Lockheed Martin forecasts upbeat 2026 profit, revenue amid rising geopolitical tensions

By Mike Stone and Aishwarya Jain

Jan 29 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin forecast 2026 nett and gross supra Wall Street estimates connected Thursday, anticipating continued ​demand for its combatant jets and weapons amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.

Conflicts ‌in the Middle East and a protracted Russia-Ukraine warfare person led to a surge successful request for ‌arms, driving income for defence contractors similar Lockheed.

Geopolitical tensions person besides been further heightened by the seizure of the Venezuelan president by U.S. forces.

Lockheed's F-35 and F-22 combatant jets, RQ-170 stealth drones and Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters were utilized successful the ⁠operation, CEO Jim Taiclet said ‌in the release.

Earlier this month, Lockheed clinched a seven-year statement with the Department of War to boost accumulation of Patriot PAC-3 ‍missile interceptors to 2,000 units annually, up from 600.

During the 4th quarter, the company's missiles business, shaper of the Patriot system, posted the fastest income growth, up 17.8% from a ​year ago.

Quarterly income for its aeronautics segment, which is the starring conception by ‌revenue and makes the F-35 jets, roseate 6.4%.

In January, Lockheed said it delivered a grounds 191 F-35 combatant jets successful 2025, up from 110 jets successful 2024.

The F-35 is the Pentagon's largest acquisition program, with beingness costs estimated astatine much than $2 trillion for purchasing, operating and maintaining the aircraft.

President Donald Trump successful January ⁠signed an bid for defence firms linking dividends, ​share buybacks and enforcement wage to weapons ​delivery schedules, introducing uncertainty astir superior returns.

Peers RTX and Northrop Grumman person reaffirmed their committedness to dividends, though Northrop said it would ‍pause buybacks beyond January.

In ⁠2025, Lockheed paid $3.13 cardinal successful dividends, a emergence from $3.06 cardinal the erstwhile year.

Lockheed forecast 2026 gross of $77.5 cardinal to $80 billion, supra analysts' estimates of $77.83 ⁠billion, according to LSEG-compiled data.

It expects nett per stock betwixt $29.35 and $30.25, versus expectations of $29.28.

The Maryland-based institution ‌reported a quarterly gross of $20.32 billion, up from $18.62 billion.

(Reporting by Aishwarya ‌Jain successful Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)