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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
Ticker
Company
Price
1d %
1w %
1m %
3m %
6m %
1y %
3y %
5y %
10y %
52-week High
52-week Low
% off 52-week High
% off 52-week Low
Beta
Volume
Vol 1d %
VTSI
VIRTRA INC
$11.26-4.41%-14.83%15.13%-5.77%126.56%95.01%120.35%204.32%N/A$16.97$4.2033.65%168.10%0.42238,33969.69%
LHX
L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC
$201.400.53%-1.99%-4.52%-1.54%12.96%-0.54%-3.97%21.21%178.87%$218.34$160.257.76%25.68%0.69895,280-2.16%
GD
GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP
$284.46-0.29%-1.92%2.47%13.80%17.90%23.97%53.94%62.99%160.83%$296.50$202.354.06%40.58%0.77681,606-48.79%
HII
HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES INC
$271.22-1.01%-1.43%-6.67%6.44%21.65%28.31%29.15%23.31%160.69%$299.50$188.519.44%43.88%0.72285,14616.23%
NOC
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP
$452.050.38%-1.28%-2.24%-4.61%-7.56%-4.79%31.17%62.16%270.53%$496.89$414.569.02%9.04%0.58749,911-12.82%
LMT
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP
$456.050.38%0.96%5.27%-0.09%3.38%-6.86%16.42%46.88%184.59%$503.33$393.779.39%15.82%0.62845,382-41.73%
CW
CURTISS WRIGHT CORP
$249.67-0.10%-1.31%2.02%13.26%19.78%40.74%99.15%125.88%292.50%$261.46$157.724.51%58.30%1.07142,569-29.44%
CVU
CPI AEROSTRUCTURES INC
$2.67-1.48%-3.26%6.37%11.72%-15.24%-21.70%-38.90%-58.92%-80.50%$4.34$2.1538.48%24.19%0.9650,673-9.65%
ISSC
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC
$6.520.31%-2.54%-15.32%-20.29%-13.41%-6.72%3.49%95.80%-8.56%$9.00$6.1127.56%6.71%0.6521,40014.07%
WWD
WOODWARD INC
$147.27-1.09%-1.77%-0.17%8.79%12.41%55.32%19.66%53.53%253.25%$160.79$91.428.41%61.09%1.24333,556-28.30%
OPXS
OPTEX SYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC
$6.95-2.25%1.61%-2.39%26.13%73.75%131.67%N/AN/AN/A$7.79$2.8710.78%142.16%-0.155,638-58.86%
ESLT
ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD
$198.02-1.27%-0.85%-1.31%-3.58%1.79%12.31%38.69%38.67%229.65%$225.64$173.0112.24%14.46%0.608,929-35.21%
NPK
NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES INC
$79.370.29%-0.39%4.53%-4.59%5.53%10.98%-25.54%-25.11%5.10%$84.29$66.845.84%18.76%0.6123,02547.82%
AXON
AXON ENTERPRISE INC
$299.82-0.16%-5.79%-2.80%19.68%34.73%32.92%99.15%387.51%1,576.85%$329.87$175.379.11%70.97%1.15542,8108.64%
MOG.A
MOOG INC
$154.07-0.95%-1.68%1.02%10.75%30.78%55.74%79.95%65.20%145.14%$161.82$87.844.79%75.40%1.1395,6503.68%
HXL
HEXCEL CORP
$61.900.16%-0.71%-14.08%-13.01%-7.72%-9.38%8.22%-9.28%40.78%$79.08$58.8121.72%5.25%1.221,182,703-22.39%
KAMN
KAMAN CORP
$45.87-0.02%0.04%0.20%107.74%130.04%103.78%-12.14%-24.07%12.37%$45.94$18.060.15%153.99%1.34173,53836.18%
VSEC
VSE CORP
$76.67-1.10%-3.60%1.20%33.08%36.50%72.72%73.50%130.24%169.02%$83.00$41.177.63%86.23%1.1561,22134.03%
PKE
PARK AEROSPACE CORP
$14.90-2.30%-5.34%-0.60%3.40%0.07%10.70%7.81%-8.53%-45.94%$16.96$11.9112.15%25.10%0.7032,38353.00%
TXT
TEXTRON INC
$92.21-1.10%-3.59%-0.98%19.63%15.44%33.19%56.13%70.04%133.21%$97.34$61.275.27%50.50%1.29926,504-9.05%
PL
PLANET LABS PBC
