Ultime notizie per Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Azioni

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since it won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. Lockheed's largest segment is aeronautics, which derives upward of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, mainly encompassing the Sikorsky helicopter business; missiles and fire control, which creates missiles and missile defense systems; and space systems, which produces satellites and receives equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture.

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Le azioni di Lockheed Martin salgono del 4% a causa delle crescenti tensioni in Medio Oriente e del sell-off globale.

Le tensioni in Medio Oriente spingono il titolo di Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin Corp

LASER MASTER INTL INC by Laser Master International, Inc.

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Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LMT/news">is making headlines</a> on multiple fronts, from clean energy advancements to securing lucrative defense contracts. 
LMT stock has faced a 13% decline over the past month, but the company's operational strength and strategic initiatives remain in focus.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Europe's Largest Electrolyte Factory &#8211; LMT&#8217;s Green Energy Opportuntity</h2>
In clean energy, Lockheed Martin signed an <a href="https://www.romania-insider.com/lockheed-martin-electrolyte-plant-romania-2024">agreement</a> with Romanian company Sinteza S.A. to establish Europe's largest electrolyte production facility in Oradea. The factory will support the company's GridStar Flow battery system, a zero-emissions energy storage solution designed for resilience and sustainability. 
The project, partially funded by Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is set to bolster the region&#8217;s green energy capabilities.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/42058282/trumps-tariffs-could-have-severe-consequences-for-us-defense-sector-beijing-adviser-warns">Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Could Have &#8216;Severe Consequences&#8217; For US Defense Sector, Beijing Adviser Warns</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The $1.8B Defense Contract</h2>
LMT stock could find support from its robust defense portfolio. Lockheed secured a $1.8 billion<a href="https://www.defenseworld.net/2019/06/08/24904-lockheed_martin_awarded__1_8_billion_for_f_35_block_4_development.html"> contract</a> to enhance Block 4 capabilities for the F-35 Lightning II, ensuring the fighter jet remains a cornerstone of U.S. and allied air combat systems. Work on this project will continue through August 2026, demonstrating long-term revenue potential.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Expanding Global Defense Presence</h2>
Lockheed Martin's global reach also extends to <a href="https://aviationweek.com/space/satellites/finland-taps-lockheed-martin-targeting-software">Finland</a>, where the company is delivering advanced sensor processing software as part of the country's F-35 program. 
Additionally, the U.S. Navy <a href="https://www.americanmachinist.com/news/article/55244955/navy-orders-lockheed-missile-system-support-lockheed-martin">awarded</a> Lockheed an $83.3 million contract for logistical and component support of Aegis MK-41 Vertical Launch Systems, further solidifying its defense leadership.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technical Challenges for LMT Stock</h2>
From a technical perspective, LMT stock remains under pressure. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent112124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="628" height="490" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21072228/Screenshot-2024-11-21-at-5.52.15-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-658668" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21072228/Screenshot-2024-11-21-at-5.52.15-PM.png 628w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21072228/Screenshot-2024-11-21-at-5.52.15-PM-300x234.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent112124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
The share price of $534.73 sits below its eight, 20, and 50-day simple moving averages, signaling a bearish trend. However, the stock&#8217;s proximity to its 200-day moving average of $501.57 offers a glimmer of optimism, suggesting potential buying opportunities as the RSI of 34.23 indicates nearly oversold conditions.
While LMT stock has faced recent setbacks, its diverse portfolio and strategic initiatives in clean energy and defense position it for future growth. 
Investors eyeing the stock might find opportunities as these projects progress.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42038825/lockheed-martin-northrop-grumman-defense-etfs-outperform-sp-500-over-the-last-15-years-whats-driving-the-growth-analysts-decode">Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Defense ETFs Outperform S&amp;P 500 Over The Last 15 Years — What&#8217;s Driving The Growth? Analysts Decode</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

Technicals

Lockheed Martin Stock Under Pressure With Technicals Hinting At Recovery Potential

High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in LMT often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 8 options trades for Lockheed Martin. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 25% bullish and 62% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $29,905, and 7 calls, totaling $237,179.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $500.0 and $800.0 for Lockheed Martin, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Lockheed Martin's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Lockheed Martin's significant trades, within a strike price range of $500.0 to $800.0, over the past month.
<h3>Lockheed Martin 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732130148_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/29/24</td>
<td>$2.8</td>
<td>$2.45</td>
<td>$2.8</td>
<td>$542.50</td>
<td>$42.0K</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td align="right">152</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$22.1</td>
<td>$21.3</td>
<td>$21.4</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
<td>$38.5K</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$38.2</td>
<td>$37.6</td>
<td>$37.6</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$37.6K</td>
<td align="right">380</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$38.6</td>
<td>$37.3</td>
<td>$37.8</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$34.0K</td>
<td align="right">380</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$30.1</td>
<td>$29.4</td>
<td>$30.02</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$30.0K</td>
<td align="right">597</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Lockheed Martin</h3>
Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since it won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. Lockheed's largest segment is aeronautics, which derives upward of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, mainly encompassing the Sikorsky helicopter business; missiles and fire control, which creates missiles and missile defense systems; and space systems, which produces satellites and receives equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture.
In light of the recent options history for Lockheed Martin, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Lockheed Martin's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 461,035, the price of LMT is up 1.21% at $539.71. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 62 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Lockheed Martin</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $627.6.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Lockheed Martin, maintaining a target price of $565. 
&#x2A; An analyst from TD Cowen persists with their Buy rating on Lockheed Martin, maintaining a target price of $610. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Susquehanna continues to hold a Positive rating for Lockheed Martin, targeting a price of $695. 
&#x2A; An analyst from UBS persists with their Neutral rating on Lockheed Martin, maintaining a target price of $603. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from RBC Capital keeps a Outperform rating on Lockheed Martin with a target price of $665. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Lockheed Martin, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Lockheed Martin Unusual Options Activity For November 20

Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) has witnessed a big surge in market value, adding over $23 billion since Donald Trump&#8217;s victory in the 2024 Presidential election.
Investors anticipate increased federal spending on national security, immigration, and space exploration. The company&#8217;s shares have nearly tripled over the past year, reaching $61 per share and pushing its market capitalization to approximately $140 billion, surpassing principal defense contractor Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/24/11/42068742/sony-eyes-japans-kadokawa-to-strengthen-gaming-and-anime-dominance" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sony Eyes Japan&#8217;s Kadokawa to Strengthen Gaming and Anime Dominance</a>
This growth is fueled by Palantir&#8217;s deep ties to government agencies and its reputation for delivering cutting-edge data analysis tools.
According to the Financial Times, the company&#8217;s technology has proven valuable, from supporting military operations to streamlining pandemic vaccine distribution.
With heightened demand for AI-driven intelligence systems, Palantir&#8217;s trajectory under Trump&#8217;s presidency positions it as a potential beneficiary of increased defense and space budgets.
Earlier this year, Palantir secured a $480 million Pentagon contract to enhance Project Maven, a key AI battlefield intelligence initiative.
This aligns with expectations of broader defense allocations under the Trump administration. Palantir&#8217;s participation in projects like the Starlab commercial space station further underscores its growing influence in space exploration alongside NASA and private enterprises.
FT report says, Palantir&#8217;s shares trade at one of the highest multiples in the software sector, reflecting optimism around AI advancements and commercial expansion.
Launching its AI platform has bolstered private sector revenue, contributing 35% of the company&#8217;s total. Notable contracts with corporations like CVS Health and BP have fueled this growth, helping Palantir achieve its first profitable year in 2023 with a net income of $144 million in the third quarter. Palantir Technologies stock surged 280% year-to-date.
Despite its successes, analysts express concern over Palantir&#8217;s high valuation. Top hedge funds, including Renaissance Technologies and ARK Investment Management, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/11/42039361/palantir-soars-to-150b-market-cap-as-analysts-flag-risks-in-valuation-insider-sales" rel="noreferrer noopener">trimmed their Palantir</a> stakes in the third quarter, offloading over 3 million shares while maintaining significant holdings.
Palantir&#8217;s lofty valuation metrics, such as a P/E ratio of 328.85, spark skepticism among investors who question its ability to sustain its AI-driven growth trajectory.
With retail investors holding about 50% of shares, analysts highlight the potential for amplified stock volatility, both upward and downward, driven by shifting market sentiment.
CEO Alexander Karp&#8217;s recent $1.2 billion insider sales have raised concerns about internal confidence despite the company&#8217;s robust public narrative and strong third-quarter results.
CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer highlighted Palantir as one of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/41964178/jim-cramer-says-these-10-frothy-stocks-are-up-over-200-ytd-including-rocket-lab-palantir-and-carvana-heres-what-he-suggests-investors-can-do-for-terrific-long-term-returns" rel="noreferrer noopener">ten high-growth stocks</a> of 2024, calling it a speculative but promising investment.
While recognizing Palantir&#8217;s substantial market performance, Cramer noted its lofty valuation, advising against immediate purchase.
He emphasized including speculative stocks like Palantir in portfolios to boost long-term returns when paired with stable investments.
Cramer advocates balancing risk with index funds while keeping speculative picks on watch for future growth opportunities.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is Palantir Tech A Good Stock To Buy?</h2>
When deciding whether to buy a stock, there are some key fundamentals investors may want to consider. One of these factors is revenue growth. Buying a stock is essentially a bet that the business will continue to grow and generate profits in the future.
Palantir Technologies has reported average annual revenue growth of 115.77% over the past 5 years. .
It's also important to pay attention to valuation when deciding whether to buy a stock. Palantir Technologies has a forward P/E ratio of 136.99. This means investors are paying $136.99 for each dollar of expected earnings in the future. The average forward P/E ratio of Palantir Technologies's peers is 51.62.
Other important metrics to look at include a company's profitability, balance sheet, performance relative to a benchmark index and valuation compared to peers. For in-depth analysis tools and important financial data, check out <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga PRO</a>. 
Price Action: PLTR stock is down 3.08% at $61.04 at the last check on Wednesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42069937/robinhood-targets-affluent-investors-with-300-million-tradepmr-deal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robinhood Targets Affluent Investors With $300 Million TradePMR Deal</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Cory Doctorow via Flickr

Movers

Tech

Palantir Tech's $140 Billion Market Cap Gain Is Driven By Trump's Victory And Higher Defense Spending Hope - Is The Stock Overvalued?

