Archived explainer. For the current picture see today's LMT page.
Why Is LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP (LMT) Stock Moving Today?
By the Top Tier Newswire AI Desk · September 4, 2026 at 11:20 PM ET · reviewed against 5 wire stories
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP (LMT) is drawing unusual attention today. Our newswire has captured 5 stories on LMT across 4 sources in the last 36 hours, with AI sentiment reading bullish (avg 62/100).
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Why LMT stock is moving today
Lockheed Martin stock is moving lower by 1.4% as of the latest trade at $526.23. The decline comes amid a broader market reaction to heightened geopolitical tensions and a softening in investor sentiment toward defense stocks. The stock has fallen from its session high of $533.77 to a low of $524.03, with volume at 0.7 million shares, slightly above the three-month average. The move follows a recent price trend of -6.8% over the last eight sessions.
What Happened
Lockheed Martin secured $41.8 million in Navy contracts, but the news failed to spark a rally as defense stocks faced pressure from broader market concerns. The stock has also seen a recent slowdown in the effectiveness of its buyback program, which had previously driven earnings per share growth. Analysts have highlighted a stark valuation contrast between Lockheed Martin and Boeing, with the latter trading at a 49x forward P/E versus Lockheed Martin's 19.6x multiple. Meanwhile, Jim Cramer has expressed a preference for Lockheed Martin over General Dynamics, citing strong demand in the defense sector. However, the stock has not been immune to the broader market's reaction to U.S. military actions in the Middle East, which have caused defense stocks to slide.
What The Data Shows
The stock is currently trading within its 52-week range of $437.25 to $692.00, and has printed nine fresh 52-week lows on September 4. The intraday session has shown a bearish shape, with the stock falling from its opening high. Recent insider transactions include two sales totaling $118,000, while congressional trades by Donald J. Trump have included both purchases and sales in the past 90 days. The stock has a beta of 0.11, indicating low volatility relative to the market, and trades at a 2.60% dividend yield.
What To Watch
Investors should monitor the stock’s performance ahead of any scheduled earnings reports or further developments in defense-sector contracts.
AI-assisted analysis composed exclusively from headlines and data on the Top Tier newswire. Public view is delayed 4 hours from real time. Not financial advice.
LMT · Sep 4 session (5-min) · -1.26% vs prior close · updated 11:20 PM ETAI sentiment, last 36h · averaged over 5 stories · 62/100 bullish
The headlines behind the move
Story flow · 4 stories on the wire, last 36h · hover or tap a dot for the headline
8d agoThe Motley FoolBULLISH 56Analyst
Boeing vs. Lockheed Martin: Which Aerospace Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
Boeing trades at a 49x forward P/E amid a commercial rebound, while Lockheed Martin offers steadier cash flow at a 17x multiple, a stark contrast in recovery timing.
9d agoInvesting.com MarketsBULLISH 73Product/PR
Lockheed Martin secures $41.8M in Navy contracts
Lockheed Martin secures $41.8M in Navy contracts
9d agoYahoo TopBULLISH 67Analyst
Jim Cramer Prefers Lockheed Martin Over General Dynamics as Defense Demand Accelerates
Toward the end of the lightning round of the September 1 episode of Mad Money, a caller asked for Jim Cramer’s opinion of General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD). Here’s what he had to say in response: You’re not going to go wrong with General Dynamics, buying it here at 20 multiple. I think it’s fine… I […]
9d agoYahoo TopBULLISH 56General
Should You Care That Lockheed Martin's Buyback Effect Is Fading?
Lockheed Martin (LMT) has spent the past three years handing its owners a slightly bigger slice of the company each year, and the arithmetic worked. Earnings per share grew faster than net income. The stock now sits well below its 52-week high, which makes the question worth asking again: is that quiet compounding still running at the speed the record suggests.
10d agoYahoo FinanceBULLISH 56General
Lockheed Martin Stock: Is LMT Outperforming the Industrial Sector?
Although Lockheed Martin has outperformed relative to the industrial sector its peers over the past year, Wall Street analysts maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook on the stock’s prospects.
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