Sectors & IndustriesIndustrialsAerospace & Defense
Best Defense Stocks to Buy Now (2025)
Top defense stocks in 2025 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
C
Defense is Zen Rated C and is the 68th ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries
Learn how the Zen Ratings work
Ticker
Company
Zen Rating
Momentum
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
MOG.A
MOOG INC
$190.8398,000-37.58%192.26191.34185.63179.74187.7751.4271.7867.5641.1635.461.852.24-0.390.99
OPXS
OPTEX SYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC
$11.7234,000-41.38%12.4812.4611.589.168.1747.1233.0147.447.0726.570.180.33-0.150.43
DCO
DUCOMMUN INC
$91.4685,000-34.62%91.1590.6784.9673.1268.4958.4076.9166.4643.8131.941.932.30-0.370.96
VVX
V2X INC
$60.09910,00021.66%53.8350.8948.4748.5450.9472.5385.2274.8676.8561.312.521.481.040.79
WWD
WOODWARD INC
$245.33470,000-15.92%251.64254.70247.64219.10199.2242.8218.1118.107.117.420.242.35-2.111.03
TXT
TEXTRON INC
$80.32804,000-57.07%78.2979.9479.9075.3076.8452.7664.9941.7190.3364.27-0.48-0.570.081.09
CW
CURTISS WRIGHT CORP
$492.15292,000-30.64%493.69489.60480.34420.12385.4652.9161.2455.2443.9338.974.865.80-0.940.92
TATT
TAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD
$36.04245,000-25.30%35.8034.3130.9129.9827.6258.0047.9354.8217.2020.051.301.48-0.190.53
ESLT
ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD
$459.77102,000-58.54%464.58456.94445.36419.69351.5452.8032.5724.1023.7812.054.286.59-2.310.45
HII
HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES INC
$267.46237,000-29.88%267.66264.62250.01234.06213.6657.3032.2931.4915.0812.835.005.82-0.820.57
AIR
AAR CORP
$77.15349,000-21.04%74.7176.3672.6365.2465.4557.1887.1573.6690.3779.360.940.940.011.11
CODA
CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC
$7.5925,700125.44%7.507.597.677.147.6548.8456.4351.8674.9870.61-0.06-0.070.000.40
GD
GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP
$315.84843,0003.56%314.14311.59297.56284.96277.3164.4070.6565.0723.6023.085.045.57-0.530.58
HWM
HOWMET AEROSPACE INC
$175.992,004,000-36.86%180.27183.82179.88161.90140.8141.7228.4834.543.845.63-0.630.75-1.381.17
DRS
LEONARDO DRS INC
$41.74878,000-17.56%41.6544.1144.9641.3737.3537.5017.7916.8915.9213.48-1.18-0.91-0.270.91
VTSI
VIRTRA INC
$5.2360,300-64.11%6.596.446.445.626.0532.949.8935.020.0025.60-0.100.09-0.190.57
LOAR
LOAR HOLDINGS INC
$69.641,763,000-24.72%70.0271.8278.3881.6179.8039.2537.2528.5678.6555.06-2.73-2.790.061.37
ISSC
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC
$13.513,559,000334.55%17.3016.3914.5211.039.6739.3968.6285.0166.6782.150.891.00-0.110.64
AOUT
AMERICAN OUTDOOR BRANDS INC
$9.7754,70031.81%9.429.5010.2410.9312.3251.3363.0138.9277.2553.60-0.19-0.270.080.89
LHX
L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC
$271.05985,000-34.42%273.68271.59259.97240.48231.4357.5337.0440.595.823.993.504.88-1.380.45
ATRO
ASTRONICS CORP
$32.88711,0008.55%33.3334.0633.7229.7424.0347.4263.7556.1348.5238.32-0.230.04-0.271.27
CDRE
CADRE HOLDINGS INC
$29.22369,000-43.66%30.7531.9632.7032.1333.3940.2221.5618.7232.4828.68-0.90-0.54-0.360.82
BWXT
BWX TECHNOLOGIES INC
$174.70838,000-42.29%173.33159.81147.05127.25121.4570.8573.5076.1847.5661.8210.429.071.350.76
