Sectors & Industries IndustrialsAerospace & Defense
Best Defense Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top defense stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best defense stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Industry: Aerospace & Defense

Overview Zen Rating Price Value Growth Financials

Momentum Sentiment Forecast Dividends Due Diligence

Defense is Zen Rated C and is the 76th ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries

Ticker	Company	Market Cap	ROE	ROA	ROCE	ROIC	D/E	Current Ratio	Gross Margin	Profit Margin	Operating Margin
SIF	SIFCO INDUSTRIES INC	$90.12M	9.40%	4.40%	10.45%	8.10%	0.94	1.72	16.90%	3.80%	6.29%
VVX	V2X INC	$2.15B	7.30%	2.50%	7.98%	14.80%	2.03	1.22	8.30%	1.70%	4.04%
ATRO	ASTRONICS CORP	$2.36B	14.90%	4.40%	7.87%	6.50%	4.05	3.10	29.90%	3.40%	5.16%
MOG.A	MOOG INC	$9.41B	13.30%	5.90%	11.93%	11.90%	1.20	2.33	27.40%	6.40%	10.31%
SWBI	SMITH & WESSON BRANDS INC	$641.60M	3.30%	2.20%	4.80%	4.10%	0.48	4.50	26.40%	2.50%	4.74%
WWD	WOODWARD INC	$21.56B	19.60%	10.50%	16.93%	22.00%	0.83	2.05	27.90%	12.90%	16.68%
PKE	PARK AEROSPACE CORP	$543.58M	8.20%	7.30%	11.69%	18.30%	0.11	15.84	31.30%	13.10%	19.96%
NOC	NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP	$96.51B	26.50%	8.40%	15.29%	17.50%	2.08	1.10	19.80%	10.00%	13.66%
HII	HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES INC	$15.56B	12.30%	4.90%	9.09%	10.10%	1.51	1.13	12.70%	4.80%	7.07%
LMT	LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP	$141.79B	80.50%	8.50%	19.29%	17.20%	7.90	1.09	10.20%	6.70%	9.38%
TXT	TEXTRON INC	$15.51B	12.20%	5.30%	9.15%	9.80%	1.30	1.82	18.20%	6.20%	8.52%
CODA	CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC	$135.88M	7.20%	6.60%	9.46%	23.50%	0.09	10.90	66.30%	14.80%	20.54%
HWM	HOWMET AEROSPACE INC	$94.64B	29.70%	13.70%	21.16%	26.60%	1.09	2.13	34.20%	18.30%	24.13%
SARO	STANDARDAERO INC	$8.70B	10.90%	4.20%	10.51%	11.80%	1.46	2.20	14.80%	4.60%	9.09%
RTX	RTX CORP	$261.50B	10.60%	4.00%	9.03%	16.00%	1.59	1.03	20.10%	7.60%	11.45%
CW	CURTISS WRIGHT CORP	$25.39B	18.70%	9.50%	17.38%	25.60%	1.06	1.44	37.20%	13.80%	18.96%
HXL	HEXCEL CORP	$6.01B	7.40%	3.90%	7.25%	5.80%	1.16	2.26	23.00%	5.80%	9.12%
ESLT	ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD	$41.88B	13.90%	4.40%	N/A	10.50%	2.07	N/A	24.40%	6.70%	9.18%
AIR	AAR CORP	$4.10B	7.20%	3.20%	7.81%	7.90%	1.08	2.85	19.30%	3.20%	6.97%
CVU	CPI AEROSTRUCTURES INC	$54.46M	-2.30%	-0.80%	1.37%	1.00%	1.96	1.61	15.30%	-0.80%	0.92%
GE	GE AEROSPACE	$305.77B	45.90%	6.90%	12.01%	12.90%	5.96	1.04	36.80%	19.00%	23.88%
DCO	DUCOMMUN INC	$1.84B	-5.00%	-2.90%	-3.09%	-3.80%	0.79	3.50	26.90%	-4.10%	-3.78%
ISSC	INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC	$532.64M	31.10%	19.20%	29.58%	35.30%	0.60	2.96	50.80%	21.00%	29.61%
DRS	LEONARDO DRS INC	$11.80B	10.50%	6.60%	10.57%	19.70%	0.64	1.89	23.80%	7.60%	9.43%
