2 Leading Defense Stocks to Buy in 2021 and Beyond | The Motley Fool (2024)

The world is not a safe place, and the sovereignty of a country is not a given. It must be defended, sometimes with force. One way to ensure that is building and supporting a strong defensive capability. Military spending, whether viewed in a positive light or a negative one, is considered by most people to be a necessity for any country that wants to remain, well, a country.

That's what makes industry giants Lockheed Martin (LMT -1.64%) and Raytheon Technologies (RTX -0.57%) worthwhile options for long-term investors interested in the defense space, even as they both reported weak third-quarter 2021 sales numbers. Here's why these two defense stocks are worth buying and holding in 2021 and beyond.

1. Lockheed Martin: The "giantest" giant

Lockheed Martin has long dominated the military-industrial space. It has an incredibly diverse business, including aeronautics (about 40% of sales), rotary and mission systems (25%), space (nearly 19%), and missiles and fire control (the remainder). The company has its fingers in some of the biggest and most important long-term military contracts around, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Patriot missile system. These types of programs provide a solid foundation for long-term revenue, even if the company's top line can wax and wane over shorter periods. It largely works for just the U.S. government (74% of sales) and its allies (25%).

The key here, however, is that with a massive $90 billion market cap, Lockheed Martin has a scale and reach that would be hard for smaller competitors to match. So it can take on big programs, thanks to both its size and long-term relationships, and outsource bits and pieces to smaller players. And if those smaller players become important enough, it has the resources to step in and buy them. Generally speaking, this is how the military-industrial complex works, with a small number of very large and diversified companies using bolt-on acquisitions to maintain their leadership positions over time.

Lockheed Martin also looks fairly cheap today, with its current price-to-earnings ratio at around 13 times versus a five-year average of 21 times. The same trend holds for the company's price-to-sales ratio, which sits at roughly 1.4 times versus a five-year average of about 1.75 times. The dividend yield is about 3.3%, which is about two and half times what you would get from an S&P 500 Index fund. And the dividend has been increased annually for 19 consecutive years.

In an industry where size is important, Lockheed Martin is the type of company that you buy and hold, even when the business looks like it's facing some strains. And given that the stock appears historically cheap today, it looks like it could be a great time to step aboard.

2. Raytheon Technologies: Military and more

Raytheon Technologies, with a market cap of $137 billion, is actually bigger than Lockheed Martin. It was created via the merger of Raytheon, long a major player in the military space, and United Technologies, which had a much more diverse business. Some of United Technologies' operations were subsequently spun off to help streamline the combined company's operations. Today Raytheon Technologies breaks its business down into segments like Collins Aerospace (27% of segment sales), Pratt & Whitney (about 26%), Raytheon Intelligence & Space (roughly 23%), and Raytheon Missiles & Defense (the remainder).

2 Leading Defense Stocks to Buy in 2021 and Beyond | The Motley Fool (2)

LMT Market Cap data by YCharts

The notable thing here is that only about 45% or so of its top line is from the U.S. government. The rest comes from the business community, including aviation giants like Boeing and Airbus. So it's a big player in the military space, but also a major name in the commercial aviation sphere, as well. That diversification helps to balance out the company's risks, but also means that it doesn't have quite the same reach as Lockheed Martin in the defense space. Still, for investors that might not want to focus so tightly on serving just Uncle Sam, it could be a good alternative, and still benefits from being one of the largest military contractors.

The merger of Raytheon and United Technologies was only completed in 2020, so there are still a number of moving parts here. Thus, the P/E and P/S ratios aren't necessarily good indications of valuation today. The dividend yield, at 2.2%, is also historically low. It would be hard to call Raytheon Technologies cheap. However, given its industry strength in the military and consumer areas, it is probably worth paying up for this diversified giant for long-term investors seeking out some defense exposure. Notably, the consumer side of the business should give the company more of a growth orientation than what you'd get from a purer military name like Lockheed Martin.

