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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
Dividends Score
Market Cap
Dividend Yield
Payout Ratio
Last Dividend
Annual Dividend
Dividend Percentile
Dividend Dropped Count (L10Y)
Ex-dividend Date
Div. Payment Date
AVAV
AEROVIRONMENT INC
$6.43BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
CW
CURTISS WRIGHT CORP
$14.64B0.21%7.70%$0.2100$0.823%0
GD
GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP
$85.09B1.80%42.00%$1.4200$5.5840%02024-11-15
BYRN
BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC
$393.91MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
VTSI
VIRTRA INC
$77.17MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
WWD
WOODWARD INC
$10.65B0.54%15.20%$0.2500$0.979%12024-11-212024-12-05
NOC
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP
$77.07B1.49%48.40%$2.0600$7.8633%0
SWBI
SMITH & WESSON BRANDS INC
$599.23M3.74%66.20%$0.1300$0.5072%0
LMT
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP
$133.82B1.67%34.10%$3.1500$9.4537%02024-12-022024-12-27
OPXS
OPTEX SYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC
$56.02MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
RTX
RTX CORP
$164.45B1.97%69.90%$0.6300$2.4444%12024-11-152024-12-12
HII
HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES INC
$7.93B1.92%29.40%$1.3000$3.9043%02024-11-292024-12-13
CVU
CPI AEROSTRUCTURES INC
$43.80MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
ISSC
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC
$130.72MN/A0.00%$0.5000N/AN/A1
RGR
STURM RUGER & CO INC
$689.43M1.83%42.60%$0.1900$0.7541%152024-11-132024-11-27
AXON
AXON ENTERPRISE INC
$46.00BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
TXT
TEXTRON INC
$16.24B0.09%1.70%$0.0200$0.081%12024-12-132025-01-01
NPK
NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES INC
$542.40M5.89%94.70%$4.5000$4.5086%2
CDRE
CADRE HOLDINGS INC
$1.42B0.26%42.90%$0.0900$0.094%0
HWM
HOWMET AEROSPACE INC
$46.17BN/A8.80%$0.0400N/AN/A2
KTOS
KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC
$3.92BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
TATT
TAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD
$191.32MN/A0.00%$0.3398N/AN/A0
ERJ
EMBRAER SA
$6.87BN/A0.00%$0.0103N/AN/A9
BWXT
BWX TECHNOLOGIES INC
$11.39B0.76%31.40%$0.2400$0.9515%12024-11-192024-12-10
VSEC
VSE CORP
$2.40B0.34%50.60%$0.1000$0.405%12024-11-20
DCO
DUCOMMUN INC
$1.01BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
MOG.A
MOOG INC
$7.16BN/A4.20%$0.2700N/AN/A0
LHX
L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC
$49.43B1.33%54.40%$1.1600$3.4629%02024-11-182024-12-06
HXL
HEXCEL CORP
$5.00B0.97%43.20%$0.1500$0.6020%1
PL
PLANET LABS PBC
$736.63MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
PKE
PARK AEROSPACE CORP
$298.43M3.34%147.10%$0.1250$0.5067%3
HEI
HEICO CORP
$35.96B0.08%6.10%$0.1100$0.211%1
DRS
LEONARDO DRS INC
$9.67BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
TDG
TRANSDIGM GROUP INC
$75.97B8.14%429.40%$75.0000$110.0092%0
ASTC
ASTROTECH CORP
$11.29MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
RKLB
ROCKET LAB USA INC
$6.71BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
ESLT
ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD
$10.23B0.87%36.60%$0.5000$2.0018%1
SPCE
VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS INC
$179.61MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
CODA
CODA OCTOPUS GROUP INC
$101.66MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
AIR
AAR CORP
$2.37BN/A0.00%$0.0750N/AN/A0
VVX
V2X INC
$2.10BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
TGI
TRIUMPH GROUP INC
$1.23BN/A0.00%$0.0400N/AN/A0
POWW
AMMO INC
$143.70MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
ATRO
ASTRONICS CORP
$637.90MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
AOUT
AMERICAN OUTDOOR BRANDS INC
$119.34MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
RDW
REDWIRE CORP
$600.20MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
PRZO
PARAZERO TECHNOLOGIES LTD
$6.69MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
GPUS
HYPERSCALE DATA INC
$8.74MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
LUNR
INTUITIVE MACHINES INC
$1.25BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
EH
EHANG HOLDINGS LTD
$1.09BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
LILM
LILIUM NV
$32.16MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
BA
BOEING CO
$93.77BN/A0.00%$2.0550N/AN/A0
ACHR
ARCHER AVIATION INC
$1.65BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
KWE
KWESST MICRO SYSTEMS INC
$1.15MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
DPRO
DRAGANFLY INC
$7.18MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
SKYH
SKY HARBOUR GROUP CORP
$776.82MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
SATL
SATELLOGIC INC
$89.10MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
MNTS
MOMENTUS INC
$15.50MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
EVEX
EVE HOLDING INC
$886.98MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
AIRI
AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP
$19.39MN/A0.00%$1.5000N/AN/A0
SIDU
SIDUS SPACE INC
$10.24MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
SIF
SIFCO INDUSTRIES INC
$21.29MN/A0.00%$0.2000N/AN/A0
MRCY
MERCURY SYSTEMS INC
$2.55BN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
KITT
NAUTICUS ROBOTICS INC
$6.04MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
EVTL
VERTICAL AEROSPACE LTD
$95.36MN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
SPR
SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC
$3.64BN/A0.00%$0.0100N/AN/A1
AZ
A2Z CUST2MATE SOLUTIONS CORP
$124.31MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A
LOAR
LOAR HOLDINGS INC
$7.97BN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
CAE
CAE INC
$6.02BN/A0.00%$0.1100N/AN/A0
HOVR
NEW HORIZON AIRCRAFT LTD
$7.13MN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
SPAI
SAFE PRO GROUP INC
$29.28MN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
SARO
STANDARDAERO INC
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
SHMD
SCHMID GROUP NV
$27.03MN/A0.00%N/AN/AN/AN/A

