Sectors & Industries IndustrialsAerospace & 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

Overview Zen Rating Price Value Growth Financials Momentum

Sentiment Forecast Dividends Due Diligence

Defense is Zen Rated C and is the 60th ranked industry out of 145 stock market industries

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
TATT	TAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD	$28.46	60,522	34.95%	27.84	27.43	26.67	27.10	22.20	54.32	40.76	31.96	32.86	21.51	0.26	0.25	0.01	0.48
ESLT	ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD	$397.49	60,505	29.31%	387.86	388.44	369.21	324.33	265.94	58.66	50.52	45.08	42.91	28.20	4.04	5.96	-1.91	0.50
RGR	STURM RUGER & CO INC	$40.66	183,442	56.50%	39.88	39.16	39.44	37.58	39.47	64.79	93.02	94.35	95.85	96.14	0.41	0.22	0.19	0.47
TXT	TEXTRON INC	$70.37	1,258,811	2.52%	67.34	66.19	70.54	73.98	80.59	56.47	96.08	96.18	100.00	100.00	-0.42	-1.30	0.87	1.16
CAE	CAE INC	$25.02	417,487	-22.41%	24.01	23.33	24.12	24.07	21.41	61.18	96.30	96.83	99.34	99.56	0.17	-0.07	0.25	1.25
CVU	CPI AEROSTRUCTURES INC	$3.22	52,703	-15.78%	3.32	3.36	3.51	3.97	3.51	39.18	40.18	46.11	27.78	45.33	-0.08	-0.08	0.00	0.77
VVX	V2X INC	$49.76	88,886	-18.55%	48.80	48.53	48.16	49.81	52.94	54.00	85.54	88.30	94.17	97.59	0.25	0.04	0.21	0.82
LMT	LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP	$477.75	1,078,444	20.20%	469.95	462.96	457.03	467.50	512.04	59.86	84.53	85.00	80.41	82.21	5.65	4.07	1.58	0.34
CDRE	CADRE HOLDINGS INC	$29.15	341,630	-27.80%	29.76	29.77	31.48	33.45	34.68	41.55	29.14	44.35	30.71	53.08	-0.54	-0.59	0.05	0.80
AOUT	AMERICAN OUTDOOR BRANDS INC	$11.23	27,884	-47.49%	11.00	11.00	12.84	14.27	11.68	46.59	55.79	47.65	87.75	82.00	-0.44	-0.62	0.18	0.88
WWD	WOODWARD INC	$187.57	603,772	-42.57%	176.28	172.62	179.38	180.42	173.79	60.66	84.60	90.17	99.43	99.43	1.02	-1.48	2.50	1.11
ATRO	ASTRONICS CORP	$22.69	304,895	25.69%	21.58	22.16	22.80	19.86	19.64	52.20	69.27	60.05	95.32	85.38	-0.32	-0.38	0.06	1.40
DRS	LEONARDO DRS INC	$36.96	990,734	57.03%	36.29	34.84	32.93	33.52	31.56	60.86	88.09	91.21	77.84	85.20	1.12	0.95	0.17	0.94
MRCY	MERCURY SYSTEMS INC	$50.00	445,516	-0.44%	48.84	46.84	45.24	43.60	40.17	66.40	90.07	92.15	96.66	97.89	1.46	1.12	0.34	0.86
ISSC	INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC	$6.74	40,759	-34.19%	6.45	6.19	6.64	7.99	7.42	55.05	92.99	95.48	93.73	97.91	0.00	-0.16	0.16	0.61
NPK	NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES INC	$84.35	22,750	16.27%	83.89	84.09	89.47	92.51	83.79	44.44	60.59	57.48	91.62	97.21	-1.25	-1.72	0.47	0.62