Go with the giants

The defense industry is driven by the industry's biggest names, and that includes Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies. Lockheed is the pure play and looks historically cheap right now. Raytheon Technologies has notably broadened its business beyond the military space via a major acquisition, but that should probably give it more growth appeal. If you are looking to add some defense exposure to your portfolio, either one would be a good fit.

Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

2 Leading Defense Stocks to Buy in 2021 and Beyond | The Motley Fool (2024)

FAQs

What stocks to buy during war? ›

The Best Defense Stocks For Today — And The Future
  • Boeing (BA) is known for its commercial jets and it's also a major player in the defense sector. ...
  • Lockheed Martin (LMT) generated nearly $66 billion in 2022 sales.
  • Heico (HEI) makes electronic equipment for the aviation, defense, space and other industries.
Apr 21, 2023

Are defense stocks a good investment? ›

Defense stocks did well in 2022, enjoying a big rally in October and far outpacing the wider stock market: the MSCI Aerospace & Defense index has seen 18.66% growth in a 12-month period. They could be a good addition to investor portfolios with the current climate.

Why defense stocks are rising? ›

Defence Stocks have outperformed the market even during the current market downturn because numerous other nations have increased their defence spending.

What are the top 10 safest stocks to buy? ›

Starter Stock Portfolio: 15 Safe Stocks To Buy
  • Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)
  • The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
  • The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)
  • Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)
  • AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)
  • The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)
  • Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)
Mar 30, 2023

How do you pick defensive stocks? ›

How to find defensive stocks
  1. Stock beta. This is the measure of a stock's volatility compared to the overall market. ...
  2. Past dividends. Companies that have paid a consistent dividend to shareholders over the years may be more reliable or perceived to have strong cash flows.
  3. 52-week price range.

What stocks will go up if war starts? ›

In general, defense stocks (companies that produce weapons and armaments) tend to fare the best during a wartime environment. Energy companies may also see a boost in conflicts that result in higher oil and commodity prices.

What stocks go up during recession? ›

9 Best Recession Stocks Of 2023
  • The Best Recession Stocks of June 2023.
  • Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX)
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. ( TMO)
  • Merck & Company, Inc. ( MRK)
  • PepsiCo, Inc. ( PEP)
  • CMS Energy Corporation (CMS)
  • Ameren Corporation (AEE)
  • Xcel Energy Inc. ( XEL)

Which are the best government stocks to buy? ›

PSU Stocks to Buy in 2023
  • ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Corporation) ONGC is the largest oil exploration and production company in India. ...
  • NMDC Limited. NMDC is India's largest iron ore extraction and production company. ...
  • Coal India. ...
  • State Bank of India. ...
  • GAIL (India) Ltd.

When should I buy defensive stocks? ›

If they think times are going to be harder than usual, they will migrate toward defensive stocks. Defensive stocks tend to perform better than the broader market during recessions. However, during an expansion phase, they tend to perform below the market. That is attributable to their low beta or market-related risk.

What stocks to buy against inflation? ›

7 Stocks That Are Good Inflation Investments
StockImplied upside over May 9 closing price
APA Corp. (APA)80.9%
Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT)31.8%
Halliburton Co. (HAL)49.5%
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD)3.1%
3 more rows

How do defense stocks perform during recession? ›

They're less likely to drop in value when there are events that trigger an economic downturn thanks to their steady nature and low volatility. In a recession, defensive stocks can protect you from further losses.

What is the outlook for the defense industry? ›

Modest uptick in industry revenues.

The aerospace and defense industry reported revenues of $741 billion in 2022 (up just 3% from 2021) and $67 billion in operating profit (up 8%), according to PwC analysis.

Is Raytheon a good stock to buy? ›

Raytheon Technologies Stock Forecast FAQ

Out of 11 analysts, 3 (27.27%) are recommending RTX as a Strong Buy, 3 (27.27%) are recommending RTX as a Buy, 5 (45.45%) are recommending RTX as a Hold, 0 (0%) are recommending RTX as a Sell, and 0 (0%) are recommending RTX as a Strong Sell.

