Sectors & Industries IndustrialsAerospace & Defense
Best Defense Stocks to Buy Now (2024)
Top defense stocks in 2024 ranked by overall Zen Score. See the best defense stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the aerospace & defense industry.

Industry: Aerospace & Defense

Overview Zen Score Price Valuation Financials Forecast Earnings & Revenue Dividends Ownership Technicals

Ticker	Company	Price	Volume	Vol 1d %	SMA 10	SMA 20	SMA 50	SMA 100	SMA 200	RSI	Stochastic %K	Stochastic %D	StochRSI %K	StochRSI %D	MACD	MACD Signal	MACD Histogram	Beta
VTSI	VIRTRA INC	$9.16	203,051	-25.32%	9.77	12.68	12.66	11.71	9.18	31.61	3.13	6.35	6.31	9.79	-1.21	-0.78	-0.43	0.41
LMT	LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP	$470.34	1,639,961	66.25%	464.82	465.48	459.36	447.21	443.83	58.01	46.40	35.94	37.23	19.27	1.17	2.12	-0.96	0.61
GD	GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP	$299.77	1,297,678	86.74%	297.71	295.66	290.37	278.69	258.16	59.96	45.57	44.90	25.61	16.41	2.48	2.73	-0.24	0.77
HII	HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES INC	$253.10	341,934	86.48%	253.39	251.92	268.50	271.94	249.89	42.75	31.59	38.26	64.27	64.84	-4.25	-5.09	0.84	0.71
OPXS	OPTEX SYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC	$7.87	4,647	-76.09%	12.66	12.15	11.47	11.49	12.35	54.69	60.01	72.69	33.10	53.51	0.44	0.39	0.05	-0.01
ISSC	INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC	$6.27	56,544	44.11%	5.83	5.92	6.49	7.31	7.51	52.12	79.03	78.26	93.51	95.76	-0.10	-0.24	0.14	0.66
AXON	AXON ENTERPRISE INC	$281.67	724,981	113.10%	285.51	295.97	303.99	290.17	254.88	35.52	15.18	16.77	39.51	39.34	-6.59	-5.38	-1.21	1.16
NOC	NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP	$450.77	2,857,083	150.66%	461.86	467.06	467.09	462.51	459.80	35.73	7.28	4.56	7.45	2.56	-4.64	-1.50	-3.14	0.57
LHX	L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC	$224.83	1,363,287	50.48%	222.22	220.30	213.07	211.54	198.08	62.19	42.71	34.45	28.42	16.65	2.45	2.95	-0.50	0.69
CVU	CPI AEROSTRUCTURES INC	$2.34	24,913	3.90%	2.38	2.53	2.55	2.58	2.79	37.59	7.65	7.02	5.00	3.24	-0.08	-0.05	-0.03	0.97
CW	CURTISS WRIGHT CORP	$282.82	235,995	37.25%	280.17	277.49	262.98	247.33	227.44	65.81	52.18	45.40	19.72	8.67	5.54	6.21	-0.67	1.07
NPK	NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES INC	$74.48	47,194	46.49%	76.09	79.72	80.84	79.78	77.86	30.61	6.07	4.77	11.91	5.79	-2.09	-1.35	-0.74	0.61
ESLT	ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD	$192.85	29,622	-38.86%	196.17	198.19	200.92	204.59	203.11	38.85	18.88	19.38	3.51	8.23	-2.22	-1.60	-0.62	0.60
