Next-Generation Air And Missile Systems Will Open Global Markets

Key Takeaways

• Robust demand for advanced defense platforms and technologies, driven by geopolitical tensions and operational success, is fueling sustained revenue and backlog growth.
  
• Enhanced risk management, ongoing efficiency initiatives, and strong investment in next-generation technologies are expected to support margin recovery and long-term earnings stability.
  
• Cost overruns, reliance on legacy programs, budget uncertainty, regulatory risks, and intensifying competition threaten margins, cash flow, revenue growth, and long-term competitiveness.

Catalysts

An aerospace and defense company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide.

• Demand for advanced platforms such as the F-35, PAC-3, THAAD, and hypersonic weapons is being reinforced by actual combat use and rising geopolitical tensions, with multiple U.S. and international customers increasing orders and strong backlog growth likely, positioning Lockheed Martin for robust top-line (revenue) growth going forward.
  
• Lockheed Martin's technological leadership in areas like stealth, electronic warfare, hypersonics, and integrated air/missile defense systems is being validated by operational success and customer priorities, supporting future contract wins and an expanding addressable market, which should lift revenues and provide opportunities for higher-margin, next-generation products.
  
• The growing focus on homeland defense initiatives such as "Golden Dome," missile warning networks, and increased munitions spending suggests future secular increases in U.S. defense budgets and multi-year, high-value contract awards that are likely to contribute meaningfully to backlog, revenue visibility, and cash flow stability.
  
• Recent program charges and process improvements have led to enhanced risk management, contract discipline, and cost controls, which-combined with ongoing digital transformation and operational efficiency drives-are expected to support future margin recovery and improved earnings growth in the medium term.
  
• Lockheed Martin continues to invest heavily in R&D and next-generation technologies, enabling it to maintain technological leadership and diversify future revenue streams, further supported by public-private partnerships (e.g., rare earth magnet supply chain), all of which should underpin sustainable earnings and cash flow growth over the long term.

Lockheed Martin Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

• Analysts are assuming Lockheed Martin's revenue will grow by 4.1% annually over the next 3 years.
• Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from 5.9% today to 8.7% in 3 years time.
• Analysts expect earnings to reach $7.1 billion (and earnings per share of $32.36) by about September 2028, up from $4.2 billion today. The analysts are largely in agreement about this estimate.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 18.9x on those 2028 earnings, down from 25.4x today. This future PE is lower than the current PE for the US Aerospace & Defense industry at 34.4x.
• Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to decline by 1.51% per year for the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 8.06%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Lockheed Martin Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

• Significant financial charges ($1.8 billion in Q2 2025) across major legacy programs, especially on complex fixed-price contracts, reveal persistent cost overruns, design, integration, and test challenges-creating risk of further profit compression and potential future earnings downgrades.
  
• Ongoing reliance on and challenges within large classified and legacy programs (e.g., Aeronautics Classified, Sikorsky's TUHP and CMHP) could constrain top-line growth if technical or contractual issues continue, while limited revenue diversification raises the risk of stagnating or contracting core revenues.
  
• Exposure to changing U.S. and allied defense budgets-including recent signals of reduced F-35 procurement requests and increases in alternative priorities (e.g., B-21 program, nuclear modernization)-poses risk to future contract awards and may impact revenue growth if defense spending priorities shift.
  
• Regulatory and legal headwinds, such as the $4.6 billion tax dispute with the IRS, introduce uncertainty and could result in significant cash outflows or increased tax liability, negatively impacting free cash flow and net income in the medium term.
  
• Intensifying competition and shifting industry profit pools-toward commercial space, hypersonics, counter-UAS, and integrated platform-centric or software-based solutions-may erode Lockheed Martin's share of traditional military hardware contracts, threatening both margins and future earnings if innovation and adaptation lag competitors.

Valuation

• The analysts have a consensus price target of $476.667 for Lockheed Martin based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $544.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $398.0.
• In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be $81.0 billion, earnings will come to $7.1 billion, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 18.9x, assuming you use a discount rate of 8.1%.
• Given the current share price of $457.06, the analyst price target of $476.67 is 4.1% higher. The relatively low difference between the current share price and the analyst consensus price target indicates that they believe on average, the company is fairly priced.
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.