RGR	STURM RUGER & CO INC	$632.83M	-1.50%	-1.20%	-2.46%	-2.50%	0.21	3.87	14.90%	-0.80%	-1.29%
BWXT	BWX TECHNOLOGIES INC	$18.73B	27.70%	8.90%	12.26%	11.80%	2.47	2.32	22.90%	10.30%	13.80%
MRCY	MERCURY SYSTEMS INC	$4.70B	-2.10%	-1.20%	-0.24%	-0.40%	0.71	2.96	28.20%	-3.20%	-0.55%
LHX	L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC	$64.53B	8.30%	3.90%	7.45%	14.30%	1.10	1.19	25.70%	7.30%	11.57%
HEI	HEICO CORP	$39.01B	16.80%	8.30%	12.15%	21.30%	0.89	3.06	39.60%	15.40%	21.59%
TDG	TRANSDIGM GROUP INC	$65.11B	-24.40%	7.90%	20.04%	13.60%	-3.56	2.75	59.60%	19.80%	46.68%
GD	GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP	$93.83B	17.60%	7.40%	13.39%	23.20%	1.23	1.44	15.10%	8.00%	10.31%
EMBJ	EMBRAER SA	$10.78B	12.00%	3.10%	13.10%	16.10%	2.76	1.48	18.00%	5.50%	15.18%
CAE	CAE INC	$8.78B	7.50%	3.40%	8.24%	9.00%	1.12	0.91	28.40%	7.70%	14.69%
POWW	OUTDOOR HOLDING CO	$239.27M	-36.40%	-30.10%	-32.98%	-577.20%	0.15	4.00	-1,027.40%	1,694.00%	1,681.59%
BA	BOEING CO	$155.82B	-80.30%	1.20%	8.99%	6.30%	29.85	1.19	4.80%	2.10%	6.04%
TATT	TAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD	$597.22M	10.70%	8.10%	10.36%	13.10%	0.29	4.89	24.80%	9.40%	11.22%
BYRN	BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC	$210.62M	15.80%	12.40%	17.42%	22.70%	0.29	3.73	60.50%	8.20%	9.94%
KTOS	KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC	$14.25B	1.20%	0.90%	1.30%	2.60%	0.24	4.06	22.90%	1.60%	2.09%
MDA	MDA SPACE LTD	N/A	N/A	N/A	8.31%	N/A	1.48	0.47	25.10%	6.60%	10.37%
CDRE	CADRE HOLDINGS INC	$1.35B	13.50%	5.90%	11.24%	14.10%	1.42	3.50	42.50%	7.20%	12.26%
AXON	AXON ENTERPRISE INC	$40.78B	4.30%	1.90%	2.05%	2.30%	1.16	2.53	59.70%	4.50%	4.07%
OPXS	OPTEX SYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC	$89.91M	19.40%	15.50%	21.50%	26.40%	0.22	5.87	28.40%	10.70%	13.15%
KRMN	KARMAN HOLDINGS INC	$13.55B	3.60%	1.30%	7.63%	9.30%	1.62	2.86	40.00%	2.60%	15.63%
AOUT	AMERICAN OUTDOOR BRANDS INC	$107.06M	-5.80%	-4.10%	-4.84%	-4.90%	0.36	5.65	43.10%	-4.80%	-4.64%
NPK	NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES INC	$958.30M	8.70%	6.90%	10.38%	10.70%	0.27	4.25	16.00%	6.60%	8.36%
RKLB	ROCKET LAB CORP	$36.32B	-19.20%	-10.80%	-10.02%	-20.00%	0.35	4.08	34.40%	-32.90%	-33.14%
LOAR	LOAR HOLDINGS INC	$5.51B	6.30%	4.40%	5.40%	16.50%	0.73	4.70	52.70%	14.50%	21.41%
VSEC	VSE CORP	$4.93B	1.10%	0.70%	2.67%	4.00%	0.41	3.76	14.20%	1.10%	4.30%
SATL	SATELLOGIC INC	$709.57M	N/A	-5.40%	-3.19%	-4.00%	1.50	5.12	72.50%	-27.00%	-23.21%
PL	PLANET LABS PBC	$11.71B	-69.60%	-27.40%	-35.31%	-53.00%	5.08	1.65	56.10%	-80.20%	-77.59%
EH	EHANG HOLDINGS LTD	$763.86M	-22.50%	-12.50%	-16.94%	-17.20%	0.84	2.12	62.00%	-45.20%	-43.97%
AIRI	AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP	$15.76M	-12.50%	-3.90%	-0.87%	-0.40%	2.08	1.22	17.60%	-4.00%	-0.35%
