>) from $71 to $40. Mizuho analyst Ann Hynes maintained a Neutral rating. Centene shares closed at $31.44 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/cnc/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley raised DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>) price target from $51 to $52. Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Grambling maintained an Overweight rating. DraftKings shares settled at $42.98 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/dkng/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Evercore ISI Group increased Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>) price target from $22 to $25. Evercore ISI Group analyst Amit Daryanani maintained an Outperform rating. Hewlett Packard Enterprise shares closed at $20.72 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/hpe/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Goldman Sachs cut Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) price target from $315 to $285. Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Delaney maintained a Neutral rating. Tesla shares closed at $313.51 on Friday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/tsla/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Stifel raised the price target for Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) from $92 to $105. Stifel analyst Chris O&#8217;Cull maintained a Buy rating. Starbucks shares settled at $94.94 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sbux/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Truist Securities cut Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) price target from $579 to $554. Truist Securities analyst Michael Ciarmoli maintained a Buy rating. Lockheed Martin shares closed at $467.51 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/lmt/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying TSLA stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="577" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/12033335/image-141-1024x577.png" alt="" class="wp-image-982691" style="width:630px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/12033335/image-141-1024x577.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/12033335/image-141-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/12033335/image-141-768x433.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/12033335/image-141.png 1118w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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Photo via Shutterstock

Price Target

DKNG

GOOG

SBUX

TSLA

Tesla To $285? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Friday

Truist Securities analyst Michael Ciarmoli maintains Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $579 to $554.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Lockheed Martin, Lowers Price Target to $554

While investors obsess over record highs in the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100, one sector quietly crushed them both last quarter, and real money <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-aerospace-defense-stocks">is pouring in fast.</a>
In the first half of 2025, the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>) surged 25%, marking the fund's best half-year performance since inception. That's a 20 percentage point outperformance over the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and 17 points above the tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defense Stocks Crushed Tech In Last Quarter's Rally</h3>
But the blowout mainly occurred in the second quarter. The ITA ETF surged 23.2% between April and June, its best quarter ever, outpacing the Nasdaq 100's sharpest rally since early 2023 by five percentage points.
Crucially, this isn't just momentum chasing. Investors have committed capital, with ITA notching 10 straight weeks of inflows through July 10—the longest stretch since early 2023.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Best Defense Stocks In 2025</h3>
Among ITA's top holdings, nine of the top 10 are firmly in the green for the year as of July 10, with only Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) trailing. Here&#8217;s a look at how the biggest names are performing:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Weight in ITA ETF</th>
<th>Return YTD</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>General Electric Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</td>
<td>20.00%</td>
<td>+50.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td>
<td>14.70%</td>
<td>+27.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Boeing Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)</td>
<td>9.22%</td>
<td>+28.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>)</td>
<td>4.66%</td>
<td>+15.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDG#NYSE">TDG</a>)</td>
<td>4.63%</td>
<td>+20.45%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td>
<td>4.55%</td>
<td>+66.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>)</td>
<td>4.51%</td>
<td>+24.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td>
<td>4.47%</td>
<td>+9.24%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>)</td>
<td>4.40%</td>
<td>+35.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td>
<td>4.39%</td>
<td>-3.34%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Why Is The Defense Sector Booming?
This rally in defense stocks isn&#8217;t just about earnings—it's about Washington policy, global geopolitical risks, and budget flows.
Following years of underinvestment, Trump's return to the White House has kicked off a rearmament cycle.
On July 4, Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", unlocking $156.2 billion in targeted defense funding—the Pentagon's biggest budget infusion in over a decade.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Inside The New Defense Bill?</h3>
The funding, detailed in Title II of the act, includes:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>$29.2 billion for shipbuilding</li>
<li>$24.4 billion for integrated air and missile defense – the "Golden Dome" initiative</li>
<li>$25.4 billion for munitions and supply chain resilience</li>
<li>$16.0 billion for low-cost weapons scaling</li>
<li>$8.6 billion for air superiority projects</li>
<li>$10.8 billion for nuclear force upgrades</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defense Stocks Wall Street Is Watching Now</h3>
In a note shared earlier this week, Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak flagged four defense contractors as top beneficiaries of the Pentagon&#8217;s defense spending:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>): Backed by over $5 billion in industrial supply chain funding. Already awarded a $1.3 billion workforce grant.</li>
<li>L3Harris Technologies Inc.: Poised to win missile propulsion and satellite contracts tied to the Golden Dome program.</li>
<li>Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>): Builds low-cost drones and propulsion systems, a core focus in the Pentagon's push for affordable mass-produced systems. Shares of KTOS have already rallied over 70% year-to-date, marking the best performance in the ITA ETF. </li>
<li>AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVAV#NASDAQ">AVAV</a>): Developer of Switchblade tactical drones, a likely beneficiary of $1.4 billion in small unmanned aerial systems funding.</li>
</ul>
Read now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/07/46306953/emerging-markets-etfs-inflows-iemg-vwo-2025">Wall Street Is On Fire—So Why Is This Wall Of Cash Moving Abroad?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/07/46306953/emerging-markets-etfs-inflows-iemg-vwo-2025"> </a>