$1.751.16%-14.22%-20.81%-15.46%-27.69%-59.86%-82.74%N/AN/A$5.00$1.7165.00%2.34%1.471,997,763-19.35%
BWXT
BWX TECHNOLOGIES INC
$92.91-0.77%-3.72%-6.91%17.27%18.67%45.06%37.30%80.65%175.45%$107.18$60.1713.31%54.41%0.66435,000-38.79%
ERJ
EMBRAER SA
$24.400.45%-5.76%3.92%41.45%73.54%47.97%118.83%25.97%-29.91%$27.25$12.4810.44%95.51%1.481,181,194-51.65%
BYRN
BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC
$12.80-1.61%-11.78%-1.39%123.00%210.68%102.21%-32.28%753.33%540.00%$15.34$2.1916.56%484.47%0.31232,211-1.94%
EH
EHANG HOLDINGS LTD
$17.315.81%-10.50%11.68%30.84%-13.06%47.57%-30.17%N/AN/A$25.78$9.5032.85%82.21%1.181,703,19668.96%
RGR
STURM RUGER & CO INC
$45.620.37%-2.10%-0.55%4.27%-16.93%-22.30%-36.23%-15.86%-27.18%$58.45$42.0021.94%8.62%0.43132,012-11.97%
SPCE
VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS INC
$0.94-9.33%-14.27%-37.13%-51.89%-48.47%-72.82%-95.80%-90.78%N/A$6.17$0.9484.71%0.86%1.6518,955,52341.42%
ASTC
ASTROTECH CORP
$9.54-2.05%-0.10%8.78%31.22%2.25%-11.26%-73.93%-91.24%-97.59%$15.11$7.0036.86%36.29%0.561,450-6.09%
RTX
RTX CORP
$100.75-0.09%-0.60%7.80%18.46%36.35%-2.29%28.20%-25.80%-15.03%$104.91$68.563.97%46.96%1.015,073,727-28.37%
HWM
HOWMET AEROSPACE INC
$63.46-0.87%-2.74%-4.91%18.46%40.27%48.03%94.84%218.57%56.00%$69.55$42.188.76%50.47%1.303,088,67816.98%
TATT
TAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD
$11.18-3.10%-1.63%-5.93%-6.95%45.13%86.56%119.12%66.29%33.51%$13.75$5.3518.73%108.88%0.405,4505.48%
SWBI
SMITH & WESSON BRANDS INC
$16.49-0.60%-2.71%-7.26%25.97%15.88%34.17%-10.57%69.13%16.13%$18.05$10.388.64%58.86%0.50219,888-21.58%
RKLB
ROCKET LAB USA INC
$3.570.28%-4.55%-10.75%-27.44%-20.31%-13.77%-66.76%N/AN/A$8.05$3.4755.65%2.88%1.634,262,966-40.91%
DRS
LEONARDO DRS INC
$21.570.28%3.85%0.09%13.29%12.99%50.21%N/AN/AN/A$24.00$14.1210.13%52.76%0.59709,17328.55%
KTOS
KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC
$17.750.68%-1.93%4.41%-3.32%0.85%36.75%-34.31%20.75%138.90%$21.60$12.1217.82%46.45%1.19707,530-44.36%
CAE
CAE INC
$18.920.00%-3.86%-5.40%-7.66%-16.58%-20.94%-35.43%-16.80%40.15%$25.04$18.2624.44%3.61%1.281,005,843-6.57%
CODA
CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC
$6.08-2.41%-6.75%10.55%-9.66%-9.93%-23.90%-29.14%-53.09%N/A$11.09$5.2145.18%16.70%0.586,42055.15%
AIR
AAR CORP
$61.871.23%-0.23%-1.70%8.28%4.47%13.88%55.53%89.44%131.03%$73.95$50.0616.34%23.59%1.36418,519144.66%
RDW
REDWIRE CORP
$3.41-3.13%-10.26%-2.85%25.83%19.23%14.81%-66.57%N/AN/A$4.79$2.3528.81%45.11%1.43141,6679.60%
HEI
HEICO CORP
$197.55-0.40%3.58%5.07%14.76%19.01%16.94%47.69%99.22%556.97%$200.64$153.631.54%28.59%1.01484,845-8.67%
CDRE
CADRE HOLDINGS INC
$33.10-1.37%-2.04%-4.50%1.53%19.75%47.31%N/AN/AN/A$39.81$19.1316.84%73.03%0.79123,001-18.80%
POWW
AMMO INC
$2.470.41%-3.14%0.41%19.90%-9.19%14.35%-63.02%-17.67%N/A$3.15$1.6021.59%54.38%0.55469,51198.49%
LUNR
INTUITIVE MACHINES INC
$5.01-0.60%0.20%-5.83%93.44%41.53%-52.06%N/AN/AN/A$13.25$2.0962.19%139.83%-0.381,436,265-48.80%
TDG
TRANSDIGM GROUP INC
$1,225.700.21%0.47%3.78%18.80%42.00%62.46%102.26%168.65%577.18%$1.25k$741.741.82%65.25%1.22146,275-4.48%