WWD	WOODWARD INC	$186.50	576,405	73.20%	183.16	179.79	163.45	151.85	140.78	77.30	78.19	77.18	24.94	32.53	6.66	6.96	-0.30	1.23
HXL	HEXCEL CORP	$68.87	847,653	68.22%	70.02	70.86	68.60	70.26	69.35	47.43	12.25	15.59	11.28	11.64	0.24	0.65	-0.42	1.22
TXT	TEXTRON INC	$87.61	1,248,320	20.37%	87.98	87.76	90.88	88.55	82.94	46.50	21.17	22.93	25.46	27.88	-0.72	-0.76	0.04	1.29
PL	PLANET LABS PBC	$1.86	1,249,540	49.41%	1.90	1.94	1.99	2.11	2.33	45.21	21.11	16.53	23.69	15.55	-0.02	-0.02	-0.01	1.46
MOG.A	MOOG INC	$169.43	104,078	10.36%	172.11	170.91	163.11	154.88	139.87	52.18	16.17	21.04	7.14	5.15	2.30	3.22	-0.92	1.13
TGI	TRIUMPH GROUP INC	$14.11	532,716	-24.34%	14.29	14.34	14.04	14.45	12.19	49.43	52.33	51.66	36.28	35.24	0.03	0.11	-0.08	1.97
BYRN	BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC	$11.69	107,831	-17.03%	11.69	12.46	13.14	11.35	7.89	42.08	39.57	42.76	74.75	77.54	-0.35	-0.35	-0.00	0.32
LUNR	INTUITIVE MACHINES INC	$5.01	1,195,475	-21.48%	5.08	5.38	5.51	5.15	4.31	42.67	13.23	15.45	10.29	13.13	-0.13	-0.10	-0.04	-0.35
RTX	RTX CORP	$107.81	10,377,150	147.58%	105.62	104.99	101.90	95.97	87.85	67.36	56.08	48.92	29.53	15.82	1.36	1.43	-0.07	1.00
TATT	TAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD	$15.11	15,049	225.17%	14.32	13.44	12.42	12.32	10.56	72.17	84.33	85.86	88.31	93.95	0.83	0.63	0.20	0.40
PKE	PARK AEROSPACE CORP	$13.94	68,836	93.66%	14.20	14.35	15.02	14.89	14.83	39.02	32.57	39.95	42.21	52.71	-0.23	-0.23	-0.01	0.70
CDRE	CADRE HOLDINGS INC	$32.84	302,240	143.36%	32.22	31.91	33.37	34.23	31.54	52.69	71.50	74.94	80.33	86.19	-0.15	-0.46	0.31	0.79
RGR	STURM RUGER & CO INC	$44.44	187,717	49.12%	43.22	43.69	45.24	44.61	46.77	53.17	66.60	48.77	87.61	76.68	-0.53	-0.67	0.14	0.42
DRS	LEONARDO DRS INC	$23.55	431,696	65.42%	23.74	23.05	21.99	21.38	19.80	58.90	42.93	52.10	9.18	19.04	0.52	0.56	-0.03	0.64
RKLB	ROCKET LAB USA INC	$4.37	6,335,029	26.25%	4.32	4.25	3.99	4.30	4.58	56.75	43.04	48.84	16.96	15.22	0.10	0.10	-0.00	1.63
ERJ	EMBRAER SA	$27.79	1,296,142	71.36%	29.35	28.42	26.64	22.97	19.35	49.89	39.54	47.26	0.00	4.44	0.74	1.04	-0.30	1.50
SPCE	VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS INC	$0.87	43,642,012	-15.73%	0.94	0.99	1.06	1.44	1.76	42.53	8.63	15.54	20.23	27.58	-0.04	-0.04	-0.00	1.68
BWXT	BWX TECHNOLOGIES INC	$92.13	1,110,319	141.74%	88.81	89.76	94.31	91.82	83.79	53.94	52.78	34.38	83.26	74.15	-1.30	-1.73	0.43	0.66
ASTC	ASTROTECH CORP	$9.40	1,158	-69.59%	9.45	9.38	9.29	8.56	8.82	50.95	46.88	54.98	45.03	53.38	0.06	0.06	-0.00	0.57
