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Defense Stocks: Rockets, Radars, and Record Backlogs
By Jeffrey Neal Johnson. Published: 3/3/2026.
Key Points
- The recent market rally reflects a deeper investor understanding of the defense sector’s foundational financial strength and strategic importance.
- Extensive multi-year order backlogs provide these companies with exceptional revenue visibility and insulate them from typical market volatility.
- Leadership in producing critical next-generation military technologies positions these defense giants for a long-term cycle of elevated global demand.
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In response to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the defense sector has captured the market's attention.
Shares of industry leaders Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), RTX Corporation (NYSE: RTX), and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) have surged, with some hitting new highs amid heavy trading.
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That sharp upward move raises a key question for investors: Is this rally a short-lived, fear-driven spike or a more durable reassessment of the sector's intrinsic value? A closer look at the companies' financial footing suggests the latter — the market is catching up to strengths that were in place well before the current crisis.
Why This Time Is Different
Recent military actions involving the U.S. and its allies have been a powerful catalyst, shifting how the market views the defense industry. The immediate reaction is an expectation of increased global military spending, but this goes beyond short-term replenishment of expended munitions: it signals a broader strategic realignment.
Nations are reassessing long-term defense postures in a more volatile world, accelerating modernization programs and increasing investment in next-generation technology.
Modern conflict emphasizes precision missiles, advanced air-defense systems, and sophisticated surveillance networks, creating sustained demand for core products from these defense giants. Events have brought the need for systems like the Patriot battery, the F-35 combat jet, and strategic bombers into sharper public focus. For companies that build these assets, the geopolitical landscape has underscored their essential role in national and global security, prompting a re-evaluation of long-term growth prospects and intrinsic value.
The Bedrock of Long-Term Value
While the recent crisis provided the spark, the sector's rally is grounded in long-standing financial strength. The clearest indicator is the companies' order backlogs — the total value of signed and awarded contracts for future work.
Those backlogs, totaling hundreds of billions of dollars, represent years of secured revenue and give investors a clearer view of future activity. They insulate these firms from commercial-market volatility and form the bedrock of the current bull case.
A detailed look at order books shows a multi-year runway for growth, anchored by programs viewed as essential to national security.
- RTX Corporation (RTX) carries a backlog of about $268 billion. That figure is growing, supported by multi-year agreements to increase production of in-demand systems like the Tomahawk and AMRAAM missiles. With a trailing price-to-earnings ratio near 42.7 and a dividend yield of about 1.28%, RTX combines growth potential with shareholder returns. Its Raytheon segment is a global leader in precision sensors and missile technologies — now a top priority for defense ministries worldwide — positioning RTX to capture a significant share of new spending.
- Lockheed Martin (LMT) has a backlog of roughly $194 billion, reflecting the sustained global demand for its core programs. The F-35 fighter remains a multi-decade revenue stream covering production, software upgrades, and long-term sustainment. Its Missiles and Fire Control division — which produces critical interceptors like PAC-3 and THAAD — reported robust 14% revenue growth in the last reported quarter, signaling strong demand that predates the current crisis.
- Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports a backlog of more than $95.7 billion, driven by leadership in high-tech, strategic platforms. The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is a centerpiece and a top U.S. defense priority. A recent agreement to accelerate B-21 production underscores the government's long-term commitment. With a P/E around 26 and consistent dividends, Northrop combines financial discipline with strategic positioning in space and unmanned systems for decades to come.
Redefined and Ready for Growth
The surge in defense stock valuations looks to be more than a fleeting reaction. It represents a logical repricing based on a new assessment of global risk and sustained, non-cyclical demand. While geopolitical events sparked the move, record backlogs and multi-decade programs are the fuel behind it.
This operational strength is supported by solid financial health, including steady revenue growth and dependable dividend payments that appeal to long-term investors. The market appears to be setting a higher valuation floor for the sector, recognizing that these companies are positioned for an extended period of elevated demand. The key near-term focus for investors is execution — how effectively these defense leaders can convert historic backlogs into accelerating earnings and cash flow in the years ahead.
