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U.S. Aerospace and Defense Industry Analysis

UpdatedApr 19, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies100
  • 7D0.6%
  • 3M-4.9%
  • 1Y52.5%
  • YTDn/a

The Aerospace and Defense is pretty flat in the last 7 days, but Rocket Lab has stood out, gaining 25%. As for the the longer term, the industry is up 52% over the past 12 months. Earnings are forecast to grow by 18% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Aerospace and Defense Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 19 Apr 2026US$1.7tUS$513.3bUS$36.4b39.6x46x3.3x
Tue, 17 Mar 2026US$1.6tUS$511.4bUS$35.2b41.6x46.6x3.2x
Thu, 12 Feb 2026US$1.7tUS$509.8bUS$35.5b41.9x46.9x3.3x
Sat, 10 Jan 2026US$1.4tUS$410.1bUS$32.0b40.3x44.8x3.5x
Mon, 08 Dec 2025US$1.3tUS$409.5bUS$32.0b37x39.7x3.1x
Wed, 05 Nov 2025US$1.4tUS$408.4bUS$32.2b37.5x42.1x3.3x
Fri, 03 Oct 2025US$1.3tUS$398.6bUS$31.3b39.1x42.1x3.3x
Sun, 31 Aug 2025US$1.2tUS$394.2bUS$31.0b34.4x39.1x3.1x
Tue, 29 Jul 2025US$1.2tUS$392.6bUS$31.2b36.6x38.4x3.1x
Thu, 26 Jun 2025US$1.1tUS$387.1bUS$29.9b35.3x37.3x2.9x
Sat, 24 May 2025US$1.0tUS$386.7bUS$29.9b32.9x34.7x2.7x
Mon, 21 Apr 2025US$921.1bUS$377.4bUS$28.8b31.1x32x2.4x
Wed, 19 Mar 2025US$942.3bUS$377.0bUS$29.1b32.2x32.4x2.5x
Fri, 14 Feb 2025US$943.9bUS$376.1bUS$30.0b34.4x31.5x2.5x
Sun, 12 Jan 2025US$876.7bUS$401.3bUS$27.9b32.7x31.4x2.2x
Tue, 10 Dec 2024US$927.5bUS$403.7bUS$27.9b34x33.2x2.3x
Thu, 07 Nov 2024US$912.4bUS$403.3bUS$27.7b35.4x32.9x2.3x
Sat, 05 Oct 2024US$944.7bUS$393.7bUS$23.6b35.1x40x2.4x
Mon, 02 Sep 2024US$903.6bUS$388.7bUS$23.3b34.3x38.8x2.3x
Wed, 31 Jul 2024US$850.1bUS$387.2bUS$22.9b34.1x37.1x2.2x
Fri, 28 Jun 2024US$795.1bUS$381.1bUS$23.9b32.4x33.3x2.1x
Sun, 26 May 2024US$819.0bUS$380.8bUS$23.8b31.8x34.4x2.2x
Tue, 23 Apr 2024US$762.3bUS$371.1bUS$27.8b29.4x27.4x2.1x
Thu, 21 Mar 2024US$591.9bUS$303.9bUS$18.8b31.8x31.4x1.9x
Sat, 17 Feb 2024US$571.5bUS$303.1bUS$18.5b29.9x30.9x1.9x
Mon, 15 Jan 2024US$583.1bUS$302.1bUS$20.9b29.3x27.9x1.9x
Wed, 13 Dec 2023US$571.3bUS$301.7bUS$20.9b28.3x27.3x1.9x
Fri, 10 Nov 2023US$550.6bUS$301.4bUS$20.6b29.6x26.7x1.8x
Sun, 08 Oct 2023US$502.4bUS$301.2bUS$22.4b26.5x22.4x1.7x
Tue, 05 Sep 2023US$559.0bUS$305.8bUS$22.8b25.5x24.5x1.8x
Thu, 03 Aug 2023US$556.3bUS$304.8bUS$22.9b26.2x24.3x1.8x
Sat, 01 Jul 2023US$578.0bUS$297.4bUS$21.7b25.4x26.6x1.9x
Mon, 29 May 2023US$546.8bUS$300.3bUS$21.9b23.2x25x1.8x
Wed, 26 Apr 2023US$580.3bUS$295.0bUS$21.8b22.1x26.6x2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

26.6x


Total Market Cap: US$580.3bTotal Earnings: US$21.8bTotal Revenue: US$295.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Aerospace and Defense Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 34x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Aerospace and Defense industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 46.0x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 34.0x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.4x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 3.3x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Aerospace and Defense industry have grown 19% per year over the last three years.
  • Revenues for these companies have grown 20% per year.
  • This means that more sales are being generated by these companies overall, and subsequently their profits are increasing too.

Industry Comparison

How does U.S. Aerospace and Defense compare with similar industries?

