Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Shares Climb 1.2% – Still a Buy?

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT – Get Free Report)’s share price traded up 1.2% during mid-day trading on Wednesday. The stock traded as high as $635.96 and last traded at $630.4240. 1,567,103 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 7% from the average daily volume of 1,459,453 shares. The stock had previously closed at $622.99.

More Lockheed Martin News

Here are the key news stories impacting Lockheed Martin this week:

  • Positive Sentiment: The U.S. State Department approved a possible $2.1 billion Patriot missile package for Ukraine, naming Lockheed Martin as the principal contractor. The package includes 500 PAC-3 MSE interceptors, spare parts, logistics and support, and will be financed by allied and Ukrainian funds rather than direct U.S. funding. The sale could add to LMT’s missile backlog, although no delivery schedule was provided. U.S. approves $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale to Ukraine
  • Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights Lockheed Martin’s record $292 billion backlog, continued F-35 production at 156 aircraft annually and a 10-year F-35 agreement with the Pentagon. These developments improve long-term revenue visibility and support the case for sustained military demand. Lockheed Martin long-term investor takeaways
  • Positive Sentiment: Analysts and investors are also encouraged by potentially better Department of Defense contract terms, with higher-margin Missiles and Fire Control activities expected to improve profitability and reduce development and execution risk. Lockheed Martin backlog analysis
  • Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain divided on LMT versus faster-growing defense companies such as Kratos Defense. While the backlog and F-35 progress are favorable, valuation, cash generation and uncertainty over future U.S. defense budgets remain key considerations. Kratos Defense versus Lockheed Martin analysis
  • Negative Sentiment: After a roughly 27% October rally, some investors may be taking profits. Coverage also flags gradually weakening margins and warns that management’s January update on profitability and execution could determine whether the recent advance is sustainable. Lockheed Martin October rally analysis

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on LMT. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $620.00 to $665.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday. UBS Group increased their target price on Lockheed Martin from $653.00 to $692.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $629.00 to $564.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Lockheed Martin from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $653.00 to $690.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Lockheed Martin currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $638.05.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on LMT

Lockheed Martin Trading Down 0.9%

The firm has a market cap of $147.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.65, a P/E/G ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $544.17 and a 200-day moving average of $568.87.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The aerospace company reported $7.97 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.52 by $0.45. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 8.23% and a return on equity of 83.41%. The firm had revenue of $20.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $20.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.95 EPS. Lockheed Martin’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 30.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Lockheed Martin Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be issued a $3.60 dividend. This represents a $14.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 1st. This is an increase from Lockheed Martin’s previous quarterly dividend of $3.45. Lockheed Martin’s payout ratio is presently 51.15%.

Institutional Trading of Lockheed Martin

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Lockheed Martin by 10.0% during the 3rd quarter. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,801 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $18,850,000 after acquiring an additional 3,355 shares during the last quarter. Third View Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 2.0% during the third quarter. Third View Private Wealth LLC now owns 886 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $451,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares during the period. Provenance Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 67,700.0% in the third quarter. Provenance Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 678 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $345,000 after purchasing an additional 677 shares during the last quarter. Integras Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 0.5% in the third quarter. Integras Partners LLC now owns 5,862 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $2,985,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lyell Wealth Management LP increased its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 51.0% in the third quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP now owns 1,678 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $855,000 after purchasing an additional 567 shares during the period. 74.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Lockheed Martin

(Get Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Formed in 1995 through the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company develops and produces advanced defense, aerospace, and technology systems for government and commercial customers.

Its principal business areas include Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space. Products and services include military aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, C-130 Hercules, and F-16 Fighting Falcon; missile-defense and precision-strike systems; helicopters and naval systems; command, control, communications, and intelligence technologies; satellites; space exploration systems; and other classified space and defense programs.

Lockheed Martin serves the U.S.

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