DCO	DUCOMMUN INC	$57.32	55,102	72.03%	56.42	56.12	58.03	61.66	62.80	51.07	78.71	72.42	96.16	97.04	-0.41	-0.76	0.35	1.04
HWM	HOWMET AEROSPACE INC	$138.58	3,107,821	26.84%	130.23	126.69	128.98	124.35	111.80	62.17	91.90	93.00	100.00	100.00	2.32	0.50	1.82	1.30
GD	GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP	$272.12	1,386,826	38.39%	272.62	270.00	264.48	263.34	279.77	53.16	64.59	71.36	46.95	56.04	1.95	2.36	-0.42	0.63
LOAR	LOAR HOLDINGS INC	$94.58	746,895	0.77%	89.72	85.11	74.63	76.25	75.51	66.93	84.28	88.99	78.77	86.70	6.03	5.10	0.93	1.46
RTX	RTX CORP	$126.13	5,669,062	31.42%	124.21	125.11	128.29	124.63	121.84	49.79	72.32	69.08	88.78	85.43	-1.25	-1.40	0.15	0.74
BWXT	BWX TECHNOLOGIES INC	$109.12	647,561	34.51%	105.88	102.24	101.62	109.05	109.86	60.95	90.99	93.53	97.79	98.29	2.07	1.07	1.00	0.79
KTOS	KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC	$33.79	1,465,740	-7.52%	33.19	32.06	30.10	30.01	26.65	59.47	88.09	88.21	84.03	91.98	0.94	0.81	0.13	1.21
PKE	PARK AEROSPACE CORP	$13.07	73,923	132.34%	13.21	13.04	13.40	13.99	13.83	45.89	74.11	79.87	78.67	91.60	-0.06	-0.10	0.04	0.72
HEI	HEICO CORP	$250.76	473,645	26.35%	245.41	247.92	252.48	245.98	249.35	50.97	68.77	65.34	95.18	89.12	-1.94	-2.34	0.41	0.93
ERJ	EMBRAER SA	$45.94	883,406	18.56%	44.15	43.40	46.65	42.83	38.35	54.40	95.29	94.76	100.00	100.00	-0.32	-0.84	0.52	1.40
SARO	STANDARDAERO INC	$27.02	1,115,253	-65.45%	25.89	25.23	26.72	26.29	N/A	56.29	97.88	98.10	100.00	100.00	0.01	-0.33	0.34	1.08
LHX	L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC	$220.02	1,058,927	-16.85%	217.50	214.67	211.06	212.79	225.80	58.79	81.44	78.95	68.88	69.70	2.35	1.99	0.36	0.48
EH	EHANG HOLDINGS LTD	$16.75	363,964	-32.81%	15.98	16.15	20.27	18.50	16.48	44.80	85.31	85.61	96.44	98.18	-0.96	-1.34	0.39	1.68
CW	CURTISS WRIGHT CORP	$344.89	240,878	90.69%	330.24	319.30	320.49	338.81	332.33	64.19	89.25	91.09	100.00	100.00	5.45	1.87	3.58	1.00
MOG.A	MOOG INC	$167.25	158,754	2.43%	165.27	163.61	169.27	183.36	190.70	50.15	61.34	68.15	79.62	85.86	-1.24	-2.17	0.93	1.10
TDG	TRANSDIGM GROUP INC	$1,413.07	216,129	36.85%	1,360.32	1,335.59	1,345.67	1,323.16	1,321.28	61.79	97.85	97.71	100.00	100.00	14.36	3.43	10.93	1.10
AIR	AAR CORP	$53.46	293,002	7.52%	52.56	52.58	59.90	63.00	63.89	43.35	74.98	75.11	96.00	98.67	-2.06	-2.69	0.63	1.26
BYRN	BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC	$22.39	370,443	59.03%	22.02	19.61	20.95	24.47	19.41	58.92	87.49	90.54	84.04	90.95	0.80	0.27	0.53	0.79
AXON	AXON ENTERPRISE INC	$613.30	511,865	28.07%	582.71	563.06	549.61	590.20	505.70	62.67	95.30	95.59	99.36	99.36	14.24	7.21	7.04	1.19
