Lockheed Martin: The Defense Supercycle Is Here, But Not All Growth Will Flow To The Bottom Line

The FY27 defense budget nearly doubles Research & Procurement spend, with F-35 up 62%, PAC-3/MSE up 8x, and THAAD up 9x—all core Lockheed Martin programs. LMT's backlog stands at $186.4B, with $63B recognizable in the next 12 months; the international sales mix is expanding to 31%. Margin headwinds from supply chain disruptions, tariffs, and rare earth shortages from the Strait of Hormuz closure.