Who owns Lockheed Martin? ›

Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT)

Institutional investors hold a majority ownership of LMT through the 75.55% of the outstanding shares that they control. This interest is also higher than at almost any other company in the Aerospace & Defense industry.

What is the #1 safest investment? ›

What are the safest types of investments? U.S. Treasury securities, money market mutual funds and high-yield savings accounts are considered by most experts to be the safest types of investments available.

What is the safest stock investment right now? ›

Safety in Numbers - The Safest Stocks to Buy
  • Infosys.
  • Hindustan Unilever.
  • HDFC Bank.
  • Reliance Industries.
  • Tata Motors.
  • Tata Consultancy Services.

What is the most trustworthy stock? ›

Best safe stocks to buy
  1. Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK. ...
  2. The Walt Disney Company. ...
  3. Vanguard High-Dividend Yield ETF. ...
  4. Procter & Gamble. ...
  5. Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund. ...
  6. Starbucks. ...
  7. Apple.

What are typical defensive stocks? ›

Defensive stocks are those that tend to provide stable earnings and consistent returns, even during an economic downturn. Shares of well-established companies in the consumer staples, utilities, and healthcare sectors are common examples of defensive stocks.

Which stocks are defensive stocks? ›

Defensive stock refers to the shares of a company that show very little volatility irrespective of the movement of the market. In other words, they remain stable regardless of the economic state. These stocks do not get affected by economic cycles; therefore, they are also referred to as non-cyclical stocks.

What are the most defensive stock sectors? ›

There are three main defensive sectors: Utilities, Consumer Staples, and Health Care. Utilities: Water, gas, and electric utilities are needed in all phases of the business cycle.

Which stocks will go up when Ukraine war ends? ›

3 Must-Buy Stocks if the Ukraine War Ends
TickerCompanyPrice
EXPEExpedia$111.30
CLFCleveland Cliffs$20.97
FFord$12.40
Jan 23, 2023

What goes up in value during war? ›

Defense stocks, energy stocks, commodities, cash, and ETFs are stocks and investments that typically do well during times of war and conflict. However, it is often best to build a well-diversified portfolio than try to pick the individual winning stocks during a conflict.

What sectors go up during war? ›

We expected the top 10 to be dominated by industries that were deeply involved in the war effort — heavy machinery and defense companies, for example. But the best-performing sector was actually printing and publishing, followed by alcoholic drinks and personal services.

What stocks get hit hardest in recession? ›

A recession is “a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months.” Industries affected most include retail, restaurants, travel/tourism, leisure/hospitality, service purveyors, real estate, & manufacturing/warehouse.

Which stocks to avoid during recession? ›

What investments should you avoid during a recession?
  • High-yield bonds. Your first instinct might be to let go of all your stocks and move into bonds, but high-yield bonds can be particularly risky during a recession. ...
  • Stocks of highly-leveraged companies. ...
  • Consumer discretionary companies. ...
  • Other speculative assets.
May 10, 2023

What stock makes you the most money? ›

25 Top-Paying Dividend Stocks That Will Make You Rich
  • Emerson Electric Company. Annual dividend: $2.00. ...
  • Aflac Inc. Annual dividend: $1.12. ...
  • Archer Daniels Midland. Annual dividend: $1.44. ...
  • Pepsico Inc. Annual dividend: $4.09. ...
  • Cincinnati Financial. ...
  • General Dynamics Corp. ...
  • Genuine Parts Company. ...
  • Raytheon Technologies Corp.
Oct 12, 2021

What is the best stock to make money fast? ›

In addition to Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN), other Fast Money stocks that are widely held by elite hedge funds include Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH), and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT).

What is the best stock to make money? ›

Best stocks by one-year performance
SymbolCompany Name1-Year Return
FSLRFirst Solar Inc.195.62%
NVDANVIDIA Corporation112.99%
NFLXNetflix Inc.104.18%
FICOFair Isaac Corp.93.69%
5 more rows

What day of week is best to buy stock? ›

If Monday may be the best day of the week to buy stocks, then Friday may be the best day to sell stock—before prices dip on Monday.