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-11-19_07h56_39.png" alt="" style="width:624px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Russian Nuclear Doctrine</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/chart-analysis-stock-russian-nuclear-doctrine-walmart-breakout-wmt-mc-11192024">click here</a> for an enlarged chart of Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>This article is about the big picture, not an individual stock.&nbsp; The chart of WMT is being used to illustrate the point.</li>
<li>The U.S. economy is 70% consumer based.&nbsp; Walmart is the largest retailer in the U.S.&nbsp; For this reason, prudent investors pay attention to Walmart's earnings.</li>
<li>The chart shows WMT stock gapped up after earnings.</li>
<li>The chart shows that WMT stock also gapped up on earnings in the prior two quarters.</li>
<li>Walmart reported earnings better than the whisper numbers.&nbsp; Stocks move based on the difference between reported numbers and whisper numbers.&nbsp; Whisper numbers are the number analysts privately share with their best clients.&nbsp; Whisper numbers are different from the numbers the same analysts publish for public consumption.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, the following are the most important points from Walmart earnings:
<ul>
<li>Higher end consumers continue to shift to Walmart.</li>
<li>E-commerce at Walmart, especially quick delivery, is growing rapidly.</li>
<li>Margins are expanding.</li>
<li>Walmart is gaining market share.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, as good as Walmart is doing, investors need to be mindful of the very high valuation for a retailer.&nbsp; Walmart is trading at a trailing PE of 43.&nbsp; However, as Walmart's earnings are growing, forward PE is 30, which is still expensive for a retailer.</li>
<li>As full disclosure, Walmart is in The Arora Report&#8217;s ZYX Buy Core Model Portfolio from an average price of $19.25.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Prudent investors also watch earnings from home improvement retailer Lowe&#8217;s Companies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOW#NYSE">LOW</a>).&nbsp; Lowe's earnings are a reflection of the consumer, especially remodeling of existing homes.&nbsp; Lowe's earnings are slightly below whisper numbers. &nbsp; As full disclosure, LOW is also in The Arora Report&#8217;s ZYX Buy Core Model Portfolio and is long from an average of $81.85.</li>
<li>In the early trade, markets are responding to the new Russian doctrine.
<ul>
<li>Stocks are being sold.</li>
<li>Gold and silver are being bought.</li>
<li>Oil is being bought.</li>
<li>The dollar is being bought.</li>
<li>The yen is being bought.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The new Russian doctrine brings the world closer to World War III.&nbsp; The new doctrine is in response to the U.S. allowing Ukraine to fire U.S. manufactured long range missiles on targets inside Russia.</li>
<li>Prudent investors should note the following three elements of the new Russian doctrine.
<ul>
<li>An attack on Russia by any country supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on Russia.</li>
<li>A massive aerial attack could trigger a nuclear response from Russia.&nbsp;</li>
<li>In reference to NATO, an aggression by a member of the coalition will be viewed as aggression by the entire bloc.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, the new Russian doctrine is squarely directed at the U.S.&nbsp; The purpose appears to be to persuade Trump to stop supporting Ukraine and force Ukraine to cede territory in Eastern Ukraine to Russia.&nbsp; Further, in The Arora Report analysis, the ultimate solution is likely going to be the U.S. forcing Ukraine to give Eastern Ukraine to Russia as per Russian wishes.&nbsp; This has been a long standing Arora call.</li>
<li>For the first time ever, Ukraine has attacked a warehouse inside Russia using long range missiles manufactured by the U.S. &nbsp; The missile attack was conducted with Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).&nbsp; The missiles are manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), a major U.S. defense contractor.&nbsp; The targeted warehouse housed ammunition and missiles from North Korea.&nbsp; North Korea is promising 100K troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine.</li>
<li>There is no change in the protection band at this time, but we are keeping a close eye on the situation.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Housing</h3>
New housing is beginning to weaken.&nbsp; Here is the just released data:
<ul>
<li>Housing starts came at 1.311M vs. 1.34M consensus.</li>
<li>Building permits came at 1.416M vs. 1.441M consensus.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are negative in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are negative in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.  Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.  The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).  The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>).  The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h3>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is range bound.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.&nbsp; The proprietary protection band from The Arora Report is very popular.&nbsp; The protection band puts all of the data, all of the indicators, all of the news, all of the crosscurrents, all of the models, and all of the analysis in an analytical framework that is easily actionable by investors.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

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TSLA

Not World War III But New Russian Nuclear Doctrine Brings Selling In Stocks, Walmart Breaks Out

European markets sank on Tuesday and U.S. stock futures followed suit, weighed down by escalating geopolitical tensions after Russian President Vladimir Putin revised the country&#8217;s nuclear doctrine to broaden the conditions <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/vladimir-putin">for deploying atomic weapons. </a>
Putin's move to ease the threshold for nuclear strikes came just a day after the White House authorized Ukraine to deploy American-made long-range ATACMS missiles deep into Russian territory. 
The Euro STOXX 50, as tracked by the SPDR DJ Euro STOXX 50 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEZ#NYSE">FEZ</a>), and STOXX 600 indices dropped 1.2% and 0.8%, respectively, both tracking toward their lowest closing levels since mid-August.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Putin Expands Nuclear Doctrine Amid US-Backed Ukrainian Strike</h3>
On Tuesday, Ukraine reportedly carried out its first ATACMS strike on a military facility near Karachev in Russia&#8217;s Bryansk region, about 70 miles from Ukraine, according to reports by <a href="https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/us-officially-allows-ukraine-to-to-strike-1732012491.html">RBC Ukraine</a>.
RBC Ukraine cited a Defense Forces source confirming a successful strike, marking the first time these long-range missiles were used in such a capacity. Russia acknowledged the attack.
&#8220;Indeed, for the first time, we used ATACMS to strike Russian territory. The strike was carried out against a facility in the Bryansk region, and it was successfully hit,&#8221; the source reported.
On Monday, the previous day, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols officially confirmed that the White House had given Ukraine approval to use long-range weapons to target Russian territory.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">European Markets React: Euro, Bank Equities Drop</h3>
The geopolitical developments triggered a sharp selloff across European equities. In Poland, the WIG20 stock index plunged 2.5%, reflecting the country's proximity to the conflict and heightened exposure to regional risks. 
European banks also bore the brunt of the downturn, with the banking index slipping 2.2%. Among the hardest-hit financial institutions were CaixaBank SA (OTCPK: CAIXY), which sank 5.1%, FinecoBank Spa (OTCPK: FCBBF), down 4.2%, and Unicredito Spa (OTCPK: UNCFF), which dropped 3.3%.
The euro also came under pressure, falling 0.3% to hover at $1.0550 against the U.S. dollar, as traders sought safety in the greenback amid mounting geopolitical risks.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Flight To Safety: Bonds, Gold Shine</h3>
Heightened geopolitical risks spurred demand for safe-haven assets. Yields on long-dated U.S. Treasuries fell by 4-5 basis points, lifting bond prices. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) could see strong gains following this move.
Gold surged 1%, building on a 1.9% rally from the previous session, as investors sought shelter from rising uncertainties.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US Premarket Action</h3>
U.S. equity futures mirrored the cautious sentiment overseas, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures down 0.4%, S&amp;P 500 futures declining 0.3%, and Nasdaq 100 futures slipping 0.1%. 
Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) surged over 3% in premarket trading after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings. 
Among defense stocks, Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) gained 0.9%, while Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) fell by the same margin.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42048963/why-nvidia-earnings-may-trigger-massive-sp-500-volatility">Why Nvidia Earnings May Trigger Massive S&amp;P 500 Volatility</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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CAIXY

