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	$12.22	205,044	13.48%	12.51	12.35	10.98	10.55	8.36	52.21	33.29	35.26	29.99	26.03	0.49	0.61	-0.13	0.42
LHX	L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC	$208.14	927,389	3.22%	203.73	206.54	210.16	207.55	194.57	52.48	49.67	27.80	76.43	47.16	-1.87	-2.02	0.14	0.69
GD	GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP	$291.31	859,364	-18.75%	287.40	287.55	279.26	267.48	248.02	63.31	36.87	28.01	24.61	12.86	2.59	3.23	-0.64	0.77
HII	HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES INC	$274.49	303,064	-12.56%	273.79	280.96	285.36	270.01	245.85	38.76	14.94	8.09	32.49	14.45	-4.03	-2.89	-1.15	0.72
NOC	NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP	$470.98	1,003,136	11.00%	456.63	461.33	459.64	462.44	456.22	61.81	57.52	35.08	72.03	40.45	-0.78	-1.37	0.59	0.58
LMT	LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP	$461.33	1,803,280	30.49%	454.67	453.32	440.15	443.07	442.36	65.46	81.05	80.86	76.14	62.55	5.02	4.57	0.45	0.62
CVU	CPI AEROSTRUCTURES INC	$2.72	151,859	351.95%	2.71	2.53	2.55	2.58	2.97	58.30	63.91	64.06	54.50	57.89	0.06	0.04	0.02	0.96
ISSC	INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC	$6.38	19,822	10.42%	6.62	6.96	7.62	7.81	7.75	30.59	14.55	16.84	35.44	32.69	-0.34	-0.31	-0.03	0.65
CW	CURTISS WRIGHT CORP	$250.95	162,234	21.75%	250.58	252.94	244.46	232.47	216.74	53.73	23.13	21.01	18.14	15.28	1.46	2.62	-1.16	1.07
WWD	WOODWARD INC	$148.24	216,512	-30.68%	148.24	151.57	146.41	141.16	133.77	48.06	18.75	18.38	16.86	15.71	-0.08	0.91	-0.99	1.24
OPXS	OPTEX SYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC	$6.91	20,888	324.04%	10.88	11.03	11.18	11.63	12.60	51.25	39.80	27.21	50.65	32.14	-0.12	-0.11	-0.00	-0.17
NPK	NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES INC	$82.29	48,049	63.26%	80.18	81.20	78.87	79.39	77.47	60.98	54.00	35.18	57.72	33.15	0.45	0.51	-0.06	0.61
MOG.A	MOOG INC	$154.82	128,494	20.25%	155.79	156.75	153.32	147.46	131.88	49.16	16.88	13.42	15.13	6.84	0.27	1.04	-0.77	1.13
AXON	AXON ENTERPRISE INC	$293.80	513,280	-4.61%	305.29	308.69	300.51	275.02	239.37	37.46	6.46	9.08	0.26	0.09	-1.59	1.60	-3.19	1.15
ESLT	ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD	$202.57	11,385	39.62%	200.17	203.12	206.81	207.54	204.58	48.87	48.52	36.91	78.13	59.43	-1.77	-1.95	0.18	0.60
PKE	PARK AEROSPACE CORP	$14.97	26,082	-72.31%	15.29	15.73	15.27	15.01	14.82	42.43	17.99	13.13	18.89	11.30	-0.13	0.01	-0.14	0.70
HXL	HEXCEL CORP	$62.52	1,335,563	23.40%	63.05	67.48	71.15	71.03	69.79	31.08	8.48	7.30	23.37	18.21	-2.95	-2.38	-0.57	1.22
TXT	TEXTRON INC	$93.77	1,025,535	-18.08%	93.87	94.78	91.64	85.95	80.85	51.71	25.46	17.83	20.01	11.13	0.29	0.81	-0.52	1.29
VSEC	VSE CORP	$76.43	37,896	-48.46%	77.66	78.25	75.50	68.43	61.90	47.76	12.03	11.07	13.32	5.80	0.21	0.88	-0.67	1.15
PL	PLANET LABS PBC	$1.74	962,961	-41.45%	1.88	2.09	2.18	2.26	2.54	28.51	9.81	7.08	11.85	9.04	-0.14	-0.10	-0.04	1.47
ERJ	EMBRAER SA	$24.20	2,011,249	27.57%	24.74	25.46	22.63	20.40	17.58	48.60	18.52	20.63	6.34	4.78	0.27	0.69	-0.42	1.48
EH	EHANG HOLDINGS LTD	$17.00	1,816,002	81.86%	17.78	18.37	14.79	14.76	16.12	49.33	31.03	30.14	23.08	21.03	0.51	0.94	-0.43	1.18
