Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) Bolsa

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a diversified defense contractor providing aeronautics, defense, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program, produces autonomous and piloted aircraft such as Global Hawk drones and the new B-21 bomber, and maintains and upgrades numerous military aircraft. Defense systems makes artillery and missile ammunition and guidance systems, long-range missiles, and missile defense systems. Mission systems creates and integrates a variety of radar, navigation, and communication systems for avionics, weapons control, and countermeasures on a range of platforms from helicopters to destroyers. Space systems produces satellites, sensors, space structures, and rocket motors.

Conceptual,Image,Of,War,Between,Israel,And,Iran,Using,Chess

Politics

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European Aeronautic Defence And Space Unsponsored

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Northrop Grumman Corporation Common Stock

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Innovator Growth-100 Power Buffer ETF- October

Snowcap Compute, a semiconductor startup developing superconducting AI chips, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250623688438/en/Snowcap-Compute-Launches-with-%2423-Million-Led-by-Playground-Global-to-Power-the-Next-Era-of-AI-and-Quantum-Compute">announced</a> a $23 million seed round on Monday. According to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/snowcap-compute-raises-23-million-superconducting-ai-chips-2025-06-23/">Reuters</a>, the company is backed by Playground Global and led by former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, who will also serve as board chair.
The funding round also included Cambium Capital and Vsquared Ventures.
The startup aims to create high-performance computing platforms that require significantly less power than current-generation chips. Snowcap said its superconducting architecture will deliver 25 times better performance per watt compared to existing AI systems.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Aiming for Radical Gains in AI and Quantum Computing</h2>
Snowcap Compute's superconducting chips are designed to operate with zero electrical resistance and require cryogenic cooling to function, according to Reuters. The company said the chips are being developed to reduce electricity consumption in artificial intelligence computing, a sector facing increasing energy demands.
Nvidia&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) upcoming Rubin Ultra server, expected in 2027, is projected to consume around 600 kilowatts of power—about two-thirds of the monthly electricity use of a typical U.S. household, Reuters reported.
Snowcap CEO Michael Lafferty, formerly with Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>), told Reuters that the performance-to-power ratio of Snowcap's architecture justifies the energy spent on cooling. "We're pushing the performance level way up and pulling the power down at the same time," he said.
Snowcap plans to release a basic chip by the end of 2026. Full system deployments will follow at a later stage. The chips will be manufactured in a conventional factory using niobium titanium nitride sourced from Brazil and Canada, Reuters reported.
Trending: GoSun's Breakthrough Rooftop EV Charger Already Has 2,000+ Units Reserved — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/meet-the-company-seeking-to-give-americans-energy-independence-and-learn-how-you-can-become-an-early-investor">Become an Investor in This $41.3M Clean Energy Brand Today</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gelsinger: Compute Needs a &#8216;Sharp Break&#8217; From Today's Power Demands</h2>
Gelsinger, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42275410/intel-ceo-pat-gelsinger-forced-out-by-board-analysts-cheer-potential-strategy-shift-this-move-opens-the-door">stepped down as Intel CEO</a> in December, said the industry must rethink its reliance on increasingly power-hungry chips. "A lot of data centers today are just being limited by power availability," he told Reuters.
In a LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patgelsinger_snowcap-compute-raises-23-million-for-superconducting-activity-7342929937462435840-U2DE/">post</a>, Gelsinger described Snowcap as "the first commercially viable superconducting compute platform," and said it delivers performance and efficiency gains across classical, AI, and quantum workloads. He called it his first public investment as general partner at Playground Global and said the company's technology could address compute bottlenecks and "push the boundaries of what is possible with silicon."
See Also: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/wideradvisor-retirement-planning">Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation</a>.&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team Includes Veterans From Nvidia, Northrop Grumman, and Google</h2>
Snowcap's founding team includes superconducting researchers Anna Herr and Quentin Herr, who previously worked at chip research firm Imed and defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>). The team also includes former executives from Nvidia and Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>, GOOGL)) Google unit.
According to Snowcap, its architecture is engineered for high-performance AI inference and training, quantum-classical hybrid workloads, and low-latency systems.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Snowcap Joins Broader Push to Rethink Post-CMOS Era</h2>
Founded in 2024, Snowcap enters a growing field of startups pursuing alternatives to conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-based processors.&nbsp;
The company said its superconducting logic offers "orders-of-magnitude gains in processing speed and efficiency" and aims to support emerging compute workloads spanning AI, high-performance computing, and quantum workflows.
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From Power-Hungry AI to Energy Saver: Snowcap's $23M Move to Revolutionize Computing

<a href="https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/boeing-hires-former-northrop-exec-to-lead-air-force-one-program/">https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/boeing-hires-former-northrop-exec-to-lead-air-force-one-program/</a>

General

'Boeing Hires Former Northrop Exec To Lead Air Force One Program'- Breaking Defense

Mike Gallagher, Head of Defense at Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>), said Iran&#8217;s nuclear program has been &#8220;set back significantly&#8221; following weekend U.S. military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, though intelligence assessments remain conflicted over the operation&#8217;s long-term impact.
What Happened: Speaking <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/06/24/palantirs-mike-gallagher-enforcing-a-ceasefire-will-require-a-greater-investment-of-american-power.html">on</a> CNBC, Gallagher cited early reports indicating substantial damage to Iran&#8217;s nuclear infrastructure. &#8220;The early reports indicate we&#8217;ve set back the program significantly,&#8221; said Gallagher, a former Wisconsin congressman who joined Palantir as its defense chief.
The assessment comes amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46086403/us-attack-on-iranian-nuclear-sites-reportedly-set-tehran-back-only-a-few-months-white-house-calls-assessment-flat-out-wrong">conflicting intelligence reports</a> about Operation Midnight Hammer&#8217;s effectiveness. While the White House maintains the strikes were an &#8220;overwhelming success,&#8221; a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment suggests the damage may only delay Iran&#8217;s nuclear ambitions by &#8220;a few months, tops,&#8221; according to sources cited by CNN.
Seven B-2 stealth bombers from Northrop Grumman Corp. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46045651/northrop-grumman-jumps-5-overnight-as-b-2-bombers-return-to-missouri-after-36-hour-iran-strike-trump-says-job-well-done">conducted the 36-hour mission</a> targeting facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation involved over 125 aircraft and guided missile submarines in what Gallagher described as demonstrating capabilities &#8220;no other country in the world&#8221; possesses.
Gallagher emphasized the strikes&#8217; broader deterrent effect, particularly regarding China. &#8220;I do think this has had a positive effect on deterrence in Indo-Pacific Command,&#8221; he said, drawing parallels to similar dynamics during Trump&#8217;s first administration.
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Why It Matters: The former congressman noted that Iran&#8217;s enriched uranium stockpile reportedly remained intact, having been moved before the strikes. However, he highlighted the loss of Iranian nuclear scientists, stating Israel allegedly eliminated eight of 13 top Iranian nuclear experts, making program reconstruction more difficult.
President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday, though reports of renewed hostilities <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/46068524/israel-says-iran-broke-trump-ceasefire-orders-high-intensity-strikes-on-tehran">have raised durability concerns</a>. 
Palantir shares have surged 483% over 12 months, with the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45988762/palantir-rejects-surveillance-claims-after-being-compared-to-nazi-collaborators-touts-pltrs-transparent-lineage">securing over $113 million in new federal contracts</a> since Trump&#8217;s inauguration, including a $795 million Defense Department agreement.
According to&nbsp;Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, Palantir shows strong Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Price Trends. Here's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how the stock performs across other key metrics</a>. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="890" height="644" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25053305/image-374.png" alt="" class="wp-image-961246" style="width:449px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25053305/image-374.png 890w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25053305/image-374-300x217.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25053305/image-374-768x556.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 890px) 100vw, 890px" /></a></figure>
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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: slyellow / Shutterstock.com