Specialty ETFs

AXON

Forget Tech—Trump Just Made Defense The Hottest Trade On Wall Street

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Timur Braziler downgraded Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COLB#NASDAQ">COLB</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight and lowered the price target from $29 to $27. Columbia Banking System shares closed at $25.07 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/colb/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Erin Wright downgraded Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOH#NYSE">MOH</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight and lowered the price target from $364 to $266. Molina Healthcare shares closed at $237.22 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/moh/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst Christine Cho downgraded the rating for The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAKE#NASDAQ">CAKE</a>) from Buy to Neutral but raised the price target from $66 to $67. Cheesecake Factory shares closed at $64.14 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/vake/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>TD Cowen analyst Gautam Khanna downgraded Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) from Buy to Hold and cut the price target from $500 to $480. Lockheed Martin shares closed at $463.06 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/lmt/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Mike Colonnese downgraded the rating for Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) from Buy to Sell and slashed the price target from $305 to $300. Coinbase Global shares closed at $373.85 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/coin/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
Considering buying COIN stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COIN/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="603" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10101039/image-120-1024x603.png" alt="" class="wp-image-980194" style="width:637px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10101039/image-120-1024x603.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10101039/image-120-300x177.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10101039/image-120-768x453.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10101039/image-120.png 1103w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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Photo via Shutterstock

Downgrades

CAKE

COIN

COLB

This Coinbase Global Analyst Turns Bearish; Here Are Top 5 Downgrades For Thursday

TD Cowen analyst Gautam Khanna downgrades Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) from Buy to Hold and lowers the price target from $500 to $480.

