Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Shares Up 2.1% – Time to Buy?
by Scott Moore · The Cerbat GemLockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT – Get Free Report) shares traded up 2.1% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $538.73 and last traded at $522.06. 2,810,527 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 42% from the average session volume of 1,972,318 shares. The stock had previously closed at $511.57.
Key Headlines Impacting Lockheed Martin
Here are the key news stories impacting Lockheed Martin this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Lockheed said it will boost annual Patriot interceptor production capacity from about 600 to 2,000 units under a seven‑year agreement with the U.S. Department of War — a major, direct driver of near‑term revenue, backlog expansion and manufacturing leverage. Lockheed says it plans to dramatically turn up Patriot missile production
- Positive Sentiment: Reuters reports the same seven‑year pact to more than triple PAC‑3 output to 2,000 units annually — confirming scale, multi‑year visibility and direct Pentagon funding that analysts view as boosting LMT’s top line and margins. Lockheed Martin to more than triple Patriot missile production capacity
- Positive Sentiment: Company release frames the deal as a “landmark” acquisition transformation to accelerate PAC‑3 MSE output — this highlights government support for sustained, scaled production and potential follow‑on orders from allies. Lockheed Martin and Department of War Advance Landmark Acquisition Transformation to Accelerate PAC-3 MSE Production
- Positive Sentiment: Multiple analysts and outlets note the production ramp should lift Lockheed’s revenues and operating margins (higher volume, better absorption of fixed costs), which is the immediate rationale for the stock move. Why Lockheed Martin Stock Popped Today
- Positive Sentiment: Defense sector momentum from recent geopolitical events (U.S. action in Venezuela) has also buoyed LMT shares as investors price in higher defense spending and urgency for air/missile defense systems. Defense Stocks Higher After U.S. Military Action in Venezuela
- Neutral Sentiment: Lockheed scheduled its Q4 and FY2025 earnings webcast for Jan. 29 — investors will watch results and management commentary for confirmation that the ramp and margins track expectations. Lockheed Martin Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Earnings Results Webcast
- Neutral Sentiment: Market‑watchers and services note LMT is a trending stock; keep an eye on valuation metrics (P/E) and execution risk as production scales. Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
- Neutral Sentiment: Canada’s minister is pressing Lockheed for more domestic jobs tied to a potential F‑35 purchase — this is a political/industrial‑policy negotiation that could affect program timelines or offset arrangements but is not an immediate earnings driver. Canada’s Joly Presses Lockheed for Jobs as Crucial F-35 Decision Nears
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several brokerages recently commented on LMT. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $514.00 to $513.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $515.00 price target (up from $465.00) on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research report on Friday, December 19th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Lockheed Martin to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on Lockheed Martin in a research report on Tuesday, November 18th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $550.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on Lockheed Martin from $440.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, seventeen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $506.18.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Price Performance
The business has a fifty day moving average of $471.28 and a 200 day moving average of $466.59. The firm has a market cap of $120.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.15, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.32.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.95 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.33 by $0.62. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 5.73% and a return on equity of 111.84%. The firm had revenue of $18.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.45 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $6.84 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Lockheed Martin has set its FY 2025 guidance at 22.150-22.350 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current year.
Lockheed Martin Increases Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a $3.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $13.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. This is an increase from Lockheed Martin’s previous quarterly dividend of $3.30. Lockheed Martin’s payout ratio is currently 77.05%.
Insider Activity
In other news, COO John Frank A. St sold 7,792 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $491.04, for a total value of $3,826,183.68. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 1 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $491.04. This represents a 99.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lockheed Martin
Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Tableaux LLC grew its position in Lockheed Martin by 34,231.4% in the second quarter. Tableaux LLC now owns 623,115 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $288,589,000 after acquiring an additional 621,300 shares during the last quarter. Sanders Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin in the 3rd quarter valued at about $252,699,000. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in Lockheed Martin by 286.1% during the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 503,428 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $251,316,000 after purchasing an additional 373,027 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 169.3% in the 2nd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 572,272 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $265,030,000 after purchasing an additional 359,748 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,697,527 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $10,048,993,000 after purchasing an additional 214,565 shares during the last quarter. 74.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Lockheed Martin Company Profile
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global aerospace and defense company that designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology systems for government and commercial customers. Formed through the 1995 merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and focuses on providing integrated solutions across air, space, land and sea domains. Its primary customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and allied governments around the world.
Lockheed Martin’s product and service portfolio spans military aircraft, missile and fire-control systems, missile defense, space systems and satellite technologies, sensors and precision weapons.