Palantir's Defense Chief Says Iran Nuclear Program 'Set Back Significantly' By US Strikes—But Intel Split On How Long

U.S. equities rallied Tuesday morning as investor sentiment improved following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, confirmed by both President Donald Trump and Israeli <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46072859/trump-says-israel-is-not-going-to-attack-iran-after-ceasefire-violation-turn-around-and-head-home">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>. 
The Nasdaq 100 jumped 1.6% to 22,200 by 12:45 p.m. ET, putting its February all-time high of 22,222 within striking distance. 
The tech-heavy index also formed a golden cross—a bullish chart pattern where the 50-day moving average moves above the 200-day, often seen as a signal of sustained upward momentum.
All major indexes posted gains of more than 1%. The S&amp;P 500 climbed to 6,100, nearing its record high of 6,147, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced to 43,120.
Oil prices plunged 5% to $64 a barrel, extending Monday's 7.2% drop and echoing the steep two-day declines observed in early April.
Sector performance was broadly positive, with technology and communication services leading the rally. Energy and consumer staples were the only sectors in negative territory.
The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) rose 1.8% to a record $247.26. Within the Magnificent Seven, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) surged 2.5%, outpacing peers.
Semiconductor stocks rebounded sharply, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) rallying 3.7%, recovering to levels last seen before the January selloff triggered by DeepSeek-related concerns.
Gold prices fell 1.5% to $3,320 per ounce, as investor demand for safe-haven assets weakened amid reduced geopolitical risk.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) edged up 0.5% to $106,000, following a 4.3% rally on Monday. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>22,199.49</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,160.13</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,117.36</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,095.41</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:45 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) rose 1.2% to $559.39.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 1.2% to $430.75.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rallied 1.5% to $539.43.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) edged up by 1.2% to $214.36.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Technology&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund outperformed, up 1.9%; the&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1.1%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Carnival plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) rallied 7% after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly results. </li>
<li>Other cruise and travel stocks rose, with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) up 4.5%, Royal Caribbean Cruised Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), up 2.2% and Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>) up 2.8%. </li>
<li>Uber Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NASDAQ">UBER</a>) rallied over 8% after launching its autonomous ride-hailing service in Atlanta in partnership with Waymo, covering a 65-square-mile area.</li>
<li>Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) soared over 10% after the Senate passed the stablecoin bill. </li>
<li>Shares of defense contractors tumbled following the ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) and RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) each fell by about 3%. </li>
</ul>
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Image: Shutterstock

Government

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Regulations

Sector ETFs

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Economics

ETFs

$BTC

AMZN

BKNG

COIN

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

NCLH

iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund

SOXX

UBER

Tech Stocks Eye Record Highs, Crude Drops To $64 On Iran-Israel Truce: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Israel accused Iran of violating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire Tuesday after detecting missile launches from Iranian territory, with Defense Minister Israel Katz ordering &#8220;high-intensity strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.&#8221;
What Happened: The accusation came hours after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at 1:08 AM EST, declaring &#8220;The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!&#8221; 
Trump had announced a &#8220;complete and total ceasefire&#8221; between the nations Monday, outlining a phased timeline where Iran would initiate a 12-hour ceasefire six hours after his announcement, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46067020/trump-declares-israel-iran-ceasefire-now-in-effect-as-china-warns-of-spiraling-escalation-at-un">followed by Israel 12 hours later</a>.
Katz said the Israeli military would respond to &#8220;Iran&#8217;s blatant violation of the ceasefire declared by the President of the United States through the launch of missiles toward Israel,&#8221; Reuters reported. However, Iranian state media denied reports of any missile attack, according to state television.
The dispute follows Monday&#8217;s Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, including Iran&#8217;s Evin prison. Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir confirmed casualties in the prison&#8217;s administrative building, stating, &#8220;we had martyrs as well but the number is not yet defined.&#8221; The facility houses political prisoners and foreign nationals, prompting France to accuse Israel of endangering two French citizens, according to the Reuters report.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46067020/trump-declares-israel-iran-ceasefire-now-in-effect-as-china-warns-of-spiraling-escalation-at-un">Trump Declares Israel–Iran Ceasefire &#8216;Now In Effect&#8217; As China Warns Of &#8216;Spiraling Escalation&#8217; At UN</a>
Why It Matters: Markets initially rallied on ceasefire news, with Dow futures jumping 200 points to 43,136. However, energy sectors declined sharply as oil prices fell 12.83% from last week&#8217;s $78.74 peak to $68.63 per barrel. United States Oil Fund LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) dropped 11.0% while SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Exploration &amp; Production ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOP#NYSE">XOP</a>) fell 5.69%.
The tensions escalated after U.S. B-2 bombers from Northrop Grumman Corp. struck three Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday, targeting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46067020/trump-declares-israel-iran-ceasefire-now-in-effect-as-china-warns-of-spiraling-escalation-at-un">Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan sites in a 36-hour mission</a>.
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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: Shutterstock

Global

Israel Says Iran Broke Trump Ceasefire, Orders 'High-Intensity Strikes' On Tehran