TD Cowen Downgrades Lockheed Martin to Hold, Lowers Price Target to $480

Anduril Industries CEO Palmer Luckey publicly thanked President Donald Trump on Monday after the president announced resumed U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine, marking a significant policy shift for the defense technology executive&#8217;s company.
What Happened: &#8220;Thank you, Donald Trump!&#8221; Luckey wrote on X, responding to Trump&#8217;s declaration that the United States would send additional arms to help Ukraine defend against Russian attacks. 
The president&#8217;s comments came during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where Trump stated: &#8220;We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They&#8217;re getting hit very hard. We&#8217;re going to have to send more weapons.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>! <a href="https://t.co/hYGPUzAA1W">https://t.co/hYGPUzAA1W</a>
&mdash; Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) <a href="https://twitter.com/PalmerLuckey/status/1942411606287163770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
According <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-told-zelensky-he-wasnt-responsible-for-weapons-holdup-f684444b">to</a> the Wall Street Journal, Trump&#8217;s announcement represents the strongest indication yet that he has embraced strengthening Ukraine&#8217;s defenses after months of unsuccessful negotiations with Moscow.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed late Monday that the Department of Defense would send additional defensive weapons &#8220;at President Trump&#8217;s direction.&#8221;
The weapons resumption follows a controversial pause in shipments that surprised the State Department, Congress, and Ukrainian officials.
The halted deliveries included Patriot antimissile interceptors, AIM-120 antiaircraft missiles, howitzer rounds, and GMLRS missiles for HIMARS rocket launchers, according to a WSJ report, which cited sources.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46288472/japans-prime-minister-criticizes-trumps-tariff-decision-shigeru-ishiba-calls-move-truly-regrettable">Japan&#8217;s Prime Minister Criticizes Trump&#8217;s Tariff Decision: Shigeru Ishiba Calls Move &#8216;Truly Regrettable&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Luckey&#8217;s company has significant exposure to Ukraine&#8217;s defense needs. The Southern California-based contractor disclosed in July that its autonomous weapons systems destroyed &#8220;hundreds of millions&#8221; worth of Russian military assets since deploying personnel and hardware <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46238717/anduril-ceo-palmer-luckey-says-weapons-destroyed-hundreds-of-millions-in-russian-assets-urges-us-military-aid-to-ukraine">just two weeks into the invasion</a>.
Anduril recently raised $2.5 billion at a $30.5 billion valuation, more than doubling from last year&#8217;s $14 billion mark.
The defense sector has benefited from surging global military spending, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45032800/global-defense-budgets-surge-to-27-trillion-as-europe-and-middle-east-lead-steepest-increase-since-cold-war-report">rose 9.4% to $2.72 trillion in 2024</a>. The U.S. has provided $66.9 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since Russia&#8217;s 2022 invasion, with the last major package worth $1.22 billion approved in December under the Biden administration.
Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a Friday phone call that he wasn&#8217;t responsible for the weapons halt, which came after a Pentagon munitions review following U.S. strikes on Iran&#8217;s nuclear sites, according to WSJ. The White House National Security Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss new weapons deliveries.
Defense stocks have rallied on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44378672/defense-stocks-are-soaring-expert-sees-170-as-achievable-by-year-end-for-this-preferred-pick">increased military spending expectations</a>, with analysts targeting RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) at $170 by year-end.
Other major contractors, including Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), stand to benefit from sustained defense demand driven by NATO budget increases and global tensions.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com

Politics

Anduril CEO Palmer Luckey Says 'Thank You' As Trump Resumes Ukraine Arms Shipments

Lockheed Martin Corp. is a defense company that uses its capital to generate profits most efficiently as compared to its peers; however, the year-over-year growth of this specific metric has been tepid.
What Happened: A company&#8217;s capital efficiency, or how profitable a company is with the capital it has put to use, is measured by ROCE or Return on Capital Employed.
When a company demonstrates consistently growing ROCE, it signals its ability to be a compounding machine, skillfully reinvesting profits back into the business for increasingly higher returns.
In the case of defense stocks, Lockheed Martin has the highest ROCE among its peers, representing the management&#8217;s effectiveness in deploying capital for productive use.
As of the quarter ending March, LMT had an ROCE of 25.71%, higher than 22.97% from the same quarter of the previous year, highlights GuruFocus data.
As the year-over-year expansion was minimal, it might not be a super high-growth stock; however, Lockheed Martin&#8217;s solid 25.71% return on capital shows it&#8217;s running a really efficient business.
That strong performance probably explains why Lockheed Martin is a high-yielding stock and has a history of consistent dividend increases, with the current dividend yield at 2.85%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LMT/dividends">Benzinga</a>. 
Here is a list of a few other defense stocks with their current ROCE.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>U.S. Defense Stocks</td>
<td>ROCE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)</td>
<td>12.67%.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>)</td>
<td>13.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td>
<td>8.42%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td>
<td>25.71%.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)</td>
<td>5.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td>
<td>8.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</td>
<td>11.04%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: GuruFocus</figcaption></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46259795/everyone-talked-about-nvidia-apple-and-tesla-but-this-one-tech-stock-has-left-them-all-behind-in-2025">Everyone Talked About Nvidia, Apple And Tesla, But This One Tech Stock Has Left Them All Behind In 2025</a>
Why It Matters: Despite the high quality of the capital efficiency metric, Lockheed Martin stock has performed the worst among the given peers.
It has declined by over 4% in 2025 and is just above the flatline over a year. On the other hand, Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) remains the stock with the highest returns among its peers.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>U.S. Defense Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc.</td>
<td>78.69%</td>
<td>385.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Dynamics Corp.</td>
<td>12.93%</td>
<td>5.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northrop Grumman Corp.</td>
<td>7.73%</td>
<td>17.19%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lockheed Martin Corp.</td>
<td>-4.09%</td>
<td>0.16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Boeing Co.</td>
<td>25.63%</td>
<td>16.19%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX Corp.</td>
<td>25.64%</td>
<td>45.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</td>
<td>46.44%</td>
<td>50.97%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that LMT had a stronger price trend over the medium term and a weaker trend over the short and long term. Its momentum ranking was moderate, and its value ranking was poor at the 31.60th percentile. The details of other metrics are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="157" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07012236/LMT-EDGE-1024x157.png" alt="" class="wp-image-974030" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07012236/LMT-EDGE-1024x157.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07012236/LMT-EDGE-300x46.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07012236/LMT-EDGE-768x118.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07012236/LMT-EDGE.png 1279w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
On the truncated trading day of July 3rd, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, scaled fresh records and ended higher. The SPY was up 0.79% at $625.34, while the QQQ advanced 0.98% to $556.22, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
On Monday, the futures of the S&amp;P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq 100 indices were trading lower.
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Lockheed Martin Tops Defense Peers In Capital Efficiency — But Market Isn't Impressed

