Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Cut to Buy at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen cut shares of Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Saturday,Wall Street Zen reports.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on LMT. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $641.00 to $691.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $600.00 to $570.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 9th. Vertical Research upgraded shares of Lockheed Martin from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $600.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 14th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn assumed coverage on Lockheed Martin in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. They set a “buy” rating and a $650.00 price objective on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lockheed Martin has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $627.10.

Lockheed Martin Stock Down 0.5%

LMT stock opened at $549.29 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $126.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.20, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34. Lockheed Martin has a twelve month low of $437.25 and a twelve month high of $692.00. The company’s 50 day moving average is $540.85 and its two-hundred day moving average is $543.09.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The aerospace company reported $7.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.22 by $0.72. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 8.16% and a return on equity of 91.42%. The business had revenue of $20.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.46 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. Lockheed Martin has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.950-30.650 EPS. Research analysts expect that Lockheed Martin will post 30.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lockheed Martin Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be issued a $3.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 1st. This is an increase from Lockheed Martin’s previous quarterly dividend of $3.45. This represents a $14.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.6%. Lockheed Martin’s dividend payout ratio is currently 50.87%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lockheed Martin

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of LMT. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Lockheed Martin in the second quarter worth approximately $9,617,574,000. Corient Private Wealth LP acquired a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the second quarter valued at approximately $101,960,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the second quarter valued at approximately $645,258,000. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the second quarter valued at approximately $497,469,000. Finally, Diamant Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 60,339.0% in the 1st quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 879,387 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $531,493,000 after acquiring an additional 877,932 shares in the last quarter. 74.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lockheed Martin News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Lockheed Martin and RTX’s joint venture won a $215 million U.S. Army contract for Javelin launchers, adding to demand for the companies’ missile systems. RTX, Lockheed Martin JV wins $215M US Army contract for Javelin launchers
• Positive Sentiment: LMT secured a $117.1 million Apache helicopter radar-support contract. The award reinforces recurring sustainment revenue and Lockheed’s role in supporting critical U.S. Army electronic-warfare systems. LMT Secures $117.1M Contract for Apache Helicopter Radar Support
• Positive Sentiment: Ukraine’s president discussed accelerating Patriot deliveries with Lockheed Martin, highlighting continuing international demand for the company’s air-defense products. Ukraine’s Zelenskiy discusses speeding up supplies of Patriots with Lockheed Martin
• Positive Sentiment: An investment analysis emphasized LMT’s defensive characteristics, close U.S. government relationship, long-term stability and dividend income. Its historically resilient performance during market stress may support demand from income-oriented investors. Why Lockheed Martin May Be an Underrated Stock to Buy Right Now
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are focused on LMT’s upcoming third-quarter report, particularly revenue and earnings, F-35 deliveries, backlog conversion, margins and cash flow. The preview creates near-term event risk because results or guidance could differ from expectations. Lockheed Martin Earnings Preview
• Negative Sentiment: New Pentagon sourcing rules will require non-Chinese rare-earth magnets by 2027. Finding domestic or allied suppliers could increase costs or complicate production, although potential changes allowing Norway’s sovereign wealth fund to invest in Western defense companies could provide a partial offset. Lockheed Martin Faces 2027 Rare Earth Rules
• Negative Sentiment: Political criticism of defense contractors over profits from the Iran war introduces reputational and policy risk, despite management’s view that related demand may remain durable. Joe Kent Slams Defense Contractors

Lockheed Martin Company Profile

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.