BlackRock, in its latest note, highlighted the defense sector as a prime investment opportunity, driven by accelerating geopolitical fragmentation and a global emphasis on national security.
What Happened: The financial giant is sharpening its focus on specific regions and technologies, with a strong preference for the United States.
According to BlackRock, the U.S. stands out due to its substantial defense expenditure, which, as SIPRI data indicates, &#8220;spends more than double on defense than Europe.&#8221;
Furthermore, the U.S. is home to the most sophisticated defense and defense technology firms, serving as a key supplier for critical systems like air and missile defense for many nations.
Within the defense sector, BlackRock highlights significant prospects in defense tech. This broad category encompasses not only artificial intelligence (AI) and software companies but also essential IT services and hardware, such as semiconductors, that power advanced defense capabilities.
The firm anticipates that numerous private defense tech companies could launch initial public offerings (IPOs) in the coming years, offering public market investors new avenues into this expanding theme. Space tech is another area of interest, expected to benefit from intensifying strategic competition.
BlackRock notes that &#8220;growing geopolitical fragmentation and strategic competition in AI are reinforcing the global focus on national security and resilience – creating opportunities in defense.&#8221; This underscores a selective approach to defense investments, where technological superiority and robust national security infrastructure are becoming paramount.
Here&#8217;s a list of some defense and defense tech stocks and global exchange-traded funds that investors could consider.
<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.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)</td>
<td>86.09%</td>
<td>479.14%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>)</td>
<td>8.16%</td>
<td>-5.43%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td>
<td>6.76%</td>
<td>16.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td>
<td>-2.03%</td>
<td>0.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)</td>
<td>17.13%</td>
<td>12.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td>
<td>25.69%</td>
<td>43.01%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</td>
<td>46.99%</td>
<td>54.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TransDigm Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDG#NYSE">TDG</a>)</td>
<td>17.27%</td>
<td>10.74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td>
<td>58.53%</td>
<td>123.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>)</td>
<td>31.31%</td>
<td>167.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>)</td>
<td>21.10%</td>
<td>11.36%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Global Defense ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>)</td>
<td>26.34%</td>
<td>37.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>)</td>
<td>19.61%</td>
<td>32.01%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>)</td>
<td>21.61%</td>
<td>41.72%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>)</td>
<td>56.94%</td>
<td>74.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARK Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>)</td>
<td>15.13%</td>
<td>50.24%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Aerospace &amp; Defense Bull 3X Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFEN#NYSE">DFEN</a>)</td>
<td>75.10%</td>
<td>78.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Kensho Future Security ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITE#NYSE">FITE</a>)</td>
<td>8.48%</td>
<td>30.78%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/46042382/mark-cuban-corrects-elizabeth-warren-as-she-slams-jnj-pfe-for-higher-prices-and-zero-taxes-on-big-ph" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Corrects Elizabeth Warren As She Slams JNJ, PFE For Higher Prices And Zero Taxes On Big Pharma: ‘PBMs Corrupt Healthcare'</a>
Why It Matters: The futures of the S&amp;P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq 100 indices rose on Tuesday as the investors overlooked a significant surge in Middle East tensions, triggered by Iran's missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq, which occurred just 48 hours following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Donald Trump shared a post on Truth Social on Monday, announcing a "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46066239/dow-futures-jump-over-200-points-as-trump-announces-ceasefire-but-iran-says-no-agreement-crude-plunges">Complete and Total CEASEFIRE</a>," at which point, he says, "THE 12 DAY WAR" will be considered "ended." 
However, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Syed Abbas Araghchi, refuted claims of a ceasefire, saying that there was "no agreement" for cessation of military operations, in a post on X.
<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">As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around. As of now, there is NO &quot;agreement&quot; on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no…
&mdash; Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) <a href="https://twitter.com/araghchi/status/1937311435882922420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Price Action: 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, rose on Monday. The SPY was up 0.99% to $600.15, while the QQQ rose 1.03% to $531.65, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Mike Mareen / Shutterstock.com

ARKX

AXON

DFEN

FITE

iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace & Defense Index Fund

SHLD

BlackRock Bets Big On Defense Companies Amid Escalating Geopolitical Tensions: Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Among Stocks In Focus

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday, writing, &#8220;The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!&#8221; The complete capitalized message at 1:08 AM EST followed his Monday announcement of a &#8220;complete and total ceasefire&#8221; between Israel and Iran.
What Happened: U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46066239/dow-futures-jump-over-200-points-as-trump-announces-ceasefire-but-iran-says-no-agreement-crude-plunges">futures rallied sharply</a> after Monday&#8217;s initial ceasefire declaration. Dow futures jumped over 200 points to 43,136, up 0.55%, while S&amp;P 500 futures gained 0.58% to 6,112.50 and Nasdaq futures climbed 0.88% to 22,256.
Trump&#8217;s latest post reinforces his Monday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46065102/trump-says-there-is-a-ceasefire-between-isreal-and-iran">statement outlining a phased ceasefire timeline</a>. He said Iran would initiate a 12-hour ceasefire six hours after his announcement, followed by Israel 12 hours later, effectively ending what he termed &#8220;The 12-day war.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="741" height="201" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/24020833/image-344.png" alt="" class="wp-image-959072" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/24020833/image-344.png 741w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/24020833/image-344-300x81.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 741px) 100vw, 741px" /></figure>
Iran&#8217;s Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araghchi <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46066239/dow-futures-jump-over-200-points-as-trump-announces-ceasefire-but-iran-says-no-agreement-crude-plunges">disputed ceasefire claims on X</a>, stating &#8220;there is NO &#8216;agreement&#8217; on any ceasefire.&#8221; However, Araghchi indicated Iran would halt operations if Israel stops its &#8220;illegal aggression&#8221; by 4 AM Tehran time.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/46066069/bitcoin-tops-106000-ethereum-dogecoin-surge-as-trump-announces-iran-israel-ceasefire-analyst-sees-23-6-btc-spike-if-this-happens">Bitcoin Tops $106,000; Ethereum, Dogecoin Surge As Trump Announces Iran-Israel Ceasefire — Analyst Sees 23.6% BTC Spike If This Happens</a>
Why It Matters: The declarations follow escalating tensions after U.S. B-2 bombers struck <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46045651/northrop-grumman-jumps-5-overnight-as-b-2-bombers-return-to-missouri-after-36-hour-iran-strike-trump-says-job-well-done">three Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday</a> in a 36-hour mission. Seven bombers from Northrop Grumman Corp. targeted Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan sites. 
Oil markets reacted dramatically to ceasefire prospects. Brent crude fell 12.83% from last week&#8217;s $78.74 peak to $68.63 per barrel. Energy ETFs declined significantly, with United States Oil Fund LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) dropping 11.0% and SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Exploration &amp; Production ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOP#NYSE">XOP</a>) falling 5.69%.
China&#8217;s United Nations envoy Fu Cong condemned the strikes at an emergency Security Council meeting, warning of &#8220;spiraling escalation&#8221; in the Middle East. China, Russia and Pakistan proposed a draft resolution <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/46046039/china-slams-us-at-un-over-iran-nuclear-strikes-warns-of-spiraling-escalation-in-middle-east-demands-immediate-ceasefire">demanding immediate ceasefire</a>. 
On Sunday, the State Department <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/travel/25/06/46045416/us-issues-worldwide-caution-after-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-sites-state-department-warns-of-airspace-closures-travel-chaos-and-rising-threats-to-americans-abroad">issued worldwide travel advisories for U.S. citizens</a>, with Ben Gurion Airport closed and assisted departure flights operating from Israel.
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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: Shutterstock

