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LMT or NOC or RTX
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Lockheed Martin (LMT) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC) vs. RTX Corporation (RTX) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- LMT leads with 34% YTD gains and a massive $194B backlog, driven by F-35 and missile contracts, though facing software delays.
- NOC shows robust 29% YTD performance with a $95.7B record backlog, bolstered by B-21 Raider and international deals.
- RTX trails at 13% YTD but offers diversification via commercial aerospace, with $268B backlog and recent multi-billion contracts.
- All three benefit from heightened geopolitical tensions and U.S. defense budget proposals, outperforming the S&P 500 significantly.
- Valuations vary: LMT P/E ~30, NOC ~25, RTX ~41; dividends range from 1.3-2.1%.
- Recent momentum favors pure defense plays amid sector rotation into aerospace ETFs like XAR and ITA.
Introduction
Lockheed Martin (LMT), Northrop Grumman (NOC), and RTX Corporation (RTX) dominate the aerospace and defense sector, key players in military aircraft, missiles, and advanced systems. This comparison analyzes their relative performance amid rising geopolitical demands and proposed U.S. defense spending hikes to $1.5 trillion. Traders seeking momentum in high-backlog names and investors eyeing stable dividends will find value in evaluating business models, recent catalysts, and market positioning for informed stock comparison decisions.
LMT Overview and Recent Performance
Lockheed Martin (LMT), the world's largest defense contractor, focuses on fighter jets like the F-35, missiles, and rotary-wing aircraft. In recent market activity, shares have surged over 34% YTD and 17% in the past month, reaching highs near $650 amid a $194B backlog. Key influences include a $111.5M naval contract for F-35 systems and PAC-3 missile production ramps, offsetting scrutiny over software upgrades and donations. Sentiment remains positive on steady government orders and geopolitical tensions boosting demand, with analysts lifting targets to $680-$695 despite anticipated EPS dips.
NOC Overview and Recent Performance
Northrop Grumman (NOC) specializes in stealth bombers like the B-21 Raider, space systems, and missile defense. Shares have climbed 29% YTD and 7.5% monthly, trading around $730 with a record $95.7B backlog. Recent weeks feature contracts for German Chinook protection and Polish artillery production, alongside Q4 earnings beats with 17% operating income growth. Performance reflects strong revenue momentum and analyst upgrades to $781 targets, tempered by cash flow challenges, as defense priorities enhance sentiment.
RTX Overview and Recent Performance
RTX Corporation (RTX), blending Raytheon missiles with Pratt & Whitney engines and Collins Aerospace, maintains a $268B backlog split commercial-defense. Shares up 13% YTD hover near $206, with recent gains from $2B+ Air Force/Navy contracts and facility expansions for munitions. Q4 2025 showed 9.7% revenue growth and raised 2026 guidance, though higher P/E reflects premium for diversification. Sentiment balances defense catalysts like Tomahawk deals against commercial recovery, with targets to $240.
Trending AI Robots
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Head-to-Head Comparison
LMT ($149B cap, P/E 30, 2.1% yield) emphasizes platforms like F-35 for sticky revenues but risks program delays. NOC ($104B cap, P/E 25, 1.3% yield) leads in stealth/space with lower valuation, offering growth via B-21 but narrower exposure. RTX ($275B cap, P/E 41, 1.3% yield) diversifies across commercial/missiles, mitigating budget risks yet facing engine issues. Momentum favors LMT (34% YTD) over NOC (29%) and RTX (13%); all share U.S. gov't reliance but contrast in international reach—NOC/RTX stronger. Risks include overruns (NOC Sentinel) vs. catalysts like budget hikes. Sentiment tilts to pure-plays amid tensions, with LMT's scale edging stability.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors LMT for its superior trend consistency, largest backlog visibility, and relative outperformance in recent defense rotations. With 34% YTD gains and missile/F-35 catalysts aligning to sector ETFs like XAR/ITA, it shows stronger probabilistic upside versus NOC's steady backlog or RTX's premium valuation, based on observable momentum and positioning.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
LMT’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileNOC’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and RTX’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- LMT’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- NOC’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- RTX’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
LMT’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while NOC’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and RTX’s TA Score reflects 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- LMT’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 6 bearish.