Berkshire's $1.4B Bet: DPZ Looks Poised to Expand Market Share
By Leo Miller. Published: 2/24/2026.
Key Points
- Berkshire Hathaway is a huge shareholder of Domino’s Pizza; the company’s expanding market share is almost surely a key reason why.
- Domino’s shares got a solid lift after the company’s last earnings report, music to Warren Buffett’s ears.
- Domino’s not only provides a solid dividend, but has been growing its payment briskly for years.
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While shares of Domino’s Pizza (NASDAQ: DPZ) have struggled in recent years, the company now has backing from arguably the most famous investment firm in the world. Domino's isn’t a long-time holding of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), but it isn’t a new one either. Berkshire first initiated a position in DPZ in Q3 2024, buying 1.28 million shares, and has purchased millions more since as the stock declined.
From the start of Q3 2024 through late February 2026, Domino's shares have fallen by more than 20%. Accordingly, as of Q4 2025 Berkshire's position stands at over 3.35 million DPZ shares, up roughly 150% since the initial purchase. In total, Berkshire owns just under 10% of Domino’s outstanding shares, making it the company’s second-largest shareholder. The stake represents about 0.5% of Berkshire’s portfolio and is worth nearly $1.4 billion.
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Berkshire’s sizable position and its willingness to buy the dips are clear signals of confidence in Domino's. That makes the company worth a closer look after its latest earnings report.
DPZ Posts Mixed Q4, Shares Gain
Domino’s reported Q4 2025 results that impressed markets, and the stock rose roughly 4% on the news.
Revenue came in at $1.54 billion, a year-over-year increase of just over 6%, topping the consensus estimate of $1.52 billion. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose more than 9% to $5.35, narrowly missing the $5.38 consensus.
Looking ahead to 2026, Domino’s expects global sales to grow by about 6%, a modest acceleration versus global retail sales growth of 5.4% in 2025.
Market Share Leader with Expansion in Sight
Domino’s has the largest U.S. market share among fast-food pizza chains, with Pizza Hut (a Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) subsidiary) its primary rival.
Market share is best measured using retail/system sales—total sales across company-owned and franchised stores—rather than reported revenue, since franchisees operate most locations and the parent company retains only a slice of those sales.
In 2024, Domino’s reported U.S. retail sales of $9.5 billion, well above Pizza Hut’s $5.5 billion in system sales. In 2025, Domino’s extended that lead: DPZ’s full-year U.S. retail sales were about $9.95 billion, versus roughly $5.11 billion in Pizza Hut system sales. Domino’s U.S. sales rose 4.7% for the year, while Pizza Hut’s fell about 8%.
Yum! expects to close 250 U.S. Pizza Hut locations in 2026, while Domino's plans to open at least 175 new U.S. stores. That rollout gives Domino's additional opportunity to take share from Pizza Hut. Yum! has also launched a "strategic review" of Pizza Hut, a move that often signals concern about a brand's performance and can precede a sale or other major change.
Domino's already leads the market and faces limited threat from new national competitors. The pizza industry remains highly fragmented outside the major quick-service players, with many local, independently owned shops. Domino's economies of scale make it difficult for those smaller operators to compete on price.
Prolific Dividend Grower Trading at a Discount Versus History
With Domino's holding a strong market position while its top competitor shows weakness, Berkshire's endorsement carries weight. The stock looks reasonably valued, trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 21.5x—about 16% below its three-year average forward P/E of 25.7x.
Domino's also offers income. Alongside its earnings release, the company announced a 15% increase to its quarterly dividend, raising the payout to $1.99 per quarter and yielding roughly 2%. While not high, that yield is meaningfully above the S&P 500's approximate 1.1% yield.
Domino’s has increased its dividend at an impressive compound annual rate of about 18% over the past five years, a track record few large-cap U.S. firms can match. The company will pay the next dividend on March 30 to shareholders of record as of the close on March 13.
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