Trump Declares Israel–Iran Ceasefire 'Now In Effect' As China Warns Of 'Spiraling Escalation' At UN

The Strait of Hormuz, accounting for nearly a third of the world&#8217;s oil supply, is once again under geopolitical pressure, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">ETF investors</a> are rushing to reposition.
Over the past month, the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) and the United States Brent Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNO#NYSE">BNO</a>) have spiked 22.25% and 20.26%, respectively. On Saturday, the U.S. conducted airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—and oil prices jumped in response.
Now, energy experts are signaling a possible $100-per-barrel oil situation, particularly if Iran decides to respond by attacking U.S. interests in the Gulf or interfering with global trade through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Bloomberg.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46045542/tesla-launches-robotaxi-in-austin-elon-musk-calls-it-a-culmination-of-a-decade-of-hard-work">Tesla Launches Robotaxi In Austin: Elon Musk Calls It A &#8216;Culmination Of A Decade Of Hard Work&#8217;</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs Riding The Risk Wave</h2>
If tensions further intensify, energy-oriented ETFs may keep rising. Preeminent tickers in consideration are:
USO and BNO – Already surging, they are bellwethers for sentiment on crude.
USO tracks front-month WTI crude oil futures. It is usually the first choice for traders seeking direct exposure to oil price changes. Because of its exposure to front-month futures, USO will be very volatile but also rapidly sensitive to geopolitical shocks such as airstrikes or naval interferences.
BNO reflects Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, and is most applicable when Middle East supply lines are in jeopardy. Brent will spike quicker than WTI in times of global crises, and BNO provides the retail investor with an accessible vehicle to access that.
Invesco DB Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBO#NYSE">DBO</a>) offers futures-based exposure with strong war-time tailwinds. It provides exposure to a longer curve of oil futures, making it less whiplash-prone than USO or BNO. DBO can be a more measured bet for investors who believe the conflict will lead to sustained price appreciation in oil.
SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Exploration &amp; Production ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOP#NYSE">XOP</a>) plays off the supply disruption theme using upstream producers. Instead of following oil itself, XOP puts capital in upstream energy producers, those that drill and explore for oil. As crude moves higher, the margins for these companies widen, making XOP a high-beta bet on the general energy uptrend. It is essentially a leveraged oil play, but without the leverage.
First Trust Natural Gas ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCG#NYSE">FCG</a>) and United States Natural Gas Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNG#NYSE">UNG</a>)—These ETFs may move if LNG through Hormuz is at risk. If LNG cargo through the Strait of Hormuz becomes disturbed, gas prices, particularly in Europe, may surge. Although these ETFs have not shown a positive reaction yet, they are under watch. FCG also provides equity exposure to U.S.-based natural gas producers, which would profit from Europe panicking for alternative suppliers.
But black gold isn&#8217;t the only one rallying.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defense ETFs On Radar</h2>
As President Donald Trump warned Iran of further strikes unless it abandons its nuclear ambitions, some investors are rotating into defense ETFs amid escalating geopolitical risks.
iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) invests in big-cap defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), and Raytheon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>). These companies are at the forefront of any U.S. military buildup, either through the sales of hardware, missile defense systems, or support. As tensions rise, ITA is a favorite among investors who take an educated guess at sustained geopolitical uncertainty.
SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) is more diversified than ITA. If defense spending increases and new contracts are awarded under wartime terms, XAR might see wider upside potential. It also performs better during times of high volatility because of its equal-weight approach.
Both these ETFs stand to gain as defense budgets swell and military contractors set up for more long-term involvement.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Geopolitical Wildcards</h2>
Although markets have factored in the initial attacks, doubt over Iran&#8217;s retaliation plan and Trump&#8217;s extended geopolitical strategy are making traders nervous. One wrong shipping lane missile could send oil above $110, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46051051/oil-prices-iran-strait-of-hormuz-risk-us-attack">according to Goldman Sachs</a>, and ignite wider risk-off sentiment across equities.
For ETF traders, the secret is to position, not panic. This could be a good opportunity for tactical maneuvers in energy and defense funds. But in the era of tweet-induced volatility, one thing&#8217;s certain: ETFs are where the battle lines, and profits, are being drawn.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46017496/israel-iran-conflict-lifts-crude-above-77-what-it-means-for-oil-etfs">Israel-Iran Conflict Lifts Crude Above $77: What It Means For Oil ETFs</a></li>
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Photo: somkanae sawatdinak/Shutterstock

First Trust ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index Fund

How A Strait Of Hormuz Shock Could Ignite A Surge In Energy And Defense ETFs

China&#8217;s permanent representative to the United Nations condemned the United States on Sunday for conducting precision strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, warning of escalating Middle East tensions during an emergency Security Council meeting.
What Happened: Fu Cong, China&#8217;s UN envoy, said the Saturday strikes on Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites violated international law and Iran&#8217;s sovereignty. &#8220;China strongly condemns the U.S. attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency,&#8221; Fu stated, <a href="https://english.news.cn/20250623/2622712cde5f46e8a8ff0700199c1469/c.html">according</a> to Xinhua News Agency.
The strikes involved seven B-2 Spirit bombers from Northrop Grumman Corp. operating from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, completing the longest bomber mission since 2001. Defense markets responded positively, with Northrop Grumman shares surging 5.28% to $524.00 in overnight <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46045651/northrop-grumman-jumps-5-overnight-as-b-2-bombers-return-to-missouri-after-36-hour-iran-strike-trump-says-job-well-done">trading on extended-hours platforms</a>.
President Donald Trump announced the &#8220;spectacular military success&#8221; via Truth Social, stating the objective was &#8220;destruction of Iran&#8217;s nuclear enrichment capacity.&#8221; The operation utilized Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster weapons and involved over 125 U.S. aircraft in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46043305/donald-trump-announces-spectacular-military-success-as-us-strikes-key-iranian-nuclear-sites">the 36-hour mission</a>.
Fu warned that the strikes &#8220;exacerbated tensions in the Middle East and dealt a heavy blow to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.&#8221; China, Russia and Pakistan proposed a Security Council draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and civilian protection.
&#8220;The parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, should immediately cease fire to prevent a spiraling escalation and to resolutely avoid the spillover of the war,&#8221; Fu said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46045693/fedex-founder-fred-smith-dies-at-80-marine-veteran-wwii-memorial-champion-and-visionary-ceo-mourned-by-satya-nadella-marc-benioff">FedEx Founder Fred Smith Dies At 80: Marine Veteran, WWII Memorial Champion And Visionary CEO Mourned By Satya Nadella, Marc Benioff</a>
Why It Matters: The State Department issued worldwide travel advisories following the strikes, with Iran&#8217;s parliament voting to authorize the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/travel/25/06/46045416/us-issues-worldwide-caution-after-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-sites-state-department-warns-of-airspace-closures-travel-chaos-and-rising-threats-to-americans-abroad">handles 20% of global petroleum transit</a>. 
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Moscow for meetings with President Vladimir Putin, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/travel/25/06/46045416/us-issues-worldwide-caution-after-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-sites-state-department-warns-of-airspace-closures-travel-chaos-and-rising-threats-to-americans-abroad">condemning U.S. actions</a> as crossing &#8220;a very big red line.&#8221;
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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: miss.cabul / Shutterstock.com