Defense Stocks FAQ

What are the best defense stocks to buy right now in Nov 2024?

According to Zen Score, the 3 best defense stocks to buy right now are:

1. Aerovironment (NASDAQ:AVAV)


Aerovironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) is the top defense stock with a Zen Score of 58, which is 28 points higher than the defense industry average of 30. It passed 20 out of 33 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Aerovironment has seen its stock return 84.57% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 46 percentage points.

Aerovironment has an average 1 year price target of $224.00, a downside of -1.7% from Aerovironment's current stock price of $227.87.

Aerovironment stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 4 analysts covering Aerovironment, 50% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 50% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

2. Curtiss Wright (NYSE:CW)


Curtiss Wright (NYSE:CW) is the second best defense stock with a Zen Score of 54, which is 24 points higher than the defense industry average of 30. It passed 20 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Curtiss Wright has seen its stock return 88.47% over the past year, overperforming other defense stocks by 50 percentage points.

Curtiss Wright has an average 1 year price target of $350.25, a downside of -9.22% from Curtiss Wright's current stock price of $385.84.

Curtiss Wright stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 4 analysts covering Curtiss Wright, 50% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 25% have issued a Buy, 25% 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 54, which is 24 points higher than the defense industry average of 30. It passed 19 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. General Dynamics has seen its stock return 27.87% over the past year, underperforming other defense stocks by -10 percentage points.

General Dynamics has an average 1 year price target of $336.00, an upside of 8.57% from General Dynamics's current stock price of $309.47.

General Dynamics stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 10 analysts covering General Dynamics, 50% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 20% have issued a Buy, 30% 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 8.14%, which is 6 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.86%.

Transdigm Group's dividend payout ratio of 429.4% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. National Presto Industries (NYSE:NPK)


National Presto Industries (NYSE:NPK) has an annual dividend yield of 5.89%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.86%. 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 94.7% indicates that its high 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 3.74%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the defense industry average of 1.86%. 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 66.2% indicates that its dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Why are defense stocks up?

Defense stocks were up 3.63% in the last day, and up 8.05% over the last week. Axon Enterprise was the among the top gainers in the aerospace & defense industry, gaining 28.68% yesterday.

Axon Enterprise shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q3 financial results and issued Q4 revenue guidance above estimates.

What are the most undervalued defense stocks?

Based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score, the 3 most undervalued defense stocks right now are:

1. Innovative Solutions & Support (NASDAQ:ISSC)


Innovative Solutions & Support (NASDAQ:ISSC) is the most undervalued defense stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Innovative Solutions & Support has a valuation score of 71, which is 52 points higher than the defense industry average of 19. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Innovative Solutions & Support's stock has dropped -3.61% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -42 percentage points.

2. Tat Technologies (NASDAQ:TATT)


Tat Technologies (NASDAQ:TATT) is the second most undervalued defense stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Tat Technologies has a valuation score of 71, which is 52 points higher than the defense industry average of 19. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Tat Technologies's stock has gained 122.69% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the defense industry by 84 percentage points.

3. Cpi Aerostructures (NYSEMKT:CVU)


Cpi Aerostructures (NYSEMKT:CVU) is the third most undervalued defense stock based on WallStreetZen's Valuation Score. Cpi Aerostructures has a valuation score of 71, which is 52 points higher than the defense industry average of 19. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Cpi Aerostructures's stock has gained 10.89% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the defense industry by -27 percentage points.

Are defense stocks a good buy now?

52% of defense stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect defense stocks to rise by 3.47% 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 36.44x.
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.