MRCY
MERCURY SYSTEMS INC
$66.83909,000-56.44%57.6255.0253.0050.0345.8176.4491.5782.8794.0678.623.181.531.640.83
KTOS
KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC
$69.124,747,000-8.32%62.9960.6850.9742.2835.2676.7788.0486.7495.6996.784.744.130.611.17
NOC
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP
$583.72543,000-27.21%585.08572.34529.75511.08496.7272.4060.1162.388.784.3816.6518.76-2.110.27
SARO
STANDARDAERO INC
$27.025,292,000103.70%28.0528.3929.6128.4027.7635.1054.2251.1061.4674.93-0.50-0.47-0.031.09
HEI
HEICO CORP
$311.20267,000-29.18%317.52319.91316.34289.93269.3943.9222.4122.245.575.35-0.651.24-1.890.88
PKE
PARK AEROSPACE CORP
$17.6293,000-54.63%17.9518.2816.1114.7514.5651.9841.1936.4950.3248.590.460.63-0.170.70
AVAV
AEROVIRONMENT INC
$249.73626,000-21.55%256.24263.12240.61195.44183.5946.8328.8321.3025.2616.861.685.69-4.011.06
RTX
RTX CORP
$155.081,940,000-40.75%155.80155.40148.94139.36131.1257.5943.2650.2610.908.832.012.65-0.640.66
TDG
TRANSDIGM GROUP INC
$1,412.73220,000-44.72%1,448.981,524.431,503.581,444.121,377.2435.6318.3416.4916.5314.01-34.35-14.89-19.461.02
PL
PLANET LABS PBC
$6.826,027,0001.53%6.476.536.154.844.5161.4871.1658.6988.9365.670.140.14-0.001.70
BYRN
BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC
$19.83397,000-45.17%21.1421.8726.3023.9024.0131.6724.8822.549.8925.90-1.48-1.500.021.00
POWW
OUTDOOR HOLDING CO
$1.28538,00025.12%1.191.211.271.461.4255.0684.9060.73100.0077.77-0.02-0.040.021.20
CAE
CAE INC
$28.01711,000-74.15%28.6328.6928.2226.4124.8444.3363.8565.9135.8550.900.030.15-0.121.20
VSEC
VSE CORP
$163.82367,00019.54%157.35147.40138.13129.44118.5869.8094.9789.2456.0151.858.036.521.511.18
ERJ
EMBRAER SA
$59.781,830,0009.19%58.0354.1053.4349.7045.2366.8590.2586.7899.4697.651.851.300.551.28
SATL
SATELLOGIC INC
$3.723,314,0002.89%3.453.473.483.683.2358.7370.7455.5398.0476.920.00-0.030.031.00
NPK
NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES INC
$103.7838,000-31.41%100.21101.2399.8092.4391.2857.4878.3562.5894.2681.450.460.130.340.61
RGR
STURM RUGER & CO INC
$34.77174,000-13.86%33.4734.2535.5336.5737.0951.9674.5657.3298.8482.41-0.44-0.610.170.49
BA
BOEING CO
$233.195,321,000-20.22%227.57228.56219.13200.23183.0962.0964.0456.2856.9346.653.053.07-0.021.21
AXON
AXON ENTERPRISE INC
$749.83518,000-54.12%803.42769.06774.65700.80644.7344.9029.0444.7515.1935.579.1111.13-2.021.14
KRMN
KARMAN HOLDINGS INC
$50.911,121,000-38.30%49.3150.4948.7442.98N/A53.7978.6357.0881.8056.000.170.32-0.151.28
AIRO
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS INC
$22.942,125,000316.67%21.2821.96N/AN/AN/A64.3954.0939.4239.2418.83N/AN/AN/A4.76
EH
EHANG HOLDINGS LTD
$17.70628,000-22.18%17.5318.2117.4717.5817.8648.4632.1631.4338.6633.13-0.030.03-0.061.74
FLY
FIREFLY AEROSPACE INC
$49.331,871,000-45.24%N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A-10.11
SWBI
SMITH & WESSON BRANDS INC
$8.15490,000-21.73%8.038.078.779.0810.1846.6970.2558.9692.8493.88-0.14-0.210.070.82
LMT
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP
$437.321,734,000-8.30%430.19428.97453.00458.56474.4649.3685.0576.2493.5886.73-5.42-8.342.920.29
MNTS
MOMENTUS INC