China Slams US At UN Over Iran Nuclear Strikes: Warns Of 'Spiraling Escalation' In Middle East, Demands Immediate Ceasefire

B-2 Spirit bombers safely returned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri following a 36-hour mission that struck <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46043305/donald-trump-announces-spectacular-military-success-as-us-strikes-key-iranian-nuclear-sites">three Iranian nuclear facilities</a>, the White House confirmed Sunday. Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) shares surged 5.28% to $524.00 in overnight trading on Robinhood&#8217;s 24-hour service.
What Happened: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the operation &#8220;historic,&#8221; marking the longest B-2 mission since 2001 and the first operational use of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). 
Seven B-2 bombers were launched from the continental United States and struck the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities between 6:40 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. Eastern time Saturday.
&#8220;Our B-2s went in and out of these nuclear sites without the world knowing at all,&#8221; Hegseth said, praising the operation&#8217;s operational security and precision timing.
The mission involved deception tactics, with part of the strike package flying west into the Pacific as a decoy while the main force proceeded east with minimal communications. Each bomber carried two crew members and completed multiple in-flight refuelings during the 18-hour flight to target areas.
<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">God bless the United States Military — the greatest force for freedom the world has ever known. &#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8;&#x1f985; <a href="https://t.co/n5zjcsu3o4">pic.twitter.com/n5zjcsu3o4</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1936900911147745735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/travel/25/06/46045416/us-issues-worldwide-caution-after-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-sites-state-department-warns-of-airspace-closures-travel-chaos-and-rising-threats-to-americans-abroad">US Issues Worldwide Caution After Strikes On Iran&#8217;s Nuclear Sites: State Department Warns Of Airspace Closures, Travel Chaos And Rising Threats To Americans Abroad</a>
Why It Matters: More than 125 U.S. aircraft participated, including stealth bombers, fighters, refueling tankers, and a guided missile submarine.
President Donald Trump announced the &#8220;spectacular military success&#8221; via Truth Social Saturday evening, stating the objective was &#8220;destruction of Iran&#8217;s nuclear enrichment capacity.&#8221; The strikes followed Iran&#8217;s withdrawal from scheduled negotiations and refusal to engage in nuclear talks.
&#8220;The great B-2 pilots have just landed, safely, in Missouri. Thank you for a job well done!&#8221; Trump wrote. 
Northrop Grumman is showing strong momentum and a consistent upward price trend across short-, medium-, and long-term timeframes, according to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. However, the stock scores poorly on valuation metrics. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here to see the full stock breakdown</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="880" height="632" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/23001211/image-319.png" alt="" class="wp-image-957421" style="width:497px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/23001211/image-319.png 880w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/23001211/image-319-300x215.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/23001211/image-319-768x552.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px" /></figure>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/06/46045348/ex-amazon-vp-says-working-for-a-bad-manager-is-worse-than-worrying-about-moving-up-the-career-ladder-one-of-my-biggest-regrets">Ex-Amazon VP Says Working For A Bad Manager Is Worse Than Worrying About Moving Up The Career Ladder: &#8216;One Of My Biggest Regrets…&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Mike Mareen / Shutterstock.com

Northrop Grumman Jumps 5% Overnight As B-2 Bombers Return To Missouri After 36-Hour Iran Strike: Trump Says 'Job Well Done'

Israel Defense Forces conducted a significant overnight military operation against Iran, deploying 40 fighter jets that struck dozens of military targets using over 100 munitions, according to official IDF statements. 
What Happened: The strikes targeted critical infrastructure in Tehran and other Iranian regions, marking a major escalation in regional tensions.
The operation specifically targeted an inactive nuclear reactor in Iran&#8217;s Arak region, including its reactor shielding structure essential for plutonium production. The facility, under construction since 1997 but never completed due to international intervention, was originally designed to produce weapons-grade plutonium. 
Iran had deliberately halted conversion efforts that would have prevented weaponization capabilities, using the reactor as leverage against Western powers.
Israeli forces also struck the Natanz nuclear weapons development site, which houses specialized equipment and components that accelerate Iran&#8217;s nuclear weapons program. The IDF stated the strikes were designed to undermine Iran&#8217;s nuclear weapons capabilities permanently.
Additional targets included Iranian military production facilities manufacturing ballistic missile components, air-defense systems, and missile assembly materials. Air defense batteries, missile storage sites, radars, and related military infrastructure were destroyed during the operation.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">תקיפות חיל האוויר הלילה באיראן: 40 מטוסי קרב תקפו עשרות מטרות צבאיות עם יותר מ-100 חימושים צה״ל תקף כור גרעיני שאינו פעיל במרחב אראכ שבאיראן 40 מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר תקפו במהלך הלילה, בהכוונה מודיעינית מדויקת של אגף המודיעין, עם יותר מ-100 חימושים, עשרות מטרות צבאיות בטהראן… <a href="https://t.co/llhYbkFXIF">pic.twitter.com/llhYbkFXIF</a>
&mdash; צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1935574764862492767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/46011237/trump-was-confronted-at-g7-by-canadas-indigenous-honor-guard-who-said-he-was-filled-with-rage-but-delivered-a-message-of-peace">Trump Was Confronted At G7 By Canada&#8217;s Indigenous Honor Guard Who Said He Was &#8216;Filled With Rage,&#8217; But Delivered A Message Of &#8216;Peace&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: U.S. markets responded with cautious trading as investors weighed geopolitical implications. S&amp;P 500 futures declined 0.32% to 6,014.75, while Nasdaq futures dropped 0.48% to 21,840.50. 
President Donald Trump remained noncommittal about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/46010350/as-trump-weighs-options-on-iran-dow-futures-slip-defense-stocks-tick-up-in-after-hours-session">potential U.S. military support for Israel</a>, telling reporters &#8220;I may do it, I may not do it&#8221; when asked about striking Iran. A White House Situation Room meeting addressed the conflict, though details remain classified.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei characterized the strikes as evidence of Israeli weakness, stating that American involvement demonstrates &#8220;that regime&#8217;s weakness and inability.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The very fact that the Zionist regime's American friends have entered the scene and are saying such things is a sign of that regime's weakness and inability.
&mdash; Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) <a href="https://twitter.com/khamenei_ir/status/1935367026479960399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46011509/bill-ackman-calls-for-northrops-b-2-bombers-boeings-gbu-57s-to-help-israel-finish-the-job-in-gaza-pave-way-for-trumps-nobel-peace-prize">Bill Ackman Calls For Northrop&#8217;s B-2 Bombers, Boeing&#8217;s GBU-57s To Help Israel &#8216;Finish The Job&#8217; In Gaza, Pave Way For Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Nobel Peace Prize&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Israel Launches Overnight Strikes On Iran, Targeting Nuclear Site, Military Infrastructure With 40 Fighter Jets

