Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT)
Lockheed Martin is a global aerospace and defence giant that builds the advanced aircraft, missiles, and space technology used by governments worldwide.
Is Lockheed Martin Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: There's no rating here and nothing for sale. In its favour: Strong, reliable relationship with the US government. Worth weighing: Revenue growth has been very slow recently. Below, we lay out what it does, what its numbers mean, and the honest risks, so you can decide for yourself.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
How much has Lockheed Martin Corporation actually fallen?
Over the last 2 years of daily prices, Lockheed Martin Corporation fell as much as −33% from a high to a later low. Drops of this size are a normal part of owning a share - worth knowing in advance, so a dip doesn't come as a shock.
Worst peak-to-trough fall in the daily closing price over the period we hold. Past falls are not a forecast - it can fall further, or recover.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in next-generation space and defence tech secures decades of revenue.
A major shift in global policy away from traditional military hardware.
What does Lockheed Martin Corporation do?
Lockheed Martin makes its money primarily through long-term contracts with the US government and its allies to supply high-tech military hardware like the F-35 fighter jet. Because they operate in a sector where national security is the priority, their business tends to be very stable regardless of the wider economy. What really moves the needle here is how government defence budgets shift, since these dictate the flow of new orders for their massive projects.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and momentum, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 2.4% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 10% over the year
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 2.3x its equity
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 89%)
- Growth screens high (75/100)
- Strong, reliable relationship with the US government
- Very low volatility compared to the broader market
- Consistent history of paying dividends to shareholders
- Changes in political leadership affecting defence budgets
- Technical failures in complex, expensive projects
- Supply chain disruptions for critical components
What do Lockheed Martin Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Lockheed Martin Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Lockheed Martin Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Lockheed Martin Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 2.4% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
What do the numbers say about Lockheed Martin Corporation's dividend?
There's no rating here, and we don't judge whether the dividend will continue - that would be advice. Here are the figures income investors usually look at, and what each one means, so you can weigh it up yourself.
Figures are from the latest available data and can be distorted by one-off results. Past payments don't predict future ones, and a dividend can be cut at any time. This lays out the numbers to help you understand them - it is not a view on what will happen.
When does Lockheed Martin Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Lockheed Martin Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-20 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-23 | $7.20 | $7.94 | Beat +10% |
| 2026-04-23 | $6.69 | $6.44 | Missed -4% |
| 2026-01-29 | $5.75 | $5.80 | In line |
| 2025-10-21 | $6.36 | $6.95 | Beat +9% |
| 2025-07-22 | $6.42 | $1.46 | Missed -77% |
| 2025-04-22 | $6.35 | $7.28 | Beat +15% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Lockheed Martin Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 3 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Lockheed Martin Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong, reliable relationship with the US government
- Very low volatility compared to the broader market
- Consistent history of paying dividends to shareholders
- Revenue growth: How fast the company's sales grew versus a year ago. has been very slow recently
- Earnings have seen a slight decline year-on-year
- High reliance on a small number of very large customers
- Changes in political leadership affecting defence budgets
- Technical failures in complex, expensive projects
- Supply chain disruptions for critical components
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major, sustained reduction in global defence spending
- The loss of a primary contract for a flagship product like the F-35
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-02 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.