SPCE	VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS INC	$152.94M	-108.00%	-32.40%	-40.34%	-28.30%	2.78	2.87	-4,403.30%	-17,615.70%	-16,842.69%
VTSI	VIRTRA INC	$52.21M	-1.30%	-0.90%	-0.68%	-0.90%	0.41	4.40	68.00%	-2.40%	-1.59%
YSS	YORK SPACE SYSTEMS INC	$2.96B	-10.30%	-6.10%	-5.34%	-35.20%	0.54	1.61	19.50%	-22.00%	-17.77%
BETA	BETA TECHNOLOGIES INC	$3.54B	-85.50%	-69.50%	-36.07%	-146.10%	0.16	22.77	72.20%	-2,704.50%	-2,055.65%
AIRO	AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS INC	$305.21M	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.05	3.32	N/A	N/A	N/A
AVAV	AEROVIRONMENT INC	$10.30B	-6.40%	-5.00%	-4.88%	-14.40%	0.28	5.51	24.70%	-13.90%	-15.59%
SIDU	SIDUS SPACE INC	$88.47M	-116.40%	-67.30%	-95.74%	-123.70%	0.66	1.38	-129.80%	-655.40%	-647.02%
VWAV	VISIONWAVE HOLDINGS INC	$115.98M	N/A	-231.20%	-417.53%	260.90%	5.00	0.26	N/A	N/A	N/A
MNTS	MOMENTUS INC	$5.71M	N/A	-281.80%	-1,529.91%	3,438.90%	-29.24	0.41	99.80%	-3,445.30%	-3,375.58%
KITT	NAUTICUS ROBOTICS INC	$8.14M	N/A	-272.60%	2,755.94%	-305.80%	-11.38	0.21	-137.30%	-2,265.00%	-2,161.43%
FLY	FIREFLY AEROSPACE INC	$3.84B	-349.70%	-33.50%	-19.48%	-108.40%	0.53	4.51	19.20%	-208.90%	-196.37%
AZ	A2Z CUST2MATE SOLUTIONS CORP	$271.66M	-83.40%	-66.90%	-42.78%	-278.30%	0.15	8.58	33.80%	-483.60%	-476.43%
RDW	REDWIRE CORP	$1.80B	-38.50%	-23.10%	-16.38%	-87.70%	0.29	1.63	5.20%	-81.20%	-63.17%
SPAI	SAFE PRO GROUP INC	$94.80M	-280.20%	-224.50%	-142.82%	-3,149.80%	0.15	7.60	46.60%	-968.90%	-968.14%
DPRO	DRAGANFLY INC	$144.68M	-72.70%	-59.00%	-25.79%	-6,597.50%	0.09	11.81	19.50%	-243.30%	-245.15%
PRZO	PARAZERO TECHNOLOGIES LTD	$14.85M	-296.60%	-168.10%	-222.25%	-541.90%	0.79	4.68	-8.80%	-1,124.00%	-1,124.05%
EVTL	VERTICAL AEROSPACE LTD	$351.25M	N/A	-515.20%	-119.01%	-85.00%	-2.29	0.55	N/A	N/A	N/A
LUNR	INTUITIVE MACHINES INC	$4.40B	N/A	-13.50%	-11.89%	-33.20%	-0.73	4.96	4.30%	-39.90%	-35.78%
FJET	STARFIGHTERS SPACE INC	$295.75M	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-3.23	0.25	N/A	N/A	N/A
VOYG	VOYAGER TECHNOLOGIES INC	$1.65B	-29.50%	-16.40%	-10.73%	-43.00%	1.62	4.37	18.00%	-69.70%	-59.15%
PEW	GRABAGUN DIGITAL HOLDINGS INC	$90.89M	-4.80%	-2.30%	-2.18%	-5.40%	0.22	7.20	11.70%	-2.60%	-2.59%
SKYH	SKY HARBOUR GROUP CORP	$746.38M	16.40%	3.30%	N/A	2.30%	3.30	N/A	7.60%	68.30%	73.26%
HOVR	NEW HORIZON AIRCRAFT LTD	$76.11M	-356.80%	-202.60%	-141.57%	2,782.60%	0.77	6.51	N/A	N/A	N/A
ACHR	ARCHER AVIATION INC	$4.39B	-37.80%	-32.90%	-26.17%	-80.90%	0.12	19.89	0.00%	-206,066.70%	-205,966.67%
EVEX	EVE HOLDING INC	$867.28M	-225.70%	-62.30%	-68.72%	-59.80%	2.51	3.29	N/A	N/A	N/A
DFSC	DEFSEC TECHNOLOGIES INC	$4.57M	-125.00%	-75.10%	-84.60%	-259.20%	0.56	4.25	32.40%	-154.00%	-151.25%
ASTC	ASTROTECH CORP	$4.14M	-68.50%	-57.30%	-78.40%	-65.90%	0.27	7.56	42.30%	-1,163.90%	-1,163.72%
GPUS	HYPERSCALE DATA INC	$54.26M	-233.20%	-19.90%	-33.75%	-20.50%	3.30	0.50	20.00%	-47.00%	-22.31%