The benchmark S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense Select Industry Index&#8217;s year-to-date return for 2025 is reported as 24.3%. Even more astonishing is that the index has basically been flat (down 2%) over the past month.
Just think about what&#8217;s happened over that month: a commitment from NATO members to massively boost defense spending, fighting between Israel and Iran and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46042703/iran-calls-us-bombing-of-nuclear-sites-very-very-dangerous-for-everybody">U.S. bombing</a> of Iran&#8217;s nuclear sites in late June.
Wall Street traders and analysts are convinced all this turmoil will translate into big gains for defense stocks, sooner rather than later.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEW: Get Access To The Leaderboards That Reveal Tomorrow's Top Stocks</h2>
Updated daily, Benzinga's Top Stock Leaderboards highlight our best buys right now. Spot breakout opportunities before the crowd catches on—without the noise. Get access now and start using the same research trusted by hedge funds, analysts and serious traders. Get started <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/?">HERE</a>.
&#8220;Recent events, including the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine and the U.S. defense budget&#8217;s surpassing $1 trillion for the first time,&#8221; said Allspring Equity Teams &amp; Investment Analytics Team in comments to Benzinga. &#8220;The scenario reinforces our team&#8217;s fundamental view that: 1) defense spending is a growing budget priority in the U.S. and globally and 2) military superiority is being rapidly redefined by technology.&#8221;
The Allspring Team also believes that any rise in defense stocks should also help the larger market.
&#8220;In the event of escalation, energy and defense stocks may provide a hedge against other segments of the equity market that might be more challenged,&#8221; the firm noted.
Additionally, spending in the global defense sector is expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2025, surpassing the previous record set in 2024.
&#8220;One key reason for the increase is the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine, which has resulted in increased defense spending by both the European Union and the United States,&#8221; said Andrew Prochnow, analyst-at-large at Tastylive, a streaming platform geared towards options traders. &#8220;Rising tensions in the Middle East have also contributed to this trend.&#8221;
These conflicts have clearly boosted stocks in the sector, as evidenced by the rally in the iShares US Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>). &#8220;The fund has surged by more than 25% year-to-date, and 40% over the last 52 weeks,&#8221; Prochnow noted.
With defense stocks in play right now, which standout companies make the most sense for investors? While every market maven&#8217;s portfolio goals and strategies are unique, here are three sector stocks that should provide some upbeat returns for investors through the rest of 2025, if not beyond. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Howmet Aerospace</h2>
Pittsburgh, PA-based aerospace and defense firm Howmet Aerospace (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>) has experienced a 9% increase in commercial sector growth and a 19% rise in defense aerospace revenues in the first quarter of 2025. Both trends, particularly the latter, are expected to continue for the rest of the year. 
HWM has some big-name customers, including Boeing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), which uses Howmet&#8217;s parts for its once again rising 737 Max Aircraft. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) also collaborates with Howmet on its F-35 Lightning fighter jets, with orders for engine spares accumulating. With 143 A-plus rated mutual funds stashing shares of HWM and eight straight quarters of increased fund ownership, take a page out of the fund manager playbook and consider adding Howmet to your portfolio.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RTX Corp.</h2>
RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), an Arlington, Virginia-based aerospace and defense company, is increasingly popping up on Wall Street charts at the moment.
&#8220;We bought RTX right around the inauguration of this administration, so we have a 12% return on our holding,&#8221; said Alexander Cook, portfolio manager at Optimist Capital. 
RTX is a large, broad-based entity encompassing Collins Aerospace, Pratt &amp; Whitney and Raytheon, which suits Cook just fine. &#8220;We like investments like these even outside of heightened risks,&#8221; he said. &#8220;RTX is a large cap dividend payer and more insulated when markets get overly frothy, we expect to see another 10% on this one over the next 6-9 months.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CrowdStrike Holdings Inc.</h2>
Cybersecurity plays a crucial role in government and defense, particularly in safeguarding highly sensitive data, both during times of war and in times of peace. CrowdStrike&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>) stock price is $513 per share, but it&#8217;s holding its value, trading up 50% year-to-date. Citing CRWD&#8217;s highly effective AI deployment in key cybersecurity areas, such as cloud, identity and log-scale domains, Wedbush Securities recently boosted the company&#8217;s price target to $575.
&#8220;Defense technology is going to be the best pure growth play going forward,&#8221; Cook said. &#8220;In a modern first-world scenario, boots on the ground are just not realistic.&#8221; He advises investors to view cybersecurity as the new defense. &#8220;Cybersecurity is all about protecting technology and looking for weaknesses in opposing entities rather than building missiles.&#8221; 
Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.
Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