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman is advocating for direct U.S. military intervention in Gaza, proposing the deployment of Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) B-2 Spirit bombers equipped with Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs to help Israel conclude its military campaign.
What Happened: Writing on X Wednesday, the Pershing Square Capital Management CEO outlined a comprehensive Middle East peace plan that would position President Donald Trump for a &#8220;Nobel Peace Prize.&#8221; 
&#8220;How about the following? The United States helps Israel finish the job with some B-2s and some GBU-57s,&#8221; Ackman wrote, calling for Israel to end the Gaza conflict in exchange for hostage returns and Saudi-funded reconstruction.
Ackman&#8217;s proposal specifically references advanced U.S. military hardware designed for precision strikes on fortified targets. 
The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator is a precision-guided bunker buster designed to strike deep underground targets. It can be carried by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
The comments <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/45966450/bill-ackman-warns-iran-an-existential-threat-to-america-says-it-is-time-to-finish-the-job">escalate Ackman&#8217;s previous statements</a> calling Iran &#8220;an existential threat to Israel, America and the world.&#8221; Earlier this month, he argued against negotiations with Tehran, stating &#8220;it is time to finish the job&#8221; regarding Iran&#8217;s nuclear program.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">How about the following? The United States helps Israel finish the job with some B-2s and some GBU-57s. Israel ends the Gaza war in exchange for the return of the hostages, a commitment for a new civilian government in Gaza, and reconstruction overseen and funded by the Saudis…
&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1935421336157053172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/46011237/trump-was-confronted-at-g7-by-canadas-indigenous-honor-guard-who-said-he-was-filled-with-rage-but-delivered-a-message-of-peace">Trump Was Confronted At G7 By Canada&#8217;s Indigenous Honor Guard Who Said He Was &#8216;Filled With Rage,&#8217; But Delivered A Message Of &#8216;Peace&#8217;</a>
Defense stocks have shown volatility amid Middle East tensions. After-hours trading Wednesday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/46010350/as-trump-weighs-options-on-iran-dow-futures-slip-defense-stocks-tick-up-in-after-hours-session">showed gains for major contractors</a>: Northrop Grumman up 0.88%, RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) up 0.60%, and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) up 0.30%. The Global X Defense Tech ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NASDAQ">SHLD</a>) has surged 56.80% year-to-date.
Trump has maintained strategic ambiguity <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/46010350/as-trump-weighs-options-on-iran-dow-futures-slip-defense-stocks-tick-up-in-after-hours-session">regarding potential U.S. involvement</a>, telling reporters Wednesday, &#8220;I may do it, I may not do it&#8221; when asked about striking Iran. The president warned Tehran residents to evacuate &#8220;immediately&#8221; earlier this week, stating &#8220;Iran can not have a nuclear weapon.&#8221;
Ackman&#8217;s vision extends beyond <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45414969/trump-attempts-to-make-good-on-his-proposal-for-a-middle-eastern-riviera-but-in-dubai-jeddah-and-riy">military action to economic transformation</a>. He proposes expanding the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia, predicting &#8220;an economic boom emerges in the Middle East&#8221; with Gaza becoming &#8220;a beautiful place to live and work.&#8221;
The investor&#8217;s peace plan reflects former President Barack Obama&#8216;s 2009 Nobel Peace Prize recognition. 
Both defense contractors, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, show strong momentum but rank poorly on valuation, according to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. NOC also maintains a positive price trend across short-, medium-, and long-term timeframes. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here to view the full breakdown</a> of BA.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="880" height="632" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19023322/image-296.png" alt="" class="wp-image-954814" style="width:579px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19023322/image-296.png 880w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19023322/image-296-300x215.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19023322/image-296-768x552.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px" /></a></figure>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46010921/palantirs-head-of-defense-says-xi-jinping-is-decoupling-from-us-warns-america-risks-losing-leverage-if-china-tech-shift-goes-unchecked">Palantir&#8217;s Head Of Defense Says &#8216;Xi Jinping Is Decoupling From Us&#8217; — Warns America Risks Losing Leverage If China Tech Shift Goes Unchecked</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Mike Mareen / Shutterstock.com

Bill Ackman Calls For Northrop's B-2 Bombers, Boeing's GBU-57s To Help Israel 'Finish The Job' In Gaza, Pave Way For Trump's 'Nobel Peace Prize'

As tensions continue to flare in the Middle East, U.S. Stock futures inch lower on Wednesday evening, compounded by the Fed&#8217;s decision to hold rates steady, while warning of lower economic growth and persistent inflation.
The&nbsp;S&amp;P 500 Futures are down 0.32%, trading at 6,014.75, followed by Nasdaq Futures at 21,840.50, down 0.48%, and finally Dow Futures, trading at 42,398.00, down 0.27%, at the time of writing this.
This comes amid a Situation Room meeting held in the White House on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. It is still unclear what was discussed during the meeting or who was in attendance, according <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/live-blog/israel-iran-live-updates-trump-weighs-us-strike-khamenei-rcna213665">to</a> a report by NBC News. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46009971/trump-cheers-incredible-stablecoin-bill-passed-by-senate-get-it-to-my-desk-asap-no-delays">Trump Cheers &#8216;Incredible&#8217; Stablecoin Bill Passed By Senate: &#8216;Get It To My Desk, ASAP — No Delays&#8217;</a>
Earlier in the day, when asked if the U.S. would strike Iran in support of Israel&#8217;s ongoing campaign, President Donald Trump remained undecided, telling reporters, &#8220;I may do it, I may not do it.&#8221;
Meanwhile, defense stocks and ETFs continue their volatile streak with no clarity just yet on American involvement in this new geopolitical conflict.
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Stocks</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">After Hours</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.45%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.30%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">ETFs</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Month-To-Date</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Year-To-Date</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+2.34%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+56.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>)&nbsp;</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.86%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+23.42%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Asian markets opened lower on Thursday, with Japan&#8217;s benchmark Nikkei 225 down 0.74%, trading at 38,598, led by shipping, exports, and electronics companies.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) is up 0.14%, trading at 98.046 against a basket of global currencies, following the Fed&#8217;s decision to keep rates steady in the short term.
Thursday is a market holiday due to Juneteenth. So, no economic events or major corporate earnings calls are scheduled for the day.
Photo Courtesy: Zakharchuk on Shutterstock.com
Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/06/46007465/jamie-dimon-sounds-alarm-on-skills-gap-calls-for-overhaul-of-us-education-system">Jamie Dimon Sounds Alarm On Skills Gap, Calls For Overhaul Of US Education System</a></li>
</ul>