Defense Stocks FAQ

What are the best defense stocks to buy right now in Mar 2026?

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best defense stocks to buy right now are:

1. Sifco Industries (NYSEMKT:SIF)

Sifco Industries (NYSEMKT:SIF) is the #1 top defense stock out of 80 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Sifco Industries (NYSEMKT:SIF) is: Value: B, Growth: A, Momentum: A, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: A, and AI: D.

Sifco Industries (NYSEMKT:SIF) has a Due Diligence Score of 34, which is 2 points higher than the defense industry average of 32.

SIF passed 10 out of 33 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Sifco Industries has seen its stock return 419.71% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 383 percentage points.

2. V2x (NYSE:VVX)

V2x (NYSE:VVX) is the #2 top defense stock out of 80 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for V2x (NYSE:VVX) is: Value: A, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: B, Financials: C, and AI: C.

V2x (NYSE:VVX) has a Due Diligence Score of 46, which is 14 points higher than the defense industry average of 32.

VVX passed 15 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. V2x has seen its stock return 35.89% over the past year, underperforming other defense stocks by -1 percentage points.

V2x has an average 1 year price target of $70.14, an upside of 1.91% from V2x's current stock price of $68.83.

V2x stock has a consensus Hold recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 7 analysts covering V2x, 28.57% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 42.86% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 28.57% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. Astronics (NASDAQ:ATRO)

Astronics (NASDAQ:ATRO) is the #3 top defense stock out of 80 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Astronics (NASDAQ:ATRO) is: Value: C, Growth: A, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Astronics (NASDAQ:ATRO) has a Due Diligence Score of 36, which is 4 points higher than the defense industry average of 32.