HEI	HEICO CORP	$221.77	1,084,844	240.99%	215.76	213.71	203.14	194.57	181.33	69.14	47.79	43.25	45.76	27.50	3.75	3.97	-0.22	1.02
SWBI	SMITH & WESSON BRANDS INC	$16.77	345,712	68.68%	16.15	16.31	16.83	15.49	14.35	59.69	56.25	37.08	77.71	57.15	-0.12	-0.17	0.05	0.50
KTOS	KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC	$21.74	850,942	6.75%	21.51	20.57	19.02	18.61	17.98	67.76	64.69	68.87	46.20	53.88	0.85	0.80	0.04	1.20
HWM	HOWMET AEROSPACE INC	$84.65	3,238,986	120.69%	84.06	82.51	72.68	67.00	58.02	70.18	78.39	82.04	4.12	12.19	3.62	3.96	-0.33	1.31
POWW	AMMO INC	$2.70	911,555	19.36%	2.47	2.47	2.56	2.43	2.32	64.83	81.44	74.11	90.02	84.69	0.00	-0.02	0.02	0.53
CODA	CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC	$6.50	13,396	394.50%	6.59	6.69	6.42	6.12	6.30	47.71	6.61	8.95	9.21	8.12	0.01	0.06	-0.05	0.57
VSEC	VSE CORP	$81.86	154,631	46.06%	78.65	79.33	78.72	73.18	65.48	59.26	70.23	51.59	91.41	68.10	0.32	0.06	0.25	1.15
AVAV	AEROVIRONMENT INC	$202.15	271,626	10.76%	198.01	191.54	167.66	150.21	133.41	80.54	86.41	89.56	26.31	25.03	9.96	10.36	-0.40	0.98
TDG	TRANSDIGM GROUP INC	$1,343.23	285,889	99.30%	1,324.41	1,311.31	1,261.96	1,194.82	1,051.37	63.33	63.45	62.51	29.10	27.33	21.41	21.86	-0.45	1.22
AOUT	AMERICAN OUTDOOR BRANDS INC	$8.16	21,808	64.91%	8.05	8.11	8.31	8.48	8.69	50.77	40.55	37.46	40.55	32.08	-0.06	-0.08	0.01	0.83
ATRO	ASTRONICS CORP	$20.56	82,408	-7.57%	20.91	19.98	18.38	18.14	17.11	58.85	65.28	71.45	1.63	12.17	0.83	0.86	-0.04	1.48
DPRO	DRAGANFLY INC	$0.28	239,526	-27.54%	158.72	156.14	157.33	146.28	135.44	58.30	88.18	86.47	92.60	91.22	1.35	0.69	0.66	0.75
ACHR	ARCHER AVIATION INC	$3.27	7,483,447	-18.80%	3.35	3.60	3.97	4.48	5.16	36.74	14.45	8.87	28.77	14.27	-0.23	-0.20	-0.03	1.74
RDW	REDWIRE CORP	$5.14	283,500	-0.83%	5.00	4.77	4.31	3.68	3.28	68.00	80.40	85.88	45.46	54.02	0.29	0.28	0.01	1.43
BA	BOEING CO	$177.61	5,678,973	45.15%	178.64	179.03	178.11	190.81	203.04	49.80	23.26	21.34	16.58	12.41	-0.66	0.00	-0.66	1.44
MRCY	MERCURY SYSTEMS INC	$30.95	560,398	47.02%	31.43	30.29	29.18	29.58	33.06	55.32	58.87	62.74	31.91	40.30	0.63	0.64	-0.01	1.04
EH	EHANG HOLDINGS LTD	$16.97	1,287,203	63.88%	16.66	17.35	17.89	14.96	15.84	48.52	29.16	22.96	38.55	26.00	-0.33	-0.21	-0.12	1.17
SATL	SATELLOGIC INC	$1.12	5,428	-66.68%	1.26	1.33	1.39	1.47	1.40	36.94	15.37	14.53	12.17	12.22	-0.07	-0.04	-0.03	0.64
AULT	AULT ALLIANCE INC	$0.34	2,991,874	121.50%	0.37	0.36	0.34	0.47	5.10	47.01	7.35	10.01	3.70	4.34	0.00	0.01	-0.00	1.28
AIR	AAR CORP	$70.99	309,583	131.82%	70.86	71.24	66.41	64.51	63.62	56.96	19.45	19.99	13.28	10.79	0.90	1.36	-0.47	1.36