$1.5611,305,000-96.50%1.261.241.301.583.8061.1135.5625.6452.2328.520.04-0.020.061.84
SPCE
VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS INC
$3.022,306,000-34.58%3.393.713.313.214.3539.517.005.085.242.88-0.090.03-0.131.94
HXL
HEXCEL CORP
$62.461,103,00012.09%61.2161.1958.5755.4859.0259.9481.7767.0365.5045.621.000.970.031.14
KITT
NAUTICUS ROBOTICS INC
$0.88743,000-43.75%0.910.960.970.981.2342.3112.3312.1510.0312.49-0.03-0.02-0.010.71
SPR
SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC
$40.89692,00056.92%39.8540.2439.1237.1835.2361.2359.6449.3256.8743.410.290.280.011.29
DPRO
DRAGANFLY INC
$4.411,083,000-32.98%4.945.244.023.143.1645.807.1512.880.002.970.150.33-0.180.98
SKYH
SKY HARBOUR GROUP CORP
$10.70160,000-38.46%10.2810.2810.0410.7311.0957.7980.5884.8481.9487.870.140.060.080.23
PRZO
PARAZERO TECHNOLOGIES LTD
$1.59613,00019.96%1.551.731.481.131.2149.3719.2913.3522.3213.040.000.04-0.040.41
DFSC
DEFSEC TECHNOLOGIES INC
$3.8935,200-80.66%4.064.816.986.109.6936.7229.3521.2970.0754.56-0.97-1.010.031.03
AIRI
AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP
$2.90343,000363.51%3.333.403.423.433.9526.1422.8220.9823.7120.14-0.06-0.02-0.040.50
HOVR
NEW HORIZON AIRCRAFT LTD
$1.58442,000-38.95%1.651.641.601.100.8648.1352.8763.4054.1171.820.030.04-0.010.51
LUNR
INTUITIVE MACHINES INC
$8.9938,832,0001,084.99%10.3711.2511.0210.1412.3835.3214.1514.0818.1517.60-0.39-0.15-0.240.59
VOYG
VOYAGER TECHNOLOGIES INC
$30.60523,000-25.60%33.5637.76N/AN/AN/A27.2112.809.3640.2323.09N/AN/AN/A1.67
SIDU
SIDUS SPACE INC
$1.151,931,000112.43%1.151.401.571.531.9734.4016.438.4340.7120.45-0.16-0.14-0.021.66
EVTL
VERTICAL AEROSPACE LTD
$5.25730,000-21.42%5.556.065.915.055.7142.2413.6711.6914.9011.30-0.19-0.07-0.121.04
AZ
A2Z CUST2MATE SOLUTIONS CORP
$9.62158,00033.90%9.7610.1410.129.067.8643.1034.6832.4664.2857.83-0.18-0.12-0.061.05
RKLB
ROCKET LAB CORP
$42.8118,473,00027.19%44.1445.6438.7030.3326.4849.1018.7226.050.004.131.001.88-0.881.81
GPUS
HYPERSCALE DATA INC
$0.671,092,000-39.87%0.690.761.662.713.8128.4822.2121.2189.9989.52-0.26-0.340.071.19
RDW
REDWIRE CORP
$9.094,028,000-17.70%11.2513.6515.7313.3914.0929.339.307.1820.1313.21-1.88-1.30-0.581.80
ACHR
ARCHER AVIATION INC
$9.9926,055,000-20.15%9.9810.5310.589.698.7645.8141.4030.4569.3948.94-0.24-0.19-0.051.89
EVEX
EVE HOLDING INC
$4.425,344,0001,705.41%5.966.366.275.114.6525.768.1110.434.256.70-0.28-0.08-0.210.72
SHMD
SCHMID GROUP NV
$2.5823,800332.73%2.662.702.773.022.8541.4719.4320.0318.6330.95-0.07-0.06-0.010.00
SPAI
SAFE PRO GROUP INC
$3.8339,300-55.84%3.723.773.222.993.1554.0173.6378.2851.0059.830.170.18-0.021.16
RAIN
RAIN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES HOLDCO INC
$3.253,400209.09%3.533.673.493.655.3138.9324.3023.7323.7026.36-0.07-0.02-0.05-0.01
SIF
SIFCO INDUSTRIES INC
$5.6315,000-18.48%5.275.114.413.613.5862.6977.1185.3372.1879.390.340.300.040.41
ASTC
ASTROTECH CORP
$5.106,700-16.25%5.365.465.625.816.3437.7010.9025.1433.5953.78-0.10-0.08-0.020.41
CVU
CPI AEROSTRUCTURES INC
$3.1025,600-28.89%3.243.343.263.293.6437.3328.3726.065.281.76-0.06-0.01-0.050.70
PEW
GRABAGUN DIGITAL HOLDINGS INC
$6.551,808,00046.28%6.526.9711.8012.0111.4533.1639.8327.2993.6881.55-1.62-1.850.230.11