FCBBF

iShares Trust Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund

UNCFF

Putin Revises Nuclear Doctrine For Broader Strikes After US-Backed Ukrainian Attack: Markets Drop, Bonds Gain

Amid rising tensions between the United States and China, a senior adviser from Beijing has issued a stark warning about the potential repercussions of President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s proposed tariffs on Chinese goods. The adviser highlighted the significant impact these tariffs could have on the U.S. economy, particularly the defense sector.
What Happened: Ding Yifan, a researcher at the State Council&#8217;s Development Research Center, cautioned that Trump&#8217;s plan to impose a 60% tariff could severely affect American manufacturers. This includes the defense industry, which relies heavily on affordable components from China, the Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/6d0484e8-e65f-478d-8548-4e3aa37ed339">reported</a> on Tuesday.
Ding stated that such tariffs could potentially reduce U.S. GDP growth by half. He also noted that Chinese suppliers might bypass these tariffs by rerouting products through other countries. His comments were made during a government-organized briefing for international media.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41889911/whats-going-on-with-china-based-stocks-alibaba-jd-com-pdd-holdings-baidu-nio?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s Going On With China-Based Stocks Alibaba, JD.com, PDD Holdings, Baidu, Nio?</a>
He emphasized the crucial role of Chinese suppliers for U.S. military enterprises, warning that production could face significant disruptions without these supplies. 
"If [U.S. leaders] really implement the policies for trade friction or a confrontation, it will have severe consequences," Ding said.
Additionally, Ding pointed out that American consumers have historically shouldered the cost of tariffs, citing studies from the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He suggested that while China could mitigate some impacts by shifting trade routes, the U.S. might face greater economic turmoil.
Why It Matters: The warning from Beijing comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42025284/xi-jinping-tells-joe-biden-china-is-ready-to-work-with-trump-as-tariff-threat-looms">expressed China&#8217;s willingness </a>to collaborate with the U.S. government to manage differences and expand cooperation. This statement was made during a meeting with President Joe Biden, emphasizing China&#8217;s readiness to work with any U.S. administration.
Meanwhile, tech investor Peter Thiel has predicted that<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/11/42028954/peter-thiel-says-trumps-60-china-tariff-would-be-very-very-bad-for-beijing-heres-whats-at-stake"> Trump&#8217;s proposed tariffs</a> would be detrimental to Chinese companies, though he believes the impact on American consumers would be &#8220;mildly negative.&#8221; Furthermore, Chinese tech giants like Alibaba Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) and ByteDance are expanding their presence in Silicon Valley, seeking to attract top U.S. talent in the AI sector amidst U.S. efforts to block progress.
Price Action: As per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>, defense stocks have risen over the past one year running up to the November presidential elections. In terms of year-to-date (YTD) returns, Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) saw a 16.41% increase, while Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) witnessed a 3.95% increase. Beleaguered company Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) was down by 42.85% due to its own trouble while Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) was up by 3.95%.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42025284/xi-jinping-tells-joe-biden-china-is-ready-to-work-with-trump-as-tariff-threat-looms?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xi Jinping Tells Joe Biden: China Is &#8216;Ready To Work With&#8217; Trump As Tariff Threat Looms</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

BABA

Trump's Tariffs Could Have 'Severe Consequences' For US Defense Sector, Beijing Adviser Warns

After a sell-off on Thursday, Nov. 14 the street seems to be betting on the defense stocks again. This comes as the conflict in the Middle East escalates and geopolitical tensions ratchet the payoffs for the stocks in this sector.
What Happened: As defense stocks become lucrative with rising tension, David Wagner, portfolio manager at Aptus Capital Advisors says that "this is more than just a geopolitical play.&#8221; He sees further upside in the defense and aerospace areas, despite current rich valuations, as per a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-08/wall-street-sees-more-room-for-defense-stocks-torrid-advance?embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a> report.
As per the<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"> Benzinga Pro</a> data, the S&amp;P 500 Aerospace &amp; Defense Industry Index has risen by 15.33% year-to-date, whereas Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Rtx Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) and iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (ACRA: ITA) have all outperformed the index at 17.26%, 39.09% and 20.09%, respectively in the same period.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="308" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073042/Defense-stocks--1024x308.png" alt="" class="wp-image-652786" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073042/Defense-stocks--1024x308.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073042/Defense-stocks--300x90.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073042/Defense-stocks--768x231.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073042/Defense-stocks-.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
On a 15-year basis, Lockheed Martin has surged 603.08%, outperforming the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF, which rose 521%. Another notable up move was seen in the shares of Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) which have zoomed by 2,806% since its listing in May 2015. During the same period, S&amp;P 500 has risen 436%, while S&amp;P 500 Aerospace &amp; Defense, which started in 2012, gained 321.57%. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073142/Stocks-Defense-15-year-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-652789" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073142/Stocks-Defense-15-year-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073142/Stocks-Defense-15-year-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073142/Stocks-Defense-15-year-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073142/Stocks-Defense-15-year-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18073142/Stocks-Defense-15-year.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Why It Matters: Defense stocks, also known as haven assets, are comprised of two major sub-groups — defense and aerospace — offering investors a relatively diversified profile. While some analysts think geopolitics will tick the share prices higher, others argue their higher valuations.
Historically, defense spending runs in decades-long cycles. Investment in the sector experiences periods of growth followed by downturns, and we may be nearing the peak of the current cycle, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/42013424/trumps-musk-ramaswamy-doge-plan-what-it-means-for-defense-and-it-stocks">Goldman Sachs</a> analyst Noah Poponak.
"The defense budget is at an all-time high, which creates difficult comparisons and challenging base effects," the analyst said in a note published Friday.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Risks For Defense Stocks As Per Goldman Sachs</h3>
<ol>
<li>Peak Spending: The defense budget is hovering at historical highs, making future growth difficult.</li>
<li>Geopolitical Shifts: If major conflicts ease, defense spending could decline.</li>
<li>Government Debt: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratios are near record levels, increasing pressure to curb federal spending.</li>
</ol>
Also read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/42013424/trumps-musk-ramaswamy-doge-plan-what-it-means-for-defense-and-it-stocks">Trump&#8217;s DOGE Plan: Goldman Sachs Says Defense Stocks Face Risks, IT Firms Could Win</a>
Speaking to Bloomberg about the fundamentals of the defense stocks, Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services said, "Valuations are rich for the group, so that may cap the upside. If the economy slows down more than expected or we see a short-term de-escalation in the Middle East that could also weigh on the group,&#8221; he added.
However, a few analysts like Cole Wilcox, portfolio manager at Longboard Asset Management said, &#8220;Unfortunately we are in a cycle of high and growing conflict around the world. This is driving increased demand for defense spending that is likely to persist for a very long time."
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42029975/cathie-wood-redirects-elon-musks-doge-focus-toward-nuclear-energy-amid-regulatory-challenges-heres-how-oklo-cameco-centrus-energy-and-other-stocks-performed">Cathie Wood Redirects Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Focus Toward Nuclear Energy Amid Regulatory Challenges: Here&#8217;s How Oklo, Cameco, Centrus Energy And Other Stocks Performed</a>
Image via LockheedMartin

iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace & Defense Index Fund

Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Defense ETFs Outperform S&P 500 Over The Last 15 Years — What's Driving The Growth? Analysts Decode

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-11-15_08h38_46.png" alt="" style="width:624px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Powell Speaks The Truth</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/chart-analysis-stock-powell-speech-trump-appointments-spy-mc-11152024">click here</a> for an enlarged chart of SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) which represents the benchmark stock market index S&amp;P 500 (SPX).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>It is worth a reminder that The Arora Report is politically agnostic.&nbsp; Our sole job is to help our members extract the maximum amount of money out of the markets with the least possible risk.</li>
<li>The price action on the chart shows that the rip roaring Trump rally is taking a breather.</li>
<li>The chart shows that the stock market is still above the breakout line.</li>
<li>RSI on the chart shows that the stock market has pulled back, reflecting a loss of momentum. The stock market is still overbought.</li>
<li>The chart shows that the volume remains low.&nbsp; This indicates that institutional investors are not rushing to buy stocks.</li>
<li>Yesterday, Powell spoke that truth – the market did not like it.&nbsp; Powell said, "The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates."&nbsp; Powell elaborated, "The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully."</li>
<li>Powell's remarks brought some selling into stocks and bonds.</li>
<li>This morning, in the early trade, selling continues.</li>
<li>The reason for some selling is that the prevailing wisdom on Wall Street has been that another rate cut in December was a sure thing.&nbsp; The Arora Report has been questioning Wall Street's wisdom and sharing with you that the data does not support another rate cut.</li>
<li>Some conservative commentators are upset believing that the reason Powell started rate cuts with a 50 bps cut was to help Kamala Harris get elected.&nbsp; Now that Trump has been elected, Powell is in no hurry to cut rates.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, even though the data does not support a rate cut in December, Powell is going to feel pressure from Trump and Republicans to cut rates.&nbsp; There is also a significant amount of data between now and the December Fed meeting.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, based on a 360 degree view, including the political pressure and the pressure from Wall Street to cut rates, the probability of a rate cut in December is now about 60%.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>There is consternation about several Trump picks.&nbsp; Impacting the market most are Trump's picks of RKF Jr, Matt Gaetz, and Pete Hegseth.&nbsp; These picks are bringing selling in vaccine makers such as Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>), BioNTech SE ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>), Novavax Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>), Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), and Pfizer Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>).&nbsp; There is also selling in other healthcare stocks, including weight loss drug companies Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) and Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>), and packaged food stocks such as The Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>).&nbsp; There is also selling in defense stocks such as Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), and Rtx Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>).&nbsp; There is also selling in big tech stocks.</li>
<li>The latest economic data is strong.&nbsp; The U.S. economy is about 70% consumer based.&nbsp; For this reason, prudent investors pay attention to retail sales.&nbsp; Here are the details of the just released data:
<ul>
<li>Retail sales came at 0.4% vs. 0.3% consensus.</li>
<li>Retail sales ex-auto came at 0.1% vs. 0.2% consensus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are hundreds of indicators.&nbsp; At The Arora Report, the system has been refined through decades of research to share with you only those indicators that matter.&nbsp; Normally, we do not mention the NY Fed Empire State Manufacturing Index.&nbsp; Today, we are mentioning it due to its exceptional strength.&nbsp; The index came at 31.2 vs. 3.3 consensus.&nbsp; This indicates that manufacturing in the New York area has picked up steam. &nbsp; If similar strength is happening in the rest of the country, that would argue against further cutting interest rates. The problem for investors is that stock valuations are so high that to sustain them, rate cuts are needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are negative in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are negative in S&amp;P 500 ETF (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.  Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.  The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).  The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>).  The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h3>
Even the slightest dips in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) are being bought.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.&nbsp; The proprietary protection band from The Arora Report is very popular.&nbsp; The protection band puts all of the data, all of the indicators, all of the news, all of the crosscurrents, all of the models, and all of the analysis in an analytical framework that is easily actionable by investors.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

Federal Reserve

BNTX

MRNA

NVAX

Powell Speaks The Truth - Market Does Not Like It, Consternation About Kennedy, Gaetz, And Hegseth