What time of day is best to buy stocks? ›

The stock market has three trading sessions running from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. The market is most stable at noon, making this the best time for beginner investors to buy shares. If you are investing for the long-term, there is no point trying to time the market.

What is the best time to buy this stock? ›

The Stock Market Open

The opening bell rings at 9:15 a.m. IST, which begins cash trading in the Indian stock market. Stock prices typically see dramatic moves right after the open. The reasons may vary, but two of the most common causes of price volatility at this time include: Overnight news.

What stocks suffer most from inflation? ›

In addition to Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO), companies like Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP), and The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) are also among the stocks affected the most by inflation.

How to beat inflation 2023? ›

Best Inflation-Proof Investments for 2023
  1. I Bonds.
  2. REITs.
  3. Commodities.
  4. Look for stocks with pricing power.
  5. Savings, CDs, and money market accounts.
  6. Focus on things people need.
  7. Stocks with great balance sheets.
  8. Buy an investment property.
Apr 17, 2023

Who makes money during a recession? ›

What are some examples of businesses that thrive in recession? Due to the elasticity of demand, recession-proof industries are usually in essential services, like health care, senior services, grocery stores, and maintenance, such as plumbing and electrical.

What is the best investment during a recession? ›

Bonds and cash have historically outperformed most stocks during recessions. Selling stocks in favor of bonds and cash before a recession may leave you unprepared if stocks bounce back before the economy does, which has happened historically during many recessions.

Should I keep my money in the stock market during a recession? ›

Healthy large cap stocks also tend to hold up relatively well during downturns. Investing in broad funds can help reduce recession risk through diversification. Bonds and dividend stocks can provide income to cushion investors against downturns.

How much will the US spend on Defence in 2023? ›

As of 12 December 2022 the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization bill (FY2023 NDAA) were to be $839 billion, and $847 billion, for the HASC, and SASC respectively, for a compromise $857.9 billion top line.

What is the biggest defense company in the US? ›

The United States of America-based Lockheed Martin Corp is the leading aerospace and defense company in the US (by revenue).

How much will defense spend in 2023? ›

The fiscal year 2023 Department of Defense Appropriations Act provides $797.7 billion in discretionary spending, an increase of $69.3 billion above fiscal year 2022.

Is Lockheed Martin stock a buy? ›

The average price target represents 8.93% Increase from the current price of $454.49. Lockheed Martin Corp's analyst rating consensus is a Hold.

What is the stock price forecast for Raytheon in 2025? ›

The sales growth target implies sales of $86.4 billion to $90 billion by 2025. While that's possible, Raytheon will need to improve its growth rate annually. For example, Wall Street analysts have sales improving by 8% to $72.5 billion in 2023, then 8.3% to $78.6 billion in 2024.

Is Raytheon a buy sell or hold? ›

Raytheon Technologies has received a consensus rating of Buy. The company's average rating score is 2.55, and is based on 6 buy ratings, 5 hold ratings, and no sell ratings.

Which stocks to buy against inflation? ›

7 Stocks That Are Good Inflation Investments
StockImplied upside over May 9 closing price
APA Corp. (APA)80.9%
Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT)31.8%
Halliburton Co. (HAL)49.5%
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD)3.1%
3 more rows
May 10, 2023

What stocks to buy during crisis? ›

These are the recession resistant stocks to add to your investment portfolio:
  • Diageo plc (NYSE: DEO)
  • NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE: NEE)
  • The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG)
  • Lowe's Cos. Inc. ...
  • Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO)
  • Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG)
  • Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD)
  • Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG)

What are the top 3 most active stocks today? ›

Most Active - United States Stocks
NameLastChg. %
AAPLApple180.95+0.48%
MSFTMicrosoft335.40+0.85%
AMZNAmazon.com124.25+1.21%
AMDAMD117.82-1.38%
30 more rows

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