BWXT	BWX TECHNOLOGIES INC	$92.31	909,986	46.70%	94.18	97.68	96.83	88.01	80.94	33.09	6.39	5.09	7.85	4.90	-1.58	-0.60	-0.98	0.66
BYRN	BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC	$12.41	189,234	-9.41%	13.68	13.78	12.61	9.50	6.65	43.32	9.74	10.87	1.39	0.92	0.12	0.45	-0.33	0.31
SPCE	VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS INC	$0.75	51,912,541	31.96%	1.01	1.17	1.48	1.83	2.15	18.55	10.14	8.93	5.98	7.36	-0.18	-0.16	-0.03	1.65
RGR	STURM RUGER & CO INC	$46.75	87,125	-32.48%	46.25	46.24	44.99	44.63	48.07	59.18	48.61	36.36	40.32	26.11	0.32	0.38	-0.06	0.43
ASTC	ASTROTECH CORP	$9.26	698	-50.11%	9.57	9.33	8.55	8.25	9.26	52.40	44.93	54.77	10.62	17.19	0.26	0.34	-0.08	0.56
RTX	RTX CORP	$101.56	7,529,459	19.17%	100.93	99.63	94.62	90.04	85.99	72.39	79.82	75.30	26.77	20.95	2.01	2.18	-0.17	1.01
SWBI	SMITH & WESSON BRANDS INC	$16.99	205,089	-11.75%	16.86	17.17	15.89	14.62	13.84	54.09	32.51	23.46	29.41	18.71	0.15	0.30	-0.16	0.50
TATT	TAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD	$11.38	3,821	221.36%	11.43	11.65	12.17	11.48	9.79	44.30	36.79	36.33	15.08	11.45	-0.22	-0.19	-0.03	0.40
HWM	HOWMET AEROSPACE INC	$62.93	2,356,004	-23.31%	64.15	65.49	65.51	60.01	54.04	37.31	7.88	9.89	3.59	5.11	-0.66	-0.24	-0.42	1.30
RKLB	ROCKET LAB USA INC	$3.59	5,617,779	-0.73%	3.65	3.81	4.18	4.52	4.96	34.48	15.68	13.68	26.11	19.81	-0.18	-0.17	-0.01	1.63
DRS	LEONARDO DRS INC	$20.95	497,821	-27.29%	21.04	21.17	21.62	20.39	19.02	45.33	38.03	46.55	63.44	77.57	-0.16	-0.17	0.01	0.60
KTOS	KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC	$17.83	816,078	-32.92%	17.95	18.00	18.24	18.63	17.26	47.90	33.80	29.66	27.97	18.79	-0.06	-0.05	-0.01	1.18
AIR	AAR CORP	$66.22	591,866	40.24%	62.35	61.14	63.45	63.61	62.02	67.46	89.09	79.77	100.00	97.24	0.31	-0.32	0.63	1.36
CODA	CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC	$6.00	10,656	-9.37%	6.18	6.12	5.82	5.92	6.55	48.75	13.65	24.76	1.22	2.37	0.08	0.12	-0.05	0.59
CAE	CAE INC	$18.54	421,289	11.21%	19.14	19.65	19.61	20.14	21.35	31.04	3.68	6.56	3.67	2.11	-0.33	-0.17	-0.16	1.28
CDRE	CADRE HOLDINGS INC	$33.21	266,839	80.25%	33.47	34.65	35.53	34.21	30.27	37.46	7.06	7.73	5.78	1.98	-0.74	-0.55	-0.20	0.79
RDW	REDWIRE CORP	$3.75	137,009	150.87%	3.69	4.03	3.56	3.22	3.12	49.13	19.30	11.48	23.17	13.17	-0.03	0.07	-0.09	1.43
HEI	HEICO CORP	$199.41	294,529	-11.36%	194.68	192.11	191.50	185.03	176.15	65.00	83.23	82.59	86.58	86.31	2.23	1.34	0.89	1.01
POWW	AMMO INC	$2.62	274,114	-13.87%	2.53	2.63	2.52	2.32	2.27	54.41	38.12	25.67	44.93	27.86	0.00	0.02	-0.02	0.55
TDG	TRANSDIGM GROUP INC	$1,200.93	145,563	-36.22%	1,214.96	1,219.04	1,191.54	1,108.12	994.36	48.30	19.89	32.31	10.35	14.44	4.91	10.53	-5.62	1.22
LUNR	INTUITIVE MACHINES INC	$5.16	1,643,421	-10.65%	5.10	5.64	5.98	4.41	4.74	45.71	27.43	23.24	43.34	32.69	-0.19	-0.15	-0.05	-0.38
ATRO	ASTRONICS CORP	$16.32	146,860	23.97%	16.65	17.42	18.10	17.32	17.16	35.21	9.47	4.77	11.53	4.07	-0.54	-0.39	-0.15	1.47
AVAV	AEROVIRONMENT INC	$149.72	259,526	-30.94%	148.15	148.82	144.14	134.99	121.35	53.06	52.87	42.11	46.57	32.37	0.66	1.02	-0.36	0.98
KWE	KWESST MICRO SYSTEMS INC	$0.74	69,200	-60.55%	0.71	0.90	1.10	1.11	1.42	33.24	16.66	13.41	37.54	26.82	-0.13	-0.12	-0.01	1.20