US Market4.94%
Industrials1.94%
Aerospace & Defense0.64%
Aerospace and Defense0.64%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
RKLB Rocket LabUS$84.8024.6%
+US$9.6b		329.6%PS81.1x
AXON Axon EnterpriseUS$402.8516.5%
+US$4.7b		-28.0%PE260.4x
BA BoeingUS$223.382.6%
+US$4.5b		38.0%PE92.9x
TDG TransDigm GroupUS$1.27k4.9%
+US$3.3b		-5.4%PE39.5x
HWM Howmet AerospaceUS$255.691.2%
+US$1.2b		107.5%PE68x

Latest News

TDG
US$1,265.88
TransDigm Group
7D
4.9%
1Y
-5.4%
LUNR
US$27.58
Intuitive Machines
7D
17.0%
1Y
270.2%

LUNR: Future Lunar Contracts And Ongoing Equity Dilution Will Pressure Shares

Analysts have lifted their average price target for Intuitive Machines by roughly $10 to align with a fair value estimate of about $12.09 per share, citing higher revenue and margin assumptions supported by a wave of recent target increases from firms across the Street. Analyst Commentary Street research around Intuitive Machines has centered on how its lunar infrastructure plans and related services could support future revenue and earnings, with several firms updating price targets and estimates in recent months.
RTX
US$196.42
RTX
7D
-2.6%
1Y
52.4%

RTX Corporation (RTX): The Autonomous Wingman Era and the Future of Collaborative Combat

RTX Corporation (RTX) , the global architect of both commercial flight and national security, enters Saturday, April 18, 2026 , as a critical nexus in the shift toward automated warfare. Trading at $196.50 USD following a resilient 1.14% daily climb , the stock is effectively shaking off the volatility of early 2026 as it prepares for its Q1 earnings report on Tuesday, April 21.
AXON
US$402.85
Axon Enterprise
7D
16.5%
1Y
-28.0%
RKLB
US$84.80
Rocket Lab
7D
24.6%
1Y
329.6%

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB): The "End-to-End" Space Sovereign and the Neutron Inflection

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) , the most consistent challenger to the SpaceX orbital monopoly, reached a critical high-water mark on Friday, April 17, 2026.
FTAI
US$259.13
FTAI Aviation
7D
3.1%
1Y
178.6%
BA
US$223.38
Boeing
7D
2.6%
1Y
38.0%

BA: New Orders And Lower Margins Will Shape A Fairly Balanced Outlook

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Boeing to about $219 from roughly $230, reflecting revised assumptions around profit margins and future P/E that offset changes in growth expectations and discount rates. What's in the News NASA's Space Launch System rocket, powered by a Boeing built core stage, successfully lifted off and completed its core stage mission, including fueling, engine ignition, thrust vector control in flight, fuel tank depletion, engine shutdown and separation maneuvers.
LMT
US$592.19
Lockheed Martin
7D
-3.5%
1Y
27.6%

Orbit + Aero + Defense

Key Takeaways Two simple engines: Orbit (Space): building space-based “defence infrastructure” (sensing, tracking, comms). Aero + Defence: the big money makers today (F-35, missiles/missile defense, radars/mission systems).
NOC
US$665.26
Northrop Grumman
7D
-1.3%
1Y
23.1%
DRS
US$44.57
Leonardo DRS
7D
-3.2%
1Y
22.2%

DRS: 2026 Demand, Naval Propulsion And Backlog Will Shape Measured Opportunity

Analysts have raised their average price target for Leonardo DRS by $7 to $47, citing recent revenue and earnings outperformance, expanding naval propulsion opportunities, progress on Germanium supply, solid free cash flow guidance, and a backlog supported by $1.1 billion in new contract awards. Analyst Commentary Recent research coverage on Leonardo DRS has centered on stronger than expected quarterly results, updated outlooks, and a series of higher price targets from major firms.
GE
US$304.13
General Electric
7D
-1.4%
1Y
67.3%

GE: Future Engine Demand And Automation Will Test Execution Balance

Analysts have trimmed the General Electric fair value estimate to $290.00, reflecting updated views on discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E assumptions drawn from the latest mix of higher and lower Street price targets on GE Aerospace. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on GE Aerospace presents a mix of optimism and caution around the current share price and earnings outlook.
HWM
US$255.69
Howmet Aerospace
7D
1.2%
1Y
107.5%

HWM: Aerospace And Turbine Demand Will Support Premium Future P/E Multiple

The analyst price target for Howmet Aerospace remains at $315. Recent research ties this level to views that the company can support a premium future P/E multiple, slightly higher revenue growth assumptions, and continued strength across aerospace and gas turbine markets, even as some firms have adjusted individual targets up or down following the latest Q4 beat and 2026 outlook.
LHX
US$350.35
L3Harris Technologies
7D
-0.9%
1Y
60.5%

LHX: Missile Spinout And Pentagon Backing Will Define 2028 Risk Balance

Analysts have nudged the L3Harris Technologies fair value estimate higher to $392.16 from $388.11, citing updated models that reflect refreshed 2028 targets introduced at the company’s investor day and a broad series of recent price target increases across the Street. Analyst Commentary Street research around L3Harris Technologies has been active, with a series of higher price targets and updated models tied to the company’s refreshed 2028 framework and its planned missile solutions spinout backed by a US$1b preferred equity investment from the Department of War.
SATL
US$6.93
Satellogic
7D
-5.5%
1Y
78.1%

Daily Remapping Ambitions And Subscription Model Will Strain Margins And Execution Risks

Catalysts About Satellogic Satellogic designs, manufactures and operates Earth observation satellites, selling imagery, analytics and sovereign satellite systems to government and commercial customers. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
FLY
US$43.72
Firefly Aerospace
7D
16.5%
1Y
n/a
SARO
US$26.76
StandardAero
7D
-1.4%
1Y
5.0%