Defense Stocks Rise As Tensions Escalate In The Middle East

Defense Stocks Rise As Tensions Escalate In The Middle East
Stéphane Renevier, CFA

about 2 months ago1 min

Defense stocks have seen some choppy waters lately, mostly because of how US political disputes might impact the country’s spending projections. But the rising conflict in Israel has had them all pointing higher this week.

Defense stocks have seen a notable uptick as the deepening conflict suggests a surge in demand for military essentials from weaponry to surveillance tools. And that rise in demand may swell beyond borders: conflicts have a way of encouraging other countries to bolster their defenses, sometimes in anticipation of ripple effects or broader regional unrest.

The iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF (Ticker: ITA; expense ratio: 0.4%) gained almost 5% on Monday, with its mix of both defense and non-defense stocks.

Among companies more directly exposed to the defense industry, there were some even more pronounced moves higher.

Elbit, which is Israel’s largest publicly traded defense firm and provides electronic and aviation solutions to the country’s military, saw its stock rise 6% this week. US defense industry firms have been rising too: shares of Northrop Grumman, a leader in aerospace and defense technologies, rose 10%. Lockheed Martin, which sells F-35 fighter jets to Israel’s Air Force, was up about 9%. RTX (Raytheon’s newly branded parent company), which contracts with Israel on missile defense systems like the Iron Dome (a shield against short-range threats), gained 5%. And L3Harris, which delivers defense communication tools to Israel, and Huntington Ingalls, which is the top US military shipbuilder, were both up about 10%.

Finimize

BECOME A SMARTER INVESTOR

All the daily investing news and insights you need in one subscription.

Learn More

Disclaimer: These articles are provided for information purposes only. Occasionally, an opinion about whether to buy or sell a specific investment may be provided. The content is not intended to be a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy as it is not provided based on an assessment of your investing knowledge and experience, your financial situation or your investment objectives. The value of your investments, and the income derived from them, may go down as well as up. You may not get back all the money that you invest. The investments referred to in this article may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.

/3 Your free quarterly content is about to expire. Uncover the biggest trends and opportunities. Subscribe now for 50%. Cancel anytime.

Finimize
© Finimize Ltd. 2023. 10328011. 280 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AG