ATRO passed 12 out of 33 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Astronics has seen its stock return 150.11% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 114 percentage points.

Astronics has an average 1 year price target of $86.00, an upside of 30.24% from Astronics's current stock price of $66.03.

Astronics stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 2 analysts covering Astronics, 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.

What are the defense stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 23 defense stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 defense stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI)

Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI) has an annual dividend yield of 3.61%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 0.93%. Smith & Wesson Brands's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Smith & Wesson Brands's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Smith & Wesson Brands's dividend payout ratio of 200% indicates that its 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 1.85%, which is 1 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 0.93%. Park Aerospace's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% two 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 117.4% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD)

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) has an annual dividend yield of 1.73%, which is 1 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 0.93%. General Dynamics's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. General Dynamics's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

General Dynamics's dividend payout ratio of 38.3% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Why are defense stocks up?

Defense stocks were up 0.14% in the last day, and down -3.06% over the last week. Intuitive Machines was the among the top gainers in the aerospace & defense industry, gaining 13.91% yesterday.

Shares of space-related companies are trading lower. The industry may be falling amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which could impact future funding.

What are the most undervalued defense stocks?

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued defense stocks right now are:

1. Textron (NYSE:TXT)

Textron (NYSE:TXT) is the most undervalued defense stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Textron has a valuation score of 43, which is 23 points higher than the defense industry average of 20. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Textron's stock has gained 19.86% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -17 percentage points.

2. V2x (NYSE:VVX)

V2x (NYSE:VVX) is the second most undervalued defense stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

V2x has a valuation score of 57, which is 37 points higher than the defense industry average of 20. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

V2x's stock has gained 35.89% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -1 percentage points.

3. Byrna Technologies (NASDAQ:BYRN)

Byrna Technologies (NASDAQ:BYRN) is the third most undervalued defense stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Byrna Technologies has a valuation score of 57, which is 37 points higher than the defense industry average of 20. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Byrna Technologies's stock has dropped -50.77% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -87 percentage points.

Are defense stocks a good buy now?

68.85% of defense stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect defense stocks to rise by 12.16% over the next year.

11.69% of defense stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 16.88% of defense stocks are rated B (Buy), 49.35% are rated C (Hold), 14.29% are rated D (Sell), and 7.79% are rated F (Strong Sell).

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

The average P/E ratio of the aerospace & defense industry is 56.98x.

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.

Sectors & Industries IndustrialsAerospace & Defense
Best Defense Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top defense stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best defense stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Defense Stocks FAQ

1. Sifco Industries (NYSEMKT:SIF)

2. V2x (NYSE:VVX)

3. Astronics (NASDAQ:ATRO)

1. Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI)

2. Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE)

3. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD)

1. Textron (NYSE:TXT)

2. V2x (NYSE:VVX)

3. Byrna Technologies (NASDAQ:BYRN)

Company

Stock Tools

Stock Ideas

Sectors & IndustriesIndustrialsAerospace & DefenseBest Defense Stocks to Buy Now (2026)Top defense stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best defense stocks to buy now. Learn More.

Defense Stocks FAQ

1. Sifco Industries (NYSEMKT:SIF)

2. V2x (NYSE:VVX)

3. Astronics (NASDAQ:ATRO)

1. Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI)

2. Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE)

3. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD)

1. Textron (NYSE:TXT)

2. V2x (NYSE:VVX)

3. Byrna Technologies (NASDAQ:BYRN)

Company

Stock Tools

Stock Ideas

Sectors & Industries IndustrialsAerospace & Defense
Best Defense Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top defense stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Zen Rating. "A" Rated stocks have returned an average of +32.52% per year, and are the best defense stocks to buy now. Learn More.