MRCY	MERCURY SYSTEMS INC	$27.52	335,074	-14.13%	28.28	28.40	28.94	31.27	33.94	42.08	27.83	24.04	38.01	30.12	-0.33	-0.27	-0.06	1.04
DPRO	DRAGANFLY INC	$0.26	1,776,260	154.99%	155.92	157.94	149.16	139.63	128.30	53.76	28.48	24.96	14.34	7.37	1.11	2.40	-1.30	0.74
SPR	SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC	$32.90	2,616,992	31.03%	33.63	34.21	32.73	30.68	26.49	45.32	10.71	15.09	0.00	1.31	0.04	0.34	-0.30	1.53
AULT	AULT ALLIANCE INC	$0.30	3,679,942	-93.48%	0.31	0.34	0.39	1.01	16.47	39.25	35.50	23.78	60.10	32.83	-0.04	-0.04	0.00	1.24
DCO	DUCOMMUN INC	$52.23	97,519	38.88%	53.91	51.98	50.55	50.64	48.42	51.53	38.31	38.11	26.87	26.70	0.72	0.92	-0.20	1.12
BA	BOEING CO	$170.48	4,303,108	-8.04%	171.48	179.45	189.94	210.81	209.90	30.49	11.70	11.04	33.30	27.84	-6.29	-5.99	-0.30	1.44
LLAP	TERRAN ORBITAL CORP	$1.30	1,695,397	0.36%	1.41	1.35	1.19	1.06	1.08	49.39	34.43	44.66	0.00	10.23	0.05	0.08	-0.02	0.92
SATL	SATELLOGIC INC	$1.20	33,051	-36.11%	1.39	1.50	1.61	1.59	1.48	29.61	15.19	13.06	15.70	11.69	-0.11	-0.07	-0.04	0.59
SKYH	SKY HARBOUR GROUP CORP	$8.80	53,821	-17.15%	10.06	11.06	11.92	11.53	8.38	20.86	4.71	3.85	0.00	1.59	-0.87	-0.61	-0.26	-0.08
VVX	V2X INC	$48.55	141,774	59.81%	46.13	45.99	43.10	42.57	46.07	71.51	88.80	78.46	98.70	80.91	1.06	0.93	0.13	0.85
MNTS	MOMENTUS INC	$0.50	4,779,234	2,580.85%	0.41	0.42	0.57	1.06	4.71	54.27	35.16	26.04	50.34	42.01	-0.05	-0.06	0.02	0.90
SPPL	SIMPPLE LTD	$0.67	156,959	368.79%	3.71	3.64	3.30	3.22	N/A	65.58	87.37	76.50	69.76	54.40	0.14	0.13	0.01	-1.10
ZOOZ	ZOOZ POWER LTD	$2.98	63,496	88.92%	3.05	5.53	8.76	9.81	10.21	34.67	1.30	1.19	5.41	9.91	-1.94	-1.85	-0.09	0.08
ACHR	ARCHER AVIATION INC	$3.93	4,316,104	24.56%	3.95	4.24	4.64	5.19	5.39	37.95	14.06	7.01	29.04	9.68	-0.27	-0.23	-0.03	1.74
TGI	TRIUMPH GROUP INC	$12.99	491,683	-29.91%	13.42	13.94	14.16	14.27	11.74	36.11	7.16	4.88	6.34	2.42	-0.36	-0.23	-0.13	1.97
SIDU	SIDUS SPACE INC	$3.41	33,286	-59.22%	3.56	3.51	4.10	5.59	9.59	44.12	46.21	47.12	65.11	63.64	-0.20	-0.25	0.05	1.52
EVEX	EVE HOLDING INC	$5.15	43,483	-22.77%	5.22	5.28	5.49	6.20	7.20	45.01	38.99	37.74	47.11	44.74	-0.09	-0.09	0.01	0.30
AIRI	AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP	$5.10	16,910	-23.24%	5.11	5.02	4.69	4.03	3.56	54.69	31.03	52.02	16.20	44.01	0.18	0.18	-0.00	0.63
AZ	A2Z SMART TECHNOLOGIES CORP	$0.40	39,375	-65.76%	0.42	0.47	0.82	1.02	1.41	31.40	20.10	20.57	55.79	63.26	-0.11	-0.13	0.01	1.07
SIF	SIFCO INDUSTRIES INC	$3.02	8,823	333.78%	3.09	3.14	3.15	3.39	3.37	41.44	25.21	35.61	13.79	25.09	-0.03	-0.02	-0.02	0.30
ASTR	ASTRA SPACE INC	$0.64	198,308	116.86%	0.61	0.63	0.99	1.33	2.17	42.48	57.12	47.67	93.90	83.38	-0.08	-0.11	0.03	1.66
KITT	NAUTICUS ROBOTICS INC	$0.20	207,909	-7.69%	5.50	5.64	5.74	6.17	6.45	38.45	15.55	19.46	0.00	4.29	-0.14	-0.10	-0.04	-0.07
HOVR	NEW HORIZON AIRCRAFT LTD	$2.29	8,170	-46.57%	10.70	10.69	10.65	10.58	10.48	62.78	75.00	72.22	52.61	48.69	0.02	0.02	-0.00	0.12
LILM	LILIUM NV	$0.91	1,451,605	45.99%	0.89	0.91	0.94	0.99	0.98	49.22	58.48	51.56	74.92	61.56	-0.02	-0.01	-0.00	1.59
EVTL	VERTICAL AEROSPACE LTD	$0.76	280,120	4.57%	0.81	0.97	0.82	0.75	1.03	41.67	8.17	8.03	7.32	5.90	-0.03	0.01	-0.04	0.65