President-elect Donald Trump's proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is raising questions about the future of U.S. defense contractors <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41927289/trump-appoints-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-to-lead-doge-targeting-bureaucracy-and-65-trillion-federal-spending-we-will-not-go-gently">and government IT firms. </a>
Could the defense budget flatten—or even fall? And who stands to gain in this new sector shake up?
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">DOGE Puts Defense Budget Under Pressure</h3>
Trump's plan to restructure federal agencies and reduce wasteful spending through DOGE is a bold move, and its potential ripple effects are hard to ignore—especially for defense and government IT companies. 
With the Department of Defense (DoD) being one of the largest slices of federal spending, investors are understandably focused on what's next for defense stocks in a DOGE-driven world.
On one hand, Trump's campaign has consistently expressed support for strengthening the U.S. military. 
On the other, it's hard to make sweeping government cuts without touching the $877 billion defense budget, which accounts for 13% of federal spending as of 2023.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41965420/department-of-government-efficiency-led-by-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-opens-x-account-with-username-doge">Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy-Led Department Of Government Efficiency Opens Account On X</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defense Spending At All-Time Highs Spells Risks</h3>
Historically, defense spending runs in decades-long cycles. Investment in the sector experiences periods of growth followed by downturns, and we may be nearing the peak of the current cycle, according to Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak.
 &#8220;The defense budget is at an all-time high, which creates difficult comparisons and challenging base effects,&#8221; the analyst said in a note published Friday. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Risks For Defense Stocks</h3>
<ol>
<li>Peak Spending: The defense budget is hovering at historical highs, making future growth difficult.</li>
<li>Geopolitical Shifts: If major conflicts ease, defense spending could decline.</li>
<li>Government Debt: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratios are near record levels, increasing pressure to curb federal spending.</li>
</ol>
Margins in the defense industry are already under pressure due to Pentagon efforts to shift risks onto contractors. Fixed pricing on long-term contracts, for example, has eroded unit economics. 
At the same time, defense stocks – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) – are trading at valuations above historical averages, leaving them vulnerable to a "de-rating" if the budget flattens or falls.
&#8220;It is difficult to embark on any large government spending reduction effort without touching defense, and there are potentially enough inefficiencies within the defense budget to reduce its total level without necessarily reducing military readiness or capability,&#8221; Poponak said. 
The investment bank maintains a cautious stance on the defense sector, issuing Sell ratings for Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>), and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Government IT: Winners In The Efficiency Game?</h3>
While defense hardware could take a hit, government IT firms might find themselves potentially on the winning side of DOGE. 
The sector has been outperforming traditional defense industries in revenue growth, driven by a market share shift toward advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why IT Could Shine:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Tech-Driven Efficiency: DOGE's focus on cutting waste could emphasize the adoption of technologies that streamline government operations.</li>
<li>Advanced Capabilities: Firms offering cutting-edge solutions may be seen as key enablers of government efficiency.</li>
<li>Resilient Demand: Even with DoD cuts, IT spending for Operations &amp; Maintenance and national security could remain strong.</li>
</ul>
Goldman Sachs believes that companies like Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAH#NYSE">BAH</a>) and Leidos Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) are well-positioned to benefit.
On the flip side, SAIC Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAIC#NYSE">SAIC</a>) faces challenges due to slower growth and tougher competition, earning it a Sell rating from Goldman Sachs.
The bottom line is that Investors should prepare for a sector shakeup, as the creation of DOGE could mark a significant shift in federal spending priorities.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42006982/activist-investor-nelson-peltz-says-he-was-a-matchmaker-for-elon-musk-with-donald-trump">Activist Investor Nelson Peltz Says He Was &#8216;A Matchmaker&#8217; For Elon Musk With Donald Trump</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Trump's DOGE Plan: Goldman Sachs Says Defense Stocks Face Risks, IT Firms Could Win

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Lockheed Martin. Our analysis of options history for Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) revealed 17 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 23% of traders were bullish, while 47% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 13 were puts, with a value of $701,289, and 4 were calls, valued at $318,390.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $485.0 to $590.0 for Lockheed Martin during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Lockheed Martin stands at 201.56, with a total volume reaching 1,815.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Lockheed Martin, situated within the strike price corridor from $485.0 to $590.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Lockheed Martin Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1731613546_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$16.7</td>
<td>$16.6</td>
<td>$16.7</td>
<td>$535.00</td>
<td>$128.6K</td>
<td align="right">98</td>
<td align="right">87</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$47.5</td>
<td>$46.0</td>
<td>$46.0</td>
<td>$570.00</td>
<td>$115.0K</td>
<td align="right">274</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$1.6</td>
<td>$1.4</td>
<td>$1.45</td>
<td>$485.00</td>
<td>$87.0K</td>
<td align="right">27</td>
<td align="right">600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$570.00</td>
<td>$83.9K</td>
<td align="right">137</td>
<td align="right">230</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$20.4</td>
<td>$19.7</td>
<td>$20.1</td>
<td>$540.00</td>
<td>$70.3K</td>
<td align="right">339</td>
<td align="right">48</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Lockheed Martin</h3>
Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since it won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. Lockheed's largest segment is aeronautics, which derives upward of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, mainly encompassing the Sikorsky helicopter business; missiles and fire control, which creates missiles and missile defense systems; and space systems, which produces satellites and receives equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Lockheed Martin, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Current Position of Lockheed Martin</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,228,085, with LMT's price down by -3.37%, positioned at $538.92.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 68 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Lockheed Martin</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $655.6.
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&#x2A; An analyst from TD Cowen persists with their Buy rating on Lockheed Martin, maintaining a target price of $610. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Susquehanna keeps a Positive rating on Lockheed Martin with a target price of $695. 
&#x2A; An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Lockheed Martin, which currently sits at a price target of $603. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from RBC Capital keeps a Outperform rating on Lockheed Martin with a target price of $665. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Susquehanna has decided to maintain their Positive rating on Lockheed Martin, which currently sits at a price target of $705. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Lockheed Martin, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Looking At Lockheed Martin's Recent Unusual Options Activity