ESLT

KTOS

As Trump Weighs Options On Iran — Dow Futures Slip, Defense Stocks Tick Up In After-Hours Session

As tensions flare in the Middle East, Aeronautics giant Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) and defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) are sharing the headlines for one of the world&#8217;s most powerful conventional weapons.
What Happened: With President Donald Trump promising &#8216;a real end&#8217; to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45968020/us-stock-futures-tumble-after-trump-threatens-real-end-to-irans-nuclear-problem-avoid-getting-whipsawed-by-noise-says-expert">Iran&#8217;s nuclear weapons</a> program, and Israel already on the offensive over the past couple of days, defense experts, analysts, and the media are once again focused on Tehran&#8217;s fortified nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz.
Buried 80 to 110 meters underground, these facilities are impenetrable by conventional munitions, according <a href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/three-things-will-determine-irans-nuclear-future-fordow-just-one-them">to</a> the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45988135/bernie-sanders-slams-israels-illegal-attack-on-iran-says-absolutely-imperative-that-the-united-states-not-be-dragged-into-this-war">Bernie Sanders Slams Israel&#8217;s &#8216;Illegal&#8217; Attack On Iran, Says &#8216;Absolutely Imperative That The United States Not Be Dragged Into This War&#8217;</a>
The focus is now on the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B MOP (Massive Ordinance Penetrator), a precision-guided bomb made by Boeing, which can penetrate up to 200 feet of hardened concrete before detonation. 
There is also only one aircraft that is capable of carrying this massive bomb deep into contested airspace undetected, and that is the B-2 Spirit bomber, made by Northrop Grumman. 
Both stocks are benefiting from this renewed attention, but when it comes to shareholder returns, one has significantly outperformed the other over the past 10 years.
Northrop Grumman is up by a phenomenal 211%, significantly outperforming Boeing's 54% gain during the same period, as the latter wrestled with challenges pertaining to its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/36561497/boeing-faces-reputational-damage-after-midair-door-blowout-4-analysts-on-collateral">Boeing 737 Max</a> in recent years, followed by the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/39058924/boeings-production-slowdown-sends-shockwaves-through-aerospace-supply-chain">COVID-19 pandemic</a>. 
So, if you had invested $1,000 in Northrop Grumman 10 years ago, it would now be worth $3,110, whereas the same with Boeing would now be worth $1,540. If you had invested $1,000 in an S&amp;P 500 index fund, on the other hand, it would now be valued at $3,390, which means both the companies have trailed the market over the past 10 years.
Why It Matters: The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45899174/boeing-dreamliner-carrying-over-200-passengers-crashes-shortly-after-takeoff-near-indias-ahmedabad-ba-stock-falls-over-5-in-thursday-pre-market">crash of a Boeing Dreamliner</a> in Ahmedabad last week brought a fresh set of troubles for Boeing, with the stock witnessing a pullback soon after the news.
The conflict between Iran and Israel, however, could be a likely tailwind for the company, along with several other defense stocks, which have been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/45988507/trump-demands-irans-uncoditional-surrender-stock-futures-remain-steady-defense-shares-trade-higher-in-after-hours-trading">surging over the past week</a>. 
Price Action: Shares of Boeing were down 0.71% on Tuesday, trading at $200.26, with Northrop Grumman up 1.30%, at $503.97, and another 0.60% after hours.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="148" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18055403/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-3.23.51-PM-1024x148.png" alt="" class="wp-image-953603" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18055403/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-3.23.51-PM-1024x148.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18055403/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-3.23.51-PM-300x43.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18055403/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-3.23.51-PM-768x111.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18055403/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-3.23.51-PM.png 1526w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Boeing shares currently see strong momentum in Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, ranked at the 77th percentile, with a favorable price trend in the short, medium, and long term. How does it compare with Northrop Grumman and its other peers and competitors? Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a> to find out. 
Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/45988985/israel-says-it-struck-iranian-centrifuge-site-missile-factories-near-tehran-with-over-50-jets-to-disrupt-weapons-program">Israel Says It Struck Iranian Centrifuge Site, Missile Factories Near Tehran With Over 50 Jets To Disrupt Weapons Program</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Mike Mareen / Shutterstock.com

The Bunker Buster Showdown: Boeing Built The Bomb, Northrop Built The Bomber—Which Stock Won Over The Past 10 Years?

The Israel Defense Forces launched coordinated strikes against Iranian nuclear and weapons facilities near Tehran using more than 50 fighter jets, escalating Middle East tensions that have already boosted defense sector equities and oil prices.
What Happened: The IDF confirmed Tuesday it targeted a uranium centrifuge production site in Tehran designed to expand Iran&#8217;s nuclear enrichment capabilities. 
Intelligence Directorate guidance enabled precision strikes on multiple weapons manufacturing facilities producing ground-to-ground and surface-to-air missile components.
&#8220;The Iranian regime enriches uranium intended for nuclear weapons development,&#8221; the IDF stated, emphasizing that civilian nuclear programs don&#8217;t require such enrichment levels. 
The operation specifically targeted raw materials and assembly components for missiles Iran has launched toward Israel.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">צה&quot;ל תקף הלילה אתר ייצור צנטריפוגות ומספר אתרי ייצור אמצעי לחימה של המשטר האיראני יותר מ-50 מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר, בהכוונה מודיעינית מדויקת של אגף המודיעין, השלימו בשעות האחרונות סדרת תקיפות של מטרות צבאיות במרחב טהראן. במסגרת המאמץ הנרחב לפגוע בתכנית לפיתוח הנשק הגרעיני… <a href="https://t.co/RNAAvSChgl">pic.twitter.com/RNAAvSChgl</a>
&mdash; צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1935189614563639665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988833/iran-says-whatsapp-a-tool-for-israeli-surveillance-meta-hits-back-calling-it-false-reports">Iran Says WhatsApp A Tool For Israeli Surveillance — Meta Hits Back, Calling It &#8216;False Reports&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Defense contractors rallied in after-hours trading following the strikes. Israel&#8217;s Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>) rose 1.12% after hours, while RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) climbed 0.72%.
The broader defense sector saw after-hours gains, with Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) rising 1.06% and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) up 0.60%. Defense-focused ETFs also advanced, as the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>) added 0.38%, while the Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>) gained 0.39%
President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/45988507/trump-demands-irans-uncoditional-surrender-stock-futures-remain-steady-defense-shares-trade-higher-in-after-hours-trading">dismissed ceasefire speculation</a>, telling reporters aboard Air Force One he seeks &#8220;a real end&#8221; to Iran&#8217;s nuclear program with Tehran abandoning it &#8220;entirely.&#8221; His Truth Social posts called for Iran&#8217;s &#8220;unconditional surrender&#8221; while threatening Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Israel Says It Struck Iranian Centrifuge Site, Missile Factories Near Tehran With Over 50 Jets To Disrupt Weapons Program