Defense Stocks FAQ

What are the best defense stocks to buy right now in Apr 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 58, which is 29 points higher than the defense industry average of 29. It passed 19 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Virtra has seen its stock return 129.7% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 125 percentage points.

Virtra has an average 1 year price target of $16.00, an upside of 30.93% from Virtra's current stock price of $12.22.

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. L3harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX)

L3harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) is the second best defense stock with a Zen Score of 53, which is 24 points higher than the defense industry average of 29. It passed 19 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. L3harris Technologies has seen its stock return 2.97% over the past year, underperforming other defense stocks by -2 percentage points.

L3harris Technologies has an average 1 year price target of $237.60, an upside of 14.15% from L3harris Technologies's current stock price of $208.14.

L3harris Technologies stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 10 analysts covering L3harris Technologies, 60% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 30% have issued a Buy, 10% 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 52, which is 23 points higher than the defense industry average of 29. It passed 18 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. General Dynamics has seen its stock return 29.76% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 25 percentage points.

General Dynamics has an average 1 year price target of $304.25, an upside of 4.44% from General Dynamics's current stock price of $291.31.

General Dynamics stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 8 analysts covering General Dynamics, 62.5% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 12.5% 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 5.47%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.55%. 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 92.6% 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 3.34%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.55%. 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. Transdigm Group (NYSE:TDG)

Transdigm Group (NYSE:TDG) has an annual dividend yield of 2.91%, which is 1 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.55%.

Transdigm Group's dividend payout ratio of 148.6% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Why are defense stocks up?

Defense stocks were up 0.69% in the last day, and up 0.78% over the last week. Momentus was the among the top gainers in the aerospace & defense industry, gaining 35.87% yesterday.

Momentus shares are trading higher. The company announced that it received a Nasdaq deficiency notification regarding its delayed from 10-K.

What are the most undervalued defense stocks?

Based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score, 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 WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Cpi Aerostructures has a valuation score of 71, which is 50 points higher than the defense industry average of 21. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Cpi Aerostructures's stock has dropped -25.07% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -30 percentage points.

2. Innovative Solutions & Support (NASDAQ:ISSC)

Innovative Solutions & Support (NASDAQ:ISSC) is the second most undervalued defense stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Innovative Solutions & Support has a valuation score of 71, which is 50 points higher than the defense industry average of 21. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Innovative Solutions & Support's stock has dropped -4.78% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -10 percentage points.

3. Virtra (NASDAQ:VTSI)

Virtra (NASDAQ:VTSI) is the third most undervalued defense stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Virtra has a valuation score of 71, which is 50 points higher than the defense industry average of 21. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Virtra's stock has gained 129.7% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the defense industry by 125 percentage points.

Are defense stocks a good buy now?

54.35% of defense stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect defense stocks to rise by 9.07% 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 24.17x.

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.