Defense Stocks FAQ

What are the best defense stocks to buy right now in Aug 2025?

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. Moog (NYSE:MOG.A)


Moog (NYSE:MOG.A) is the #1 top defense stock out of 77 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 Moog (NYSE:MOG.A) is: Value: B, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: B, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Moog (NYSE:MOG.A) has a Due Diligence Score of 35, which is 5 points higher than the defense industry average of 30.

MOG.A passed 14 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Moog has seen its stock return 1.42% over the past year, underperforming other defense stocks by -28 percentage points.

Moog has an average 1 year price target of $210.00, an upside of 10.05% from Moog's current stock price of $190.83.

Moog stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 2 analysts covering Moog, 50% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 50% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

2. Optex Systems Holdings (NASDAQ:OPXS)


Optex Systems Holdings (NASDAQ:OPXS) is the #2 top defense stock out of 77 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 Optex Systems Holdings (NASDAQ:OPXS) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Optex Systems Holdings (NASDAQ:OPXS) has a Due Diligence Score of 51, which is 21 points higher than the defense industry average of 30.

OPXS passed 16 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Optex Systems Holdings has seen its stock return 46.13% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 16 percentage points.

3. Ducommun (NYSE:DCO)


Ducommun (NYSE:DCO) is the #3 top defense stock out of 77 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 Ducommun (NYSE:DCO) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Ducommun (NYSE:DCO) has a Due Diligence Score of 43, which is 13 points higher than the defense industry average of 30.

DCO passed 14 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Ducommun has seen its stock return 46.06% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 16 percentage points.

Ducommun has an average 1 year price target of $119.75, an upside of 30.93% from Ducommun's current stock price of $91.46.

Ducommun stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 4 analysts covering Ducommun, 75% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 25% 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 20 defense stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 defense stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Transdigm Group (NYSE:TDG)


Transdigm Group (NYSE:TDG) has an annual dividend yield of 5.31%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.33%.

Transdigm Group's dividend payout ratio of 248.8% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI)


Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI) has an annual dividend yield of 4.79%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.33%. 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 173.3% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE)


Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE) has an annual dividend yield of 2.16%, which is 1 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.33%. 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 148.5% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Why are defense stocks down?

Defense stocks were down -0.95% in the last day, and down -1.39% over the last week. Innovative Solutions & Support was the among the top losers in the aerospace & defense industry, dropping -31.53% yesterday.

Innovative Solutions and Support shares are trading lower after the company reported a Q3 EPS miss.

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 57, which is 38 points higher than the defense industry average of 19. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Textron's stock has dropped -6.59% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -36 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 38 points higher than the defense industry average of 19. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

V2x's stock has gained 27.28% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -2 percentage points.

3. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII)


Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) 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.

Huntington Ingalls Industries has a valuation score of 43, which is 24 points higher than the defense industry average of 19. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Huntington Ingalls Industries's stock has gained 0.31% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -29 percentage points.

Are defense stocks a good buy now?

58.93% of defense stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect defense stocks to rise by 9.53% over the next year.

4.29% of defense stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 22.86% of defense stocks are rated B (Buy), 54.29% are rated C (Hold), 10% are rated D (Sell), and 8.57% 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 37.79x.
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.