DCO	DUCOMMUN INC	$58.18	48,394	-13.02%	57.95	57.31	54.41	52.03	49.76	63.02	61.07	56.59	13.73	13.24	1.04	1.18	-0.14	1.13
SIDU	SIDUS SPACE INC	$2.87	84,554	-61.73%	3.05	3.17	3.36	4.68	7.60	36.72	13.92	13.05	3.86	4.68	-0.15	-0.13	-0.02	1.50
VVX	V2X INC	$48.11	117,348	100.07%	46.26	47.55	47.17	43.65	45.70	54.91	42.92	29.83	63.22	48.30	-0.40	-0.29	-0.11	0.85
LLAP	TERRAN ORBITAL CORP	$0.92	2,284,348	-3.31%	0.97	0.99	1.20	1.09	1.02	36.91	28.41	34.55	82.44	88.23	-0.07	-0.08	0.00	0.90
SKYH	SKY HARBOUR GROUP CORP	$10.27	50,854	-44.82%	11.59	11.61	11.09	11.65	9.30	41.72	21.53	45.13	9.75	24.21	0.14	0.28	-0.15	-0.07
MNTS	MOMENTUS INC	$0.84	7,771,582	-94.14%	0.59	0.57	0.49	0.63	2.27	77.97	54.01	45.20	72.32	52.40	0.05	0.02	0.03	0.87
EVEX	EVE HOLDING INC	$4.93	289,207	456.72%	5.38	5.39	5.32	5.70	6.66	40.79	6.30	16.76	7.80	13.55	-0.08	0.01	-0.09	0.32
AZ	A2Z SMART TECHNOLOGIES CORP	$0.44	405,269	264.10%	0.40	0.40	0.44	0.78	1.17	51.44	56.57	61.18	82.68	85.93	-0.02	-0.03	0.01	1.11
SIF	SIFCO INDUSTRIES INC	$3.12	1,979	-45.23%	3.26	3.24	3.18	3.16	3.47	42.22	42.83	56.82	0.30	14.99	0.01	0.03	-0.02	0.30
AIRI	AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP	$3.48	37,364	27.92%	4.21	5.54	5.37	4.75	3.89	32.36	0.84	1.57	0.00	1.07	-0.59	-0.30	-0.29	0.66
KWE	KWESST MICRO SYSTEMS INC	$0.40	111,558	1.85%	0.36	0.53	0.74	1.01	1.19	34.83	15.71	14.58	45.88	38.82	-0.12	-0.12	0.00	1.00
SPR	SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC	$30.32	1,139,896	7.23%	30.68	31.01	32.64	31.17	27.08	41.49	20.28	21.65	56.11	59.67	-0.56	-0.56	0.01	1.53
CAE	CAE INC	$18.78	765,408	-18.19%	19.10	19.98	19.75	19.84	20.99	36.61	31.24	30.17	6.81	2.66	-0.35	-0.13	-0.22	1.29
ASTR	ASTRA SPACE INC	$0.64	88,506	-29.82%	0.64	0.63	0.64	1.09	1.47	49.01	38.27	30.17	52.63	36.31	-0.01	-0.01	0.00	1.65
LILM	LILIUM NV	$0.89	4,563,392	52.26%	1.03	1.08	0.99	0.95	0.95	38.57	10.95	12.91	4.39	5.60	-0.02	0.02	-0.04	1.60
EVTL	VERTICAL AEROSPACE LTD	$0.70	205,920	-47.42%	0.71	0.72	0.84	0.76	0.88	42.77	40.54	35.28	58.80	37.09	-0.03	-0.03	0.00	0.65
SHMD	SCHMID GROUP NV	$4.70	58,855	181.89%	4.12	6.83	9.49	10.31	10.63	27.58	18.09	17.23	35.26	30.72	-1.75	-1.69	-0.06	-0.17
LOAR	LOAR HOLDINGS INC	$56.97	253,986	121.31%	54.96	51.73	N/A	N/A	N/A	60.28	70.47	62.79	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.52
HOVR	NEW HORIZON AIRCRAFT LTD	$0.80	142,193	142.84%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.10
KITT	NAUTICUS ROBOTICS INC	$0.14	7,166,424	-19.27%	5.22	5.28	5.48	5.74	6.38	44.44	16.62	21.14	21.95	29.24	-0.07	-0.07	-0.00	-0.08