ATRO
ASTRONICS CORP
$16.12-3.24%-5.62%-7.89%0.19%3.53%2.28%-6.33%-49.13%-49.11%$22.44$14.0728.16%14.61%1.47100,330101.99%
AVAV
AEROVIRONMENT INC
$146.62-1.90%-0.56%1.57%20.38%26.64%37.12%38.74%124.95%304.13%$184.61$88.2420.58%66.16%0.99174,021-35.83%
KWE
KWESST MICRO SYSTEMS INC
$0.70-3.47%-3.47%-45.70%-52.40%-61.17%-77.51%N/AN/AN/A$3.85$0.6281.94%12.10%1.2288,47266.32%
DPRO
DRAGANFLY INC
$0.2711.34%16.74%52.30%-33.08%-64.09%-73.50%N/AN/AN/A$1.48$0.1382.09%103.85%0.731,414,896538.40%
SPR
SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC
$33.37-1.10%-2.40%2.58%23.68%94.12%18.88%-27.72%-61.08%14.48%$36.34$14.658.17%127.78%1.531,152,684-28.30%
MRCY
MERCURY SYSTEMS INC
$27.46-0.36%-4.02%-2.87%-11.33%-28.97%-44.83%-64.84%-58.83%99.27%$49.04$25.3144.00%8.49%1.04337,74816.66%
BA
BOEING CO
$170.21-0.20%-2.53%-5.35%-16.18%-8.29%-16.98%-30.28%-54.91%33.06%$267.54$167.5336.38%1.60%1.447,981,9233.05%
AULT
AULT ALLIANCE INC
$0.26-9.34%-27.42%-34.17%-70.69%-93.89%-99.97%-100.00%-100.00%-100.00%$975.76$0.2699.97%2.34%1.251,542,91317.48%
LLAP
TERRAN ORBITAL CORP
$1.452.84%-0.68%23.93%69.19%97.01%-23.68%-85.50%N/AN/A$2.04$0.6228.92%133.87%0.921,577,174-44.76%
DCO
DUCOMMUN INC
$51.48-3.49%-7.43%3.83%4.76%8.77%-0.54%-15.54%31.93%108.00%$58.19$40.2411.53%27.93%1.12119,085-33.38%
SATL
SATELLOGIC INC
$1.32-11.41%-10.81%-27.87%-0.75%32.93%-41.59%-86.63%N/AN/A$2.53$0.6947.83%91.30%0.6072,461308.60%
SKYH
SKY HARBOUR GROUP CORP
$9.721.04%-10.00%-24.83%-17.28%63.64%66.15%-3.67%N/AN/A$13.60$4.1528.53%134.22%-0.0948,636-16.46%
SPPL
SIMPPLE LTD
$0.641.59%-15.23%-28.81%-88.41%-87.23%N/AN/AN/AN/A$9.69$0.6193.39%4.75%-1.2131,398-20.17%
MNTS
MOMENTUS INC
$0.393.18%-8.47%-23.27%-51.44%-92.17%-98.25%-99.93%N/AN/A$27.32$0.3598.58%11.14%0.89281,31483.49%
VVX
V2X INC
$46.250.72%3.19%4.92%20.92%-14.73%9.78%-10.99%20.13%N/A$56.75$37.0418.50%24.88%0.8591,1463.01%
ZOOZ
ZOOZ POWER LTD
$3.052.35%5.54%-72.17%-72.02%-71.36%-70.50%N/AN/AN/A$17.50$2.8282.57%8.16%0.0893,09914.02%
ACHR
ARCHER AVIATION INC
$3.78-2.07%-9.13%-22.38%-25.00%-27.59%86.21%-61.70%N/AN/A$7.49$1.7749.53%113.56%1.743,243,6025.98%
TGI
TRIUMPH GROUP INC
$13.01-4.27%-5.17%-0.84%-13.44%75.34%18.27%-24.67%-44.64%-79.85%$17.27$7.0024.67%85.86%1.97636,70325.25%
SIDU
SIDUS SPACE INC
$3.41-2.01%-10.97%-10.97%-64.99%-72.07%-92.84%N/AN/AN/A$43.57$2.9492.17%15.99%1.5150,241-35.91%
EVEX
EVE HOLDING INC
$5.181.17%-1.71%-4.60%-22.46%-34.76%-28.45%-48.30%N/AN/A$11.05$4.8153.12%7.69%0.3023,251-63.31%
AIRI
AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP
$5.708.37%18.75%25.27%65.22%103.57%62.39%-53.66%-45.71%-94.20%$5.80$2.601.72%119.23%0.6336,164131.58%
AZ
A2Z SMART TECHNOLOGIES CORP
$0.430.95%-9.96%-36.57%-60.65%-71.67%-65.97%N/AN/AN/A$3.04$0.3586.02%20.40%1.0759,746-72.55%
SIF
SIFCO INDUSTRIES INC
$3.08-2.53%-2.53%-0.65%3.01%-33.04%-17.65%-79.12%6.94%-90.94%$4.95$2.2837.78%35.09%0.305,013-3.91%
ASTR
ASTRA SPACE INC
$0.603.45%-3.23%13.21%-62.73%-35.28%-90.18%-99.60%N/AN/A$6.75$0.5291.11%15.16%1.66103,911-38.74%
KITT
NAUTICUS ROBOTICS INC