President-elect Donald Trump has spent the week following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41768178/donald-trump-defeats-kamala-harris-to-win-2024-election">his election win</a> penciling in cabinet picks. His choice for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is raising eyebrows. 
The Pick: Hegseth was a co-host on Fox Corp&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOXA#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOX#NASDAQ">FOX</a>) &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends,&#8221; Trump&#8217;s favorite television show. 
The Minnesota native, an Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran, has never held a government position. Hegseth has been a strong supporter of Trump since 2016.
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-defense-secretary-pentagon-2d8030921ecef933778cf92afd40ec72">According</a> to the Associated Press, Trump encouraged his supporters to buy Hegseth's book in June and said that if he won the election, "The woke stuff will be gone within a period of 24 hours. I can tell you."
Hegseth supports removing women from combat roles in the military, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pete-hegseth-defense-secretary-trump-women-military-b2646325.html">according</a> to The Independent. 
Why it Matters: Trump&#8217;s selection of Hegseth surprised many Wall Street observers, <a href="https://www.barrons.com/amp/articles/trump-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-stocks-d9af9d58">according</a> to Barron&#8217;s. The television host was not on the radar of research analysts.
Trump announced plans Tuesday to appoint Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to form the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41931503/trump-forms-doge-with-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-at-the-helm-will-it-impact-tesla-ceos-role-at-the-ev-giant-and-spacex">&#8220;Department of Government Efficiency,&#8221;</a> aimed to &#8220;cut wasteful expenditures.&#8221; 
The sprawling U.S. military complex, which now <a href="https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/federal-spending/">comprises</a> 13% of the federal budget at nearly $1 trillion, has been unable to pass an independent audit for the last six years, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pentagon-fails-audit-sixth-year-row-2023-11-16/">according</a> to Reuters.
Wall Street is apparently not worried that Musk and Ramaswamy will gut military spending to federal contractors. The iShares US Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) has risen over 7% since Trump&#8217;s election win. General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) and Rtx Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) have posted gains in that period.
What&#8217;s Next: Several Democratic Party politicians <a href="https://x.com/SenWarren/status/1856502912551158049">including</a> Senator Elizabeth Warren voiced disapproval of Trump&#8217;s pick, citing Hegseth&#8217;s lack of experience. The &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends&#8221; anchor will face a confirmation hearing in the Senate following Trump&#8217;s inauguration.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41927289/trump-appoints-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-to-lead-doge-targeting-bureaucracy-and-65-trillion-federal-spending-we-will-not-go-gently">Trump Appoints Elon Musk And Vivek Ramaswamy To Lead &#8216;DOGE,&#8217; Aiming to Slash Bureaucracy And $6.5 Trillion Federal Spending: &#8216;We Will Not Go Gently&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

FOXA

Trump's Surprise Defense Secretary Pick Pete Hegseth Jolts Wall Street

Republicans are set to maintain control of the House of Representatives with a narrow margin, marking a new era as President-elect Donald Trump heads back <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">to the White House. </a>
With control of Congress locked up Wednesday, Trump and his allies are poised to enact changes across various sectors, from tax reforms to potential deregulations, as the party mobilizes to advance its agenda across Washington, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/republicans-win-house-majority-trump-party-senate-control-rcna179231">reports</a>.
What Happened: Following a decisive win over Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump&#8217;s victory helped secure key congressional seats that kept Republicans in command of the House and the Senate. This sweeping Republican control creates a dynamic environment where Trump can enact his policy objectives with minimal opposition, positioning the party to reshape American policy on multiple fronts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) celebrated the victory on Capitol Hill, emphasizing the unity and optimism he expects to define the next two years of governance. Key GOP gains in swing districts across Pennsylvania and Michigan helped solidify Republican dominance, despite Democrat efforts to regain control, according to NBC News.
With this control, Trump's team may pursue reforms involving tax cuts, health care changes, and immigration policy adjustments aimed at fulfilling the promises for which he campaigned. Republicans will also be in a position to use "reconciliation," a procedural tool allowing legislation to pass more easily without relying on Democratic support.
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/24/11/41950681/trump-once-said-political-career-over-about-john-thune-now-senate-majority-leader-working-with-him-to-pass-gop-agenda"> Trump Once Said John Thune&#8217;s &#8216;Political Career Over&#8217;: Now He&#8217;ll Work With Senate Majority Leader On GOP Agenda</a>
Why It Matters: The GOP's full leadership signals potential market shifts as Republicans focus on deregulation and reshaping economic policy. 
Analysts expect changes in sustainable investment strategies under Trump's leadership. JPMorgan's Virgina Martin Heriz highlighted that while some Inflation Reduction Act incentives for clean energy might stay, others, like electric vehicle tax credits, could face cuts. &#8220;Fund performance matters far more than politics,&#8221; she said, underlining that financial gains may drive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41926301/sustainable-investment-under-trump-performance-matters-far-more-than-politics-jpmorgan-analyst-says">decisions in renewable energy.</a>
In light of these changes, certain sectors may see pronounced impacts:
Energy Sector Growth: With a pro-energy agenda, traditional oil and gas firms could thrive under reduced regulations. 
<ul>
<li>ETF to Watch: Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>), tracking companies like Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and Chevron (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), may benefit from policies aimed at fossil fuel expansion.</li>
</ul>
Financial Sector Deregulation: Reduced oversight in the financial sector could benefit banks and investment firms. 
<ul>
<li>ETF to Watch: Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>), which includes firms such as JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) and Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>).</li>
</ul>
Defense and Infrastructure Investment: Increased defense and infrastructure spending could benefit contractors. 
<ul>
<li>ETF to Watch: iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>), with major holdings like Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) and Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>).</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41930918/trumps-high-inflation-regime-will-weaken-the-dollar-and-push-bitcoin-to-1m-says-arthur-hayes-get-long-and-stay-long">Trump&#8217;s High-Inflation Regime Will Weaken The Dollar And Push Bitcoin To $1M, Says Arthur Hayes: &#8216;Get Long And Stay Long&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Republicans Set To Hold Slim House Majority: What It Means For Energy, Financial, Defense Sectors

Lockheed Martin has successfully integrated the Q-53 multi-mission radar (MMR) with Anduril's Lattice Command and Control (C2) environment during the U.S. Central Command Desert Guardian exercise held at Fort Drum earlier this month. Desert Guardian is part of a set of exercises aimed at filling key gaps in its ability to detect and track drone threats.

