As the Q4 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the defense contractors industry, including Leonardo DRS (NASDAQ:DRS) and its peers.
Defense contractors typically require technical expertise and government clearance. Companies in this sector can also enjoy long-term contracts with government bodies, leading to more predictable revenues. Combined, these factors create high barriers to entry and can lead to limited competition. Lately, geopolitical tensions–whether it be Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or China’s aggression towards Taiwan–highlight the need for defense spending. On the other hand, demand for these products can ebb and flow with defense budgets and even who is president, as different administrations can have vastly different ideas of how to allocate federal funds.
The 14 defense contractors stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 4.3% above.
Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 5.6% on average since the latest earnings results.
Leonardo DRS (NASDAQ:DRS)
Developing submarine detection systems for the U.S. Navy, Leonardo DRS (NASDAQ:DRS) is a provider of defense systems, electronics, and military support services.
Leonardo DRS reported revenues of $981 million, up 5.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.9%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and full-year revenue guidance beating analysts’ expectations.
“Our 2024 financial results exceeded our expectations. DRS delivered record bookings, mid-teens organic revenue growth, healthy adjusted EBITDA margin expansion and solid free cash flow generation. The DRS team’s focus on our customers and helping address their most challenging missions continues to generate remarkable outcomes for our shareholders. Our outstanding people, our agility and innovation combined with our differentiated technologies are foundational to both our growth and market leadership. We remain strategically focused on capitalizing on our momentum to drive continued growth,” said Bill Lynn, Chairman and CEO of Leonardo DRS.
The stock is up 21.2% since reporting and currently trades at $35.79.
Is now the time to buy Leonardo DRS? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q4: Mercury Systems (NASDAQ:MRCY)
Founded in 1981, Mercury Systems (NASDAQ:MRCY) specializes in providing processing subsystems and components for primarily defense applications.
Mercury Systems reported revenues of $223.1 million, up 13% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 23.9%. The business had an incredible quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Mercury Systems delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 12.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $47.17.
Is now the time to buy Mercury Systems? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q4: AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV)
Focused on the future of autonomous military combat, AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV) specializes in advanced unmanned aircraft systems and electric vehicle charging solutions.
AeroVironment reported revenues of $167.6 million, down 10.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 10.9%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations.
AeroVironment delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates, slowest revenue growth, and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $143.51.
Read our full analysis of AeroVironment’s results here.
BWX (NYSE:BWXT)
Contributing components and materials to the famous Manhattan Project in the 1940s, BWX (NYSE:BWXT) is a manufacturer and service provider of nuclear components and fuel for government and commercial industries.
BWX reported revenues of $746.3 million, up 2.9% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 2.4%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded full-year revenue guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.
BWX pulled off the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is up 4.9% since reporting and currently trades at $104.70.
Read our full, actionable report on BWX here, it’s free.
Huntington Ingalls (NYSE:HII)
Building Nimitz-class aircraft carriers used in active service, Huntington Ingalls (NYSE:HII) develops marine vessels and their mission systems and maintenance services.
Huntington Ingalls reported revenues of $3.00 billion, down 5.4% year on year. This print missed analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. Overall, it was a disappointing quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
The stock is up 12.9% since reporting and currently trades at $220.95.
Read our full, actionable report on Huntington Ingalls here, it’s free.
Market Update
Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.
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