Defense Stocks FAQ

What are the best defense stocks to buy right now in Jun 2024?

According to Zen Score, the 3 best defense stocks to buy right now are:

1. Virtra (NASDAQ:VTSI)

Virtra (NASDAQ:VTSI) is the top defense stock with a Zen Score of 60, which is 32 points higher than the defense industry average of 28. It passed 19 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Virtra has seen its stock return 17.29% over the past year, underperforming other defense stocks by -8 percentage points.

Virtra has an average 1 year price target of $17.50, an upside of 91.05% from Virtra's current stock price of $9.16.

Virtra stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 2 analysts covering Virtra, 100% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

2. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is the second best defense stock with a Zen Score of 52, which is 24 points higher than the defense industry average of 28. It passed 19 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Lockheed Martin has seen its stock return 5.93% over the past year, underperforming other defense stocks by -20 percentage points.

Lockheed Martin has an average 1 year price target of $502.75, an upside of 6.89% from Lockheed Martin's current stock price of $470.34.

Lockheed Martin stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 8 analysts covering Lockheed Martin, 37.5% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 62.5% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD)

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) is the third best defense stock with a Zen Score of 49, which is 21 points higher than the defense industry average of 28. It passed 17 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. General Dynamics has seen its stock return 46.82% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 21 percentage points.

General Dynamics has an average 1 year price target of $312.92, an upside of 4.39% from General Dynamics's current stock price of $299.77.

General Dynamics stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 12 analysts covering General Dynamics, 58.33% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 16.67% have issued a Buy, 25% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

What are the defense stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 20 defense stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 defense stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. National Presto Industries (NYSE:NPK)

National Presto Industries (NYSE:NPK) has an annual dividend yield of 6.04%, which is 5 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.49%. National Presto Industries's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% two times in the last 10 years. National Presto Industries's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

National Presto Industries's dividend payout ratio of 99.3% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE)

Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE) has an annual dividend yield of 3.59%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.49%. Park Aerospace's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% three times in the last 10 years. Park Aerospace's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Park Aerospace's dividend payout ratio of 319.1% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI)

Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI) has an annual dividend yield of 2.86%, which is 1 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.49%.

Smith & Wesson Brands's dividend payout ratio of 80.7% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Why are defense stocks up?

Defense stocks were up 1.34% in the last day, and down -0.33% over the last week.

We couldn't find a catalyst for why defense stocks are up.

What are the most undervalued defense stocks?

Based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score, the 3 most undervalued defense stocks right now are:

1. Innovative Solutions & Support (NASDAQ:ISSC)

Innovative Solutions & Support (NASDAQ:ISSC) is the most undervalued defense stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Innovative Solutions & Support has a valuation score of 71, which is 54 points higher than the defense industry average of 17. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Innovative Solutions & Support's stock has dropped -4.42% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -30 percentage points.

2. Virtra (NASDAQ:VTSI)

Virtra (NASDAQ:VTSI) is the second most undervalued defense stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Virtra has a valuation score of 71, which is 54 points higher than the defense industry average of 17. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Virtra's stock has gained 17.29% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -8 percentage points.

3. Cpi Aerostructures (NYSEMKT:CVU)

Cpi Aerostructures (NYSEMKT:CVU) is the third most undervalued defense stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Cpi Aerostructures has a valuation score of 71, which is 54 points higher than the defense industry average of 17. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Cpi Aerostructures's stock has dropped -34.64% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -60 percentage points.

Are defense stocks a good buy now?

60% of defense stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect defense stocks to rise by 8.13% over the next year.

What is the average p/e ratio of the aerospace & defense industry?

The average P/E ratio of the aerospace & defense industry is 22.46x.

WallStreetZen does not provide financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security.

Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes and is not advice. WallStreetZen does not bear any responsibility for any losses or damage that may occur as a result of reliance on this data.