Lockheed Martin And Anduril Join Forces To Successfully Detect And Track Drone Threats In Middle East

Analyst Ratings

Live On CNBC, Jim Lebenthal Announces Bought More Lockheed Martin

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/11/11/final-trades-salesforce-lockheed-martin-interactive-brokers-and-the-ijr.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Rob Sechan of NewEdge Wealth named Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/11/41857054/salesforce-shares-are-trading-higher-today-what-you-need-to-know">his final trade.</a>
The company, last week, revealed plans to hire over 1,000 employees to support the sales push for its new AI product, Agentforce, which targets the growing demand for AI-driven automation across various business functions
Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners picked Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), saying the world will still be a violent place. &#8220;I know our incoming President [Donald Trump] has the noble goals of curtailing a lot of military activity overseas. I'm not sure it's really in his power,&#8221; he added.
On Oct. 29, Barclays analyst David Strauss maintained Lockheed Martin with an Equal-Weight and raised the price target from $505 to $565.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Anastasia Amoroso of iCapital picked iShares Core S&amp;P Small-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IJR#NYSE">IJR</a>), saying it's not too late to add to small caps.
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners said Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>) is the best performing financials stock for them.
On Oct. 15, Interactive Brokers reported quarterly earnings of $1.75 per share, which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $1.82. Quarterly revenue of $1.33 billion met the analyst consensus estimate and is an increase over revenue of $1.15 billion from the same period last year.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Salesforce shares gained 6.1% to close at $341.73 during Monday's session.</li>
<li>Lockheed Martin shares rose 1.1% to settle at $570.58 during Monday's session.</li>
<li>iShares Core S&amp;P Small-Cap ETF gained 1.6% during Monday's session.</li>
<li>Interactive Brokers shares gained 5.7% to close at $179.49 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/11/41877638/jim-cramer-tech-stock-go-to-160-recommends-buying-dominos-pizza">Jim Cramer: This Tech Stock Can &#8216;Go To 160,&#8217; Recommends Buying Domino&#8217;s Pizza</a></li>
</ul>

IBKR

Salesforce, Lockheed Martin, Interactive Brokers And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) shares nudged up by 1.07% on Monday as reports emerged that Taiwan might be loading up on U.S. defense tech, with Lockheed's Aegis destroyer and F-35 fighter jets at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LMT/news">the top of the list</a>. 
This potential <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/news/lockheed-martin-lmt-stock-rises-on-news-of-taiwan-defense-purchase">purchase</a> aligns with Taiwan&#8217;s move to show its defense commitment amid rising tensions with China, a sentiment that resonates with the U.S.'s call for allies to step up their defense investments.
Taiwan is also looking to buy Patriot missiles from RTX Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) and Northrop Grumman Corp's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) E-2D Advanced Hawkeye radar systems, underscoring its efforts to bolster self-defense.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41803738/invesco-launches-new-etfs-targeting-ai-cybersecurity-and-defense-heres-how-some-of-their-peers-have">Invesco Launches New ETFs Targeting AI, Cybersecurity, And Defense. Here&#8217;s How Some Of Their Peers Have Performed In The Past Year</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lockheed Expands Horizons With New AI Defense Partnerships</h2>
Beyond traditional defense tech, Lockheed is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/41735903">diving into AI</a> with new partnerships alongside Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>). 
Meta recently committed to making its open-source Llama AI models available for defense uses, working with Lockheed and others to integrate AI into national security applications. 
This expansion hints at Lockheed's strategic shift toward high-tech defense solutions, aligning with modern security demands.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Eye On Korea: Lockheed's Bid For CH-53K Choppers Deal</h2>
On the global front, Lockheed's Sikorsky unit is in the running for a multibillion-dollar <a href="https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/11/113_386184.html">contract </a>to supply heavy-lift CH-53K helicopters to South Korea, <a href="https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/11/113_386184.html">reported</a> TheKoreaTimes. 
This special ops chopper could find a new home in South Korea's military by 2031, though it's up against Boeing Co's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) CH-47F in a closely watched competition.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LMT Stock Chart Signals For Bulls &amp; Bears</h2>
Despite the bullish news, the charts show a mixed outlook for LMT stock. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent111224&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="627" height="452" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/12060829/Screenshot-2024-11-12-at-4.38.18-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-642499" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/12060829/Screenshot-2024-11-12-at-4.38.18-PM.png 627w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/12060829/Screenshot-2024-11-12-at-4.38.18-PM-300x216.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent111224&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
Trading at $570.58, LMT stock is above its eight, 20 and 200-day SMAs (simple moving averages), which signal strong support. 
However, the 50-day SMA, sitting at $578.05, shows slight selling pressure. 
The MACD (moving average convergence/divergence) reading of a negative 8.02 flags a potential downturn, while an RSI (relative strength index) of 51.57 signals a neutral stance, neither overbought nor oversold.
So, while Lockheed Martin has reason to celebrate with defense contracts and high-tech moves, investors might want to watch for potential pullbacks before jumping in.
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Palantir Technologies Inc.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) market capitalization has exceeded that of traditional defense industry leader Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), marking a significant shift in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41871055/jeff-bezos-backed-anthropic-ai-startup-to-partner-with-palantir-and-aws-for-us-defense-following-meta-and-microsoft">defense and technology sector landscape</a>.
What Happened: The data analytics company&#8217;s market value reached $137.17 billion, surpassing Lockheed Martin&#8217;s $135.25 billion, reflecting Palantir&#8217;s growth in artificial intelligence and data analytics within modern defense and security 
Palantir stock reached an all-time high at $60.24 on Monday, with its stock up 263.33% year-to-date, pushing its market capitalization to $137.17 billion, surpassing Lockheed Martin&#8217;s $135.25 billion. Lockheed Martin's stock has risen 25.09% to $570.58 in 2024, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
The stark difference in valuation metrics between the two companies highlights their distinct market positions. Palantir trades at a premium price-to-earnings ratio of 304.78. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin maintains a more traditional defense industry P/E ratio of 20.64.
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Why It Matters: This development underscores Palantir&#8217;s meteoric rise in the market, reflecting its growing influence. This surge in market cap comes on the heels of a series of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41871055/jeff-bezos-backed-anthropic-ai-startup-to-partner-with-palantir-and-aws-for-us-defense-following-meta-and-microsoft">strategic moves by Palantir</a>, including its partnership with Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) for U.S. defense initiatives.
Additionally, Palantir&#8217;s strong financial performance, with a 30% year-over-year increase in total revenue and a 39% growth in customer count, has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41732827/messi-of-ai-wall-