$0.222.79%-2.21%-5.96%-45.57%-87.58%-91.72%N/AN/AN/A$2.66$0.1891.69%24.16%-0.07341,982-14.40%
EVTL
VERTICAL AEROSPACE LTD
$0.765.23%-17.23%-7.95%48.93%-32.39%-62.18%-92.26%N/AN/A$2.11$0.5163.79%50.39%0.64232,2345.17%
LILM
LILIUM NV
$0.896.88%-1.99%-10.32%6.75%27.12%80.82%-91.02%N/AN/A$1.90$0.3753.37%139.46%1.591,597,450-46.80%
HOVR
NEW HORIZON AIRCRAFT LTD
$2.08-9.57%-14.75%-26.50%-12.24%-80.34%-79.63%N/AN/AN/A$12.15$1.0082.87%108.00%0.1917,944-29.76%

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 95.01% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 93 percentage points.

Virtra has an average 1 year price target of $16.00, an upside of 42.1% from Virtra's current stock price of $11.26.

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 lose -0.54% over the past year, underperforming other defense stocks by -3 percentage points.

L3harris Technologies has an average 1 year price target of $237.56, an upside of 17.95% from L3harris Technologies's current stock price of $201.40.

L3harris Technologies stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 9 analysts covering L3harris Technologies, 55.56% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 33.33% have issued a Buy, 11.11% 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 23.97% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 22 percentage points.

General Dynamics has an average 1 year price target of $304.25, an upside of 6.96% from General Dynamics's current stock price of $284.46.

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 21 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 5.67%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.58%. 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 3.36%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.58%. 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 2.91%, which is 1 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.58%.

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 down?

Defense stocks were down -0.24% in the last day, and down -1.23% over the last week.

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

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 49 points higher than the defense industry average of 22. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Cpi Aerostructures's stock has dropped -21.7% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -24 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 49 points higher than the defense industry average of 22. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Innovative Solutions & Support's stock has dropped -6.72% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -9 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 49 points higher than the defense industry average of 22. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Virtra's stock has gained 95.01% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the defense industry by 93 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 9.56% 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 24.27x.
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.