- NOC’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- RTX’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
LMT (@Aerospace & Defense) experienced а -3.51% price change this week, while NOC (@Aerospace & Defense) price change was -1.26% , and RTX (@Aerospace & Defense) price fluctuated -2.55% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Aerospace & Defense industry was +4.81%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +11.73%, and the average quarterly price growth was +29.52%.
Reported Earning Dates
LMT is expected to report earnings on Apr 23, 2026.
NOC is expected to report earnings on Apr 21, 2026.
RTX is expected to report earnings on Apr 21, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Aerospace & Defense (+4.81% weekly)Aerospace & Defense is one of largest industries in the U.S., mainly comprising the following areas: commercial airliners, military aircraft, missiles, space, and general aviation. Focused heavily on research & development, it is also one of the fastest growing industries. Military aircraft has the largest market share in the industry’s sales, followed by space systems, civil aircraft, and missiles. Aerospace exports, directly and indirectly, support more jobs than the export of any other commodity, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation and General Electric Company are some of the most prominent players in this space.
| LMT | NOC | RTX | |
| Capitalization | 136B | 94.5B | 264B |
| EBITDA | 8.73B | 7.21B | 14.9B |
| Gain YTD | 23.082 | 17.043 | 7.455 |
| P/E Ratio | 27.56 | 22.88 | 39.60 |
| Revenue | 75B | 42B | 88.6B |
| Total Cash | 4.12B | 4.4B | 7.44B |
| Total Debt | 21.7B | 17B | 39.5B |
LMT | NOC | RTX | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 54 | 54 | 73 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 13 Undervalued | 63 Fair valued | 41 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 35 | 10 | 6 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 14 | 35 | 67 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 52 | 55 | 48 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 33 | 42 | 52 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
LMT's Valuation (13) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as RTX (41) in the null industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for NOC (63) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that LMT's stock grew similarly to RTX’s and somewhat faster than NOC’s over the last 12 months.
RTX's Profit vs Risk Rating (6) in the null industry is in the same range as NOC (10) in the Aerospace And Defense industry, and is in the same range as LMT (35) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that RTX's stock grew similarly to NOC’s and similarly to LMT’s over the last 12 months.
LMT's SMR Rating (14) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as NOC (35) in the Aerospace And Defense industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for RTX (67) in the null industry. This means that LMT's stock grew similarly to NOC’s and somewhat faster than RTX’s over the last 12 months.
RTX's Price Growth Rating (48) in the null industry is in the same range as LMT (52) in the Aerospace And Defense industry, and is in the same range as NOC (55) in the Aerospace And Defense industry. This means that RTX's stock grew similarly to LMT’s and similarly to NOC’s over the last 12 months.
LMT's P/E Growth Rating (33) in the Aerospace And Defense industry is in the same range as NOC (42) in the Aerospace And Defense industry, and is in the same range as RTX (52) in the null industry. This means that LMT's stock grew similarly to NOC’s and similarly to RTX’s over the last 12 months.
| LMT | NOC | RTX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 3 days ago 69% | 3 days ago 71% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 45% | 3 days ago 54% | 3 days ago 67% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 52% | 3 days ago 36% | 3 days ago 60% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 38% | N/A | 3 days ago 57% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 42% | 3 days ago 45% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 54% | 3 days ago 32% | 3 days ago 44% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 54% | 18 days ago 60% | 14 days ago 64% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 3 days ago 43% | 4 days ago 42% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 57% | 3 days ago 81% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 52% | 3 days ago 30% | 3 days ago 32% |
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| WDI | 13.93 | 0.09 | +0.65% |
| Western Asset Diversified Income Fund | |||
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| Fidelity Total Bond ETF | |||
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| Fidelity Yield Enhanced Equity ETF | |||
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