AZ	A2Z CUST2MATE SOLUTIONS CORP	$7.57	99,297	-44.90%	7.55	7.36	7.22	7.01	5.10	53.78	41.69	44.87	22.85	24.25	0.10	0.13	-0.02	1.08
KRMN	KARMAN HOLDINGS INC	$35.75	678,964	20.02%	34.52	32.68	32.53	N/A	N/A	59.75	93.31	93.06	87.85	88.95	0.85	0.57	0.28	1.32
SATL	SATELLOGIC INC	$4.12	873,136	22.47%	3.80	3.71	3.57	3.47	2.27	56.42	63.53	56.83	61.39	53.81	0.09	0.06	0.03	0.95
VSEC	VSE CORP	$114.52	226,544	32.67%	110.70	111.64	113.54	108.08	101.56	52.49	78.58	75.86	95.89	98.63	-0.28	-0.90	0.62	1.21
BA	BOEING CO	$183.24	6,233,265	-8.27%	171.44	161.83	166.55	170.28	165.74	64.76	95.39	95.52	99.44	99.63	4.33	0.96	3.37	1.33
POWW	AMMO INC	$1.97	1,439,143	100.78%	1.73	1.53	1.51	1.45	1.44	76.16	96.68	94.16	91.75	89.70	0.13	0.07	0.06	1.10
HXL	HEXCEL CORP	$48.47	1,574,147	32.92%	50.18	50.69	55.59	60.19	61.07	37.04	51.67	56.31	56.91	73.30	-1.77	-1.88	0.12	1.20
SPAI	SAFE PRO GROUP INC	$3.18	28,069	39.70%	3.11	2.60	2.99	3.25	N/A	55.40	62.15	65.23	59.37	63.25	0.17	0.05	0.12	1.10
NOC	NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP	$486.50	1,311,785	34.22%	493.41	502.41	489.60	482.27	494.23	46.30	35.76	30.40	29.27	22.99	-4.48	0.43	-4.91	0.31
EVTL	VERTICAL AEROSPACE LTD	$3.70	113,976	-9.80%	3.57	3.42	3.79	5.78	6.51	51.50	83.78	88.89	85.80	93.06	-0.03	-0.13	0.10	0.95
HII	HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES INC	$230.34	748,401	48.49%	222.51	211.98	199.79	194.63	221.86	70.79	94.17	95.58	99.90	99.48	8.34	6.90	1.44	0.62
AVAV	AEROVIRONMENT INC	$151.52	262,497	-10.27%	148.50	139.07	136.41	151.87	173.11	61.21	84.50	86.04	86.22	90.95	5.16	3.50	1.66	1.08
MNTS	MOMENTUS INC	$1.81	50,370	20.30%	1.82	1.87	2.16	4.38	6.33	40.50	27.04	32.69	60.23	72.35	-0.13	-0.17	0.04	1.67
SKYH	SKY HARBOUR GROUP CORP	$10.67	95,806	27.33%	10.95	11.25	11.25	11.54	11.28	42.98	28.14	31.89	29.53	41.58	-0.21	-0.13	-0.08	0.21
PRZO	PARAZERO TECHNOLOGIES LTD	$0.88	2,281,865	155.23%	0.68	0.65	0.77	1.28	0.96	63.30	82.34	78.46	96.36	96.90	-0.01	-0.05	0.04	0.38
SPCE	VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS INC	$2.89	998,895	-9.35%	2.76	2.69	3.26	4.40	5.52	48.19	82.10	86.91	87.34	93.40	-0.11	-0.20	0.09	1.89
DPRO	DRAGANFLY INC	$2.81	14,127	-9.93%	2.70	2.49	2.59	3.17	3.15	56.28	84.96	86.11	97.65	98.72	0.05	-0.01	0.05	0.98
SWBI	SMITH & WESSON BRANDS INC	$9.53	319,028	-13.29%	9.49	9.25	9.77	10.19	12.06	51.86	82.12	82.00	87.89	88.89	-0.01	-0.09	0.08	0.78
PL	PLANET LABS PBC	$3.29	2,404,608	7.65%	3.24	3.27	3.82	4.28	3.37	45.30	62.22	62.46	90.33	96.78	-0.15	-0.21	0.07	1.70
KITT	NAUTICUS ROBOTICS INC	$1.01	1,515,744	-23.76%	1.00	1.00	1.05	1.42	1.63	48.12	39.21	47.36	73.00	83.08	-0.01	-0.03	0.02	0.65