U.S. stock futures remain unfazed by President Donald Trump&#8217;s calls for an &#8220;Unconditional Surrender&#8221; by Iran on Tuesday night, as tensions continued to flare in the Middle East.
Starting with the S&amp;P 500 Futures, which trades at 6,045.00, up 0.11%, followed by Nasdaq Futures at 21,986.00, up 0.14%, and Dow Jones Futures up 0.06%, trading at 42,581.00, at the time of writing this.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="408" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212516/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.02-AM-1024x408.png" alt="" class="wp-image-953126" style="width:595px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212516/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.02-AM-1024x408.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212516/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.02-AM-300x119.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212516/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.02-AM-768x306.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212516/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.02-AM.png 1186w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Stock futures are largely flat despite escalating tensions between the United States and Israel versus Iran, amid Trump&#8217;s increasingly fiery rhetoric, stating that the U.S. knows exactly where Iran&#8217;s &#8220;Supreme Leader&#8221; was hiding, and adding that he was an &#8220;easy target,&#8221; in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45988135/bernie-sanders-slams-israels-illegal-attack-on-iran-says-absolutely-imperative-that-the-united-states-not-be-dragged-into-this-war">Bernie Sanders Slams Israel&#8217;s &#8216;Illegal&#8217; Attack On Iran, Says &#8216;Absolutely Imperative That The United States Not Be Dragged Into This War&#8217;</a>
In a subsequent post, Trump once again did not mince words and called for an &#8220;UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!&#8221; by Iran. This comes just a day after he said that a cease-fire between Israel and Iran was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45968002/trump-says-israel-iran-ceasefire-not-on-the-table-left-g7-early-for-a-much-bigger-reason-spy-qqq">not on the table</a>, and that he was seeking &#8220;a real end&#8221; to Iran&#8217;s nuclear issue.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="208" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212554/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.41-AM-1024x208.png" alt="" class="wp-image-953127" style="width:615px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212554/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.41-AM-1024x208.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212554/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.41-AM-300x61.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212554/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.41-AM-768x156.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17212554/Screenshot-2025-06-18-at-6.55.41-AM.png 1184w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Defense stocks and ETFs have continued to rally after hours, as tensions continued to escalate, with California-based Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>), which provides defense engineering and communications solutions, rising 0.60% after hours.
Others, such as Israel&#8217;s Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>) and RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), have rallied by 1.12%% and 0.60%, respectively, in after-hours trading.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Stock</th>
<th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">After-Hours</th>
<th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Month-To-Date</th>
<th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Year-To-Date</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+1.12%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+10.81%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+73.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.60%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+17.18%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+63.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.60%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+3.96%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+7.68%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.72%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+8.79%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+27.99%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+1.06%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-0.63%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-0.60%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">ETF</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Month-To-Date</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Year-To-Date</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+3.03%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+57.56%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+1.54%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+24.24%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Asian markets opened higher on Wednesday, with Japan&#8217;s Benchmark Nikkei 225 up 0.71% in early morning trade, at 38,808, with companies focused on the domestic market leading the way.
Brent crude oil futures are down 0.04%, trading at 76.40 a barrel, marking a steep 19% ascent since the beginning of this month, after hitting a 52-week low of $58.4 a barrel in early May.
The&nbsp;U.S. Dollar Index&nbsp;(DXY) is holding steady at 98.724, down 0.10%, even as volatilities and geopolitical risks continue to weigh.
Investors on Wednesday will be closely watching the outcome of the FOMC meeting, followed by a press conference by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Investors will also be keenly eyeing the Initial Jobless Claims, Housing Starts, and Building Permit reports during the day.
Photo Courtesy: Gumbariya on Shutterstock.com
Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/06/45983526/trump-wants-an-end-not-a-ceasefire-for-the-israel-iran-war-what-that-means-for-etfs">Trump Wants &#8216;An End, Not a Ceasefire&#8217; For The Israel-Iran War: What That Means For ETFs</a></li>
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Trump Demands Iran's 'Unconditional Surrender' — Stock Futures Remain Steady, Defense Shares Trade Higher In After-Hours Trading

Wall Street took a sharp and unexpected turn lower by midday Tuesday as geopolitical fears surged following an Axios News report that President Donald Trump will meet with his national security team in the White House Situation Room to decide U.S. policy regarding the escalating war <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/middle-east">between Israel and Iran.</a>
According to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/17/trump-situation-room-meeting-iran-israel-war">Axios</a>, U.S. officials said Trump is seriously considering direct military intervention, including a potential strike on Iran's underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordow. The situation began unfolding after Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada late Monday and called for Iran's "unconditional surrender" on Tuesday.
Iran swiftly responded by ordering evacuations in Tel Aviv and Haifa, intensifying fears of regional war.
Major U.S. stock indexes fell in midday trading, as investors digested the threat of U.S. involvement in another Middle East conflict.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stocks Fall, Solar Sector Gets Hammered By Senate Bill</h3>
The S&amp;P 500 declined 0.5% to 6,000 points, and the Nasdaq 100 slid by over 130 points, or 0.6%, to 21,800.
Volatility spiked during the session as the CBOE Volatility Index, commonly known as the VIX or Wall Street&#8217;s fear index, surged 7.6%. 
Treasury yields plunged, with 30-year yields down 6 basis points to 4.90%. The dollar rallied reflecting appetite for safe havens. 
Oil price soared 1% to $72.5 a barrel. Sector-wise, energy was the lone area in the green, buoyed by expectations of rising crude prices if the Middle East conflict intensifies. 
In contrast, the consumer discretionary and healthcare sectors led the market's losses, with the latter penalized by fresh advertising restrictions.
Defense contractors rallied sharply as the specter of military conflict lifted expectations for increased government defense spending. RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) advanced 1.2%, Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) climbed 2.9% and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) gained 1.6% by midday.
Meanwhile, a draft version of the Senate's "Big Beautiful Bill" revealed plans to phase out all federal tax credits for solar and wind energy projects by 2028. These incentives were established under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
The announcement triggered a broad selloff across solar-related stocks. The Invesco Solar ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAN#NYSE">TAN</a>) plunged 9% in midday trading. Among individual names, Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RUN#NASDAQ">RUN</a>) collapsed 40%, SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SEDG#NASDAQ">SEDG</a>) dropped 35%, and Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENPH#NASDAQ">ENPH</a>) fell 25%. Industry bellwether First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) lost 18%.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices </td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,325.26</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,000.66</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,809.24</td>
<td>-0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,108.55</td>
<td>-0.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 1:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
Read Next:
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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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Wall Street Drops As Trump Weighs Iran Action, Defense Stocks Jump: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

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