CRWD

3 Defense Stocks To Buy With The Middle East In Turmoil

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 2.12% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 10.59%. Currently, Lockheed Martin has a market capitalization of $108.27 billion. 
Buying $100 In LMT: If an investor had bought $100 of LMT stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $740.08 today based on a price of $462.11 for LMT at the time of writing.
<h3>Lockheed Martin's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1751499012_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

If You Invested $100 In This Stock 20 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

BlueForge Alliance and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) on Wednesday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/b46216033/blueforge-alliance-and-palantir-launch-warp-speed-for-warships-to-digitally-transform-the-u-s-mari">announced the launch</a> of &#8220;Warp Speed for Warships,&#8221; a new initiative aimed at modernizing the U.S. Navy&#8217;s shipbuilding efforts through digital transformation and faster production timelines.
The project, funded by the Navy&#8217;s Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program, builds on the existing partnership between the nonprofit defense integrator and Palantir. Its goal is to strengthen national maritime capabilities by streamlining collaboration among shipbuilders, suppliers, and key defense partners.
The program utilizes Palantir&#8217;s Warp Speed operating system, built on its Foundry platform, to connect stakeholders in real time, enhance supply chain visibility, and reduce bottlenecks across the defense manufacturing network. Coupled with BlueForge&#8217;s expertise in embedded manufacturing, the initiative aims to accelerate delivery and improve production readiness.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46166236/palantir-accenture-partner-to-infuse-ai-into-federal-agency-workflows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palantir, Accenture Partner To Infuse AI Into Federal Agency Workflows</a>
&#8220;Our strategic partnership with Palantir is about moving with urgency and precision, equipping America&#8217;s industrial base with the tools it needs to meet unprecedented demand,&#8221; said Kiley Wren, co-founder and co-CEO of BlueForge Alliance.
Mike Gallagher, Head of Defense at Palantir, described the collaboration as a critical step in maintaining U.S. maritime superiority and providing shipbuilders with the tools to ensure strategic advantage and peace.
General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>) are among the companies likely to benefit from this initiative. Additionally, defense-oriented ETFs such as the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) and SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) could see increased relevance as the program develops.
As Palantir launches its Navy modernization effort with BlueForge, a senior executive <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46189000/palantir-is-building-the-next-aws-says-top-exec-urges-startups-to-build-on-pltr-to-tackle-more-valuable-problems-than-amazon-solved" rel="noreferrer noopener">compared</a> the company to the next Amazon Web Services. He argued Palantir&#8217;s platform solves core enterprise challenges, letting startups build advanced tools without reinventing infrastructure.
Price Action: PLTR shares are trading higher by 0.08% at $130.79 premarket at last check Wednesday.
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