RKLB	ROCKET LAB USA INC	$21.79	10,197,827	53.43%	20.88	19.86	19.76	23.24	16.60	56.52	75.97	85.36	86.49	94.44	0.64	0.23	0.41	1.81
SIDU	SIDUS SPACE INC	$1.58	170,137	23.13%	1.50	1.41	1.68	2.30	2.40	53.25	82.49	85.85	91.12	94.38	-0.02	-0.08	0.05	1.65
HOVR	NEW HORIZON AIRCRAFT LTD	$0.51	75,016	-23.51%	0.49	0.47	0.49	0.64	0.61	53.11	90.81	89.47	93.94	96.32	0.00	-0.01	0.01	0.62
LUNR	INTUITIVE MACHINES INC	$8.20	3,416,834	-3.89%	7.96	7.81	9.64	13.76	10.50	47.68	82.25	89.11	90.63	96.73	-0.30	-0.59	0.29	0.50
EVEX	EVE HOLDING INC	$3.56	184,935	86.28%	3.66	3.57	3.66	4.26	3.69	47.96	71.58	78.13	58.42	71.53	0.01	-0.01	0.03	0.65
VTSI	VIRTRA INC	$4.68	82,032	-47.20%	4.00	4.14	4.90	5.75	6.36	57.70	76.12	57.37	100.00	91.87	-0.18	-0.31	0.13	0.63
SPR	SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC	$36.00	1,827,157	55.62%	34.63	33.29	33.83	33.79	33.51	65.75	97.80	97.12	100.00	99.79	0.57	0.18	0.39	1.43
RDW	REDWIRE CORP	$10.78	868,242	20.36%	10.42	9.65	11.34	14.59	11.21	51.89	80.58	88.94	91.56	97.12	-0.06	-0.45	0.39	1.76
ACHR	ARCHER AVIATION INC	$8.33	28,270,887	31.64%	7.98	7.45	7.83	8.57	6.25	55.86	85.50	90.25	83.81	93.81	0.22	0.01	0.21	1.84
SHMD	SCHMID GROUP NV	$4.05	71,900	167.59%	3.42	3.30	3.07	2.88	3.20	70.16	84.06	83.27	99.55	99.03	0.19	0.11	0.08	0.06
TGI	TRIUMPH GROUP INC	$25.40	819,113	-26.83%	25.11	25.01	25.22	22.68	18.82	60.16	96.84	96.56	97.30	99.10	0.09	0.04	0.05	1.64
SIF	SIFCO INDUSTRIES INC	$2.65	11,966	-28.33%	2.53	2.58	2.81	3.25	3.62	49.41	74.58	73.08	97.34	95.14	-0.06	-0.10	0.04	0.23
RAIN	RAIN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES HOLDCO INC	$4.42	134,316	18.67%	3.04	2.67	2.36	4.63	7.87	84.21	84.08	83.45	100.00	99.53	0.34	0.15	0.18	-0.02
AIRI	AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP	$3.54	5,846	-42.89%	3.31	3.29	3.63	3.97	4.53	54.33	90.69	93.28	94.81	98.27	-0.05	-0.12	0.07	0.50
OPXS	OPTEX SYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC	$6.38	3,261	-73.59%	6.04	5.81	5.78	6.44	7.31	64.43	85.98	84.84	84.43	86.05	0.14	0.05	0.10	0.34
ASTC	ASTROTECH CORP	$5.84	2,646	-0.97%	5.90	6.01	6.28	6.57	7.44	39.53	23.80	26.15	54.81	60.38	-0.12	-0.13	0.01	0.40
KWE	KWESST MICRO SYSTEMS INC	$4.42	122,476	24.08%	4.68	4.72	6.84	9.84	22.48	40.56	15.19	25.75	48.50	59.65	-0.59	-0.72	0.13	1.14
GPUS	HYPERSCALE DATA INC	$1.37	143,221	109.03%	1.86	2.16	2.49	3.66	5.73	27.47	3.98	4.56	0.00	0.70	-0.29	-0.22	-0.08	1.46
CODA	CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC	$6.70	7,460	-85.90%	6.51	6.33	6.68	7.46	7.61	54.88	71.22	74.21	90.81	94.06	0.03	-0.07	0.10	0.43

