Archived explainer. For the current picture see today's LMT page.
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP (LMT) is up +11.35% in the latest session. Our newswire has captured 34 stories on LMT across 19 sources in the last 36 hours, with AI sentiment reading bullish (avg 64/100).
Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT) surged 11.35% to $572.73 in a single session, marking the stock's most significant one-day rally in nearly 25 years. The move followed the company's second-quarter results, which included a record backlog of $230 billion and a raised full-year outlook. The defense sector is gaining momentum as the company highlighted contract wins and improved cash flow, driving investor optimism.
Lockheed Martin reported second-quarter sales of $20.1 billion, exceeding expectations. The company raised its full-year free cash flow forecast to more than $7 billion and noted a 4.6% year-over-year revenue increase. The record backlog was attributed to stronger missile production and increased demand for defense systems. These results positioned LMT as a beneficiary of the global defense boom, with the company signaling sustained long-term growth.
The stock opened with a 3.1% gap up at $530.28, and by midday it reached a session high of $576.00. The rally was part of a broader trend in the defense sector, with rival companies like RTX also posting strong results. The move reflects confidence in the company’s ability to capitalize on ongoing defense spending and geopolitical tensions.
The intraday session saw LMT trade at 1.2 million shares, 0.9 times the 3-month daily average. The stock has risen 9.7% over the last 8 sessions, moving from $522.83 to $573.58. With a market cap of $116.9 billion, LMT trades at a P/E of 24.9 and a beta of 0.11, indicating relatively low volatility. The stock is currently within its 52-week range of $410.11 to $692.00, and the dividend yield stands at 2.72%.
Recent congressional trades include a sale by Tommy Tuberville and two transactions by Donald J. Trump. Social chatter on X shows 60 posts in the last 24 hours and 101 in the past week, indicating heightened retail interest.
Investors should monitor the company’s upcoming earnings date, though it is not provided. Coverage breadth remains strong, with 34 stories from 19 sources in the last 36 hours. The defense sector’s continued performance and LMT’s ability to maintain its momentum will be key factors to track.
AI-assisted analysis composed exclusively from headlines and data on the Top Tier newswire. Not financial advice.
Lockheed Martin highlighted major contract wins to support long-term growth, helping lift its second-quarter backlog to a record $230 billion.
Defense primes are ripping higher Thursday morning even as the broader market sags. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) stock is up 10% to $567.71, while RTX (NYSE:RTX) shares are up 7% to $208.48. The S&P 500 is down 1.16%, making the divergence a standout story of today’s session. The move follows beat-and-raise Q2 2026 results from both ... Lockheed Martin Rockets 10%, RTX Jumps 7% on Beat-and-Raise Quarters and Record Backlogs
Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.
Lockheed Martin beat second-quarter earnings and revenue estimates while raising its full-year guidance, supported by stronger missile production, record backlog growth and improved cash flow.
The defense contractor posted $20.1 billion in quarterly sales and now projects free cash flow of more than $7 billion for the year
The defense contractor posted $20.1 billion in quarterly sales and now projects free cash flow of more than $7 billion for the year
Shares in defense giant Lockheed Martin ($LMT) fired nearly 6% higher in pre-market trading after it upped its full-year sales forecast on surging demand in an incr...
More on LMT: full news and sentiment history. Sentiment scores are AI-derived research signals, not financial advice.
Earlier LMT move explainers: 2026-07-24 · 2026-07-23 · 2026-07-20