Lockheed Martin stock gains contract momentum with $24.3 billion F-35 sale approval
Published on 09/18/2026 at 13:41 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Lockheed Martin Corporation (ISIN US5398301094) stock is drawing investor attention as of September 18, 2026 after U.S. authorities approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, while new helicopter and missile orders bolster its backlog and future cash flows. According to GuruFocus on September 18, 2026, the U.S. State Department cleared a possible $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters and 49 engines to Saudi Arabia, highlighting Lockheed Martin's pivotal role in global defense markets.
Major F-35 sale approval supports long-term revenue
As GuruFocus reports, the approved Saudi Arabian package includes 48 F-35 Lightning II aircraft and 49 Pratt and Whitney F135 engines alongside training and support, with an estimated value of $24.3 billion as of September 18, 2026. The deal still requires Congressional consent, but even as a potential transaction it would rank among Lockheed Martin's largest international fighter programs and extend the production line well into the next decade.
According to GuruFocus on September 18, 2026, Lockheed Martin shares around a price of USD 537.25 trade roughly 4.6 percent below an intrinsic GF Value of USD 563.60, suggesting a modest discount in the portal's valuation model in light of the F-35 approval. The article notes that the Saudi order would further diversify Lockheed Martin's revenue away from purely U.S. defense budgets by deepening ties with a key Middle Eastern ally.
Helicopter and missile contracts add near-term backlog
Beyond the headline F-35 approval, Lockheed Martin is also reinforcing its backlog through rotary and missile programs. According to GuruFocus on September 17, 2026, its Sikorsky subsidiary secured a USD 234.46 million contract modification from the U.S. Army to procure 16 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, lifting the total contract value to USD 356.25 million with work expected to be completed by June 30, 2028. Funded with fiscal year 2026 aircraft procurement money, this order underlines sustained U.S. demand for tactical airlift and supports Lockheed Martin's multi-year revenue outlook.
Lockheed Martin is also stepping up missile production. On September 17, 2026, the company announced a strategic framework agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to accelerate production and delivery of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, a next-generation air-to-air weapon designed to preserve U.S. air superiority, according to GuruFocus. The portal notes that the stock around USD 537.25 is about 4.7 percent below its GF Value of USD 563.60, and that the JATM agreement lays the groundwork for multi-year procurement that should translate into a sizeable recurring revenue stream once full-rate production is reached.
Partnering with GM Defense accelerates PAC-3 missile deliveries
On the ground-based air defense side, Lockheed Martin has started to fast-track production of components for the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor missile. In a company release dated September 17, 2026, Lockheed Martin announced that GM Defense delivered the first mission-critical PAC-3 MSE components less than one month after the two firms signed their contract, according to Lockheed Martin. The delivery, achieved in 22 days from contract signature, demonstrates the firm's ability to scale production rapidly in response to elevated interceptor demand.
An analysis on September 18, 2026 highlights that GM Defense supplied these PAC-3 MSE missile-housing components in 22 days from the August 6 contract signing, reinforcing Lockheed Martin's capacity to meet urgent air defense needs, according to Ground News. For investors, the speed of execution in PAC-3 and the planned acceleration of JATM production indicate that missile systems are likely to remain a core growth pillar alongside fighter aircraft and helicopters.
Dividend and valuation context around recent contracts
Several recent analyses frame Lockheed Martin as modestly undervalued while emphasizing its dividend profile. According to GuruFocus on September 17, 2026, the stock price of about USD 538.09 stands approximately 4.5 percent below its GF Value estimate of USD 563.60, suggesting a slight margin of undervaluation in exchange for a steady dividend stream. The same piece underlines that the Sikorsky Black Hawk contract modification provides additional visibility to future cash flows, which supports the sustainability of Lockheed Martin's dividend policy.
MarketBeat's overview notes a closing price of USD 538.58 for Lockheed Martin shares on the New York Stock Exchange on September 17, 2026, with an after-hours indication of USD 538.47 as of 7:58 p.m. Eastern, according to MarketBeat. The same portal lists a dividend payable date of September 25, 2026 and a fiscal year end of December 31, 2026, and estimates the next earnings release for around October 20, 2026, providing a timeline for when investors may see the financial impact of recent contract wins start to appear in reported numbers.
Stock performance and risk considerations
Price performance has been supported over the past year despite bouts of volatility. One analysis cited by Yahoo Finance on September 17, 2026 highlights that Lockheed Martin shares gained 13.43 percent over the past 52 weeks, even though the stock declined 5.99 percent over the most recent month and reversed part of a prior quarter's advance. For long-term holders, this combination of solid 12-month gains and shorter-term pullbacks underscores the cyclical nature of defense stocks, which can react quickly to shifts in geopolitical tensions and budget expectations.
Analyst commentary also emphasizes contract concentration and political risk as key factors. The potential Saudi F-35 sale, while large, remains subject to Congressional approval and could be influenced by U.S. foreign policy debates, according to GuruFocus. Similarly, the multi-year missile and helicopter contracts depend on continued U.S. defense budget support, and any future pressure to rein in spending or reallocate priorities could weigh on growth expectations.
Lockheed Martin stock price level and trading data
Lockheed Martin stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker LMT. Based on data from MarketBeat, the shares closed at USD 538.58 on the NYSE on September 17, 2026, up 0.25 percent from the prior close, with an after-hours indication of USD 538.47 as of 7:58 p.m. Eastern that same day. At that closing level on September 17, 2026, Lockheed Martin was trading modestly below the GF Value estimates of between USD 563.60 and roughly similar levels cited in several valuation analyses, implying a discount of about 4.5 to 4.8 percent versus those intrinsic value models as of mid-September 2026.
Lockheed Martin stock facts
- Company: Lockheed Martin Corporation
- ISIN: US5398301094
- Ticker: LMT
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of September 17, 2026, 03:59 PM): 538.58 USD
- Market capitalization: ~ Lockheed Martin in the large-cap range (as of September 17, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Aerospace and Defense
- Index membership: S&P 500
- Next earnings date: October 20, 2026 (estimated)