Defense Stocks FAQ

What are the best defense stocks to buy right now in May 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. Tat Technologies (NASDAQ:TATT)

Tat Technologies (NASDAQ:TATT) is the #1 top defense stock out of 74 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 Tat Technologies (NASDAQ:TATT) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: A, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: B.

Tat Technologies (NASDAQ:TATT) has a Due Diligence Score of 39, which is 8 points higher than the defense industry average of 31.

TATT passed 16 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Tat Technologies has seen its stock return 134.82% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 120 percentage points.

Tat Technologies has an average 1 year price target of $35.00, an upside of 22.98% from Tat Technologies's current stock price of $28.46.

Tat Technologies stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 1 analyst covering Tat Technologies, 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. Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT)

Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) is the #2 top defense stock out of 74 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 Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) is: Value: C, Growth: A, Momentum: A, Sentiment: B, Safety: A, Financials: C, and AI: A.

Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) has a Due Diligence Score of 44, which is 13 points higher than the defense industry average of 31.

ESLT passed 17 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Elbit Systems has seen its stock return 95.89% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 81 percentage points.

3. Sturm Ruger & Co (NYSE:RGR)

Sturm Ruger & Co (NYSE:RGR) is the #3 top defense stock out of 74 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 Sturm Ruger & Co (NYSE:RGR) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: B.

Sturm Ruger & Co (NYSE:RGR) has a Due Diligence Score of 38, which is 7 points higher than the defense industry average of 31.

RGR passed 13 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Sturm Ruger & Co has seen its stock lose -12.05% over the past year, underperforming other defense stocks by -27 percentage points.

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 1.36%.

Transdigm Group's dividend payout ratio of 264.5% 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 4.09%, which is 3 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.36%. 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 78.5% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

3. Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE)

Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE) has an annual dividend yield of 2.91%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.36%. 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 138.9% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Why are defense stocks up?

Defense stocks were up 0.34% in the last day, and up 4.34% over the last week. Parazero Technologies was the among the top gainers in the aerospace & defense industry, gaining 17.33% yesterday.

ParaZero Technologies shares are trading higher after the company announced it received official marketing approval from the Israeli Ministry of Defense for its DropAir precision airdrop.

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. Cpi Aerostructures (NYSEMKT:CVU)

Cpi Aerostructures (NYSEMKT:CVU) 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.

Cpi Aerostructures 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.

Cpi Aerostructures's stock has gained 21.97% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the defense industry by 7 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 29, which is 9 points higher than the defense industry average of 20. It passed 2 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

V2x's stock has gained 2.43% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -12 percentage points.

3. Textron (NYSE:TXT)

Textron (NYSE:TXT) is the third 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 37 points higher than the defense industry average of 20. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Textron's stock has dropped -16.81% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -31 percentage points.

Are defense stocks a good buy now?

56.6% of defense stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect defense stocks to rise by 10.65% over the next year.

6.25% of defense stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 23.44% of defense stocks are rated B (Buy), 43.75% are rated C (Hold), 18.75% are rated D (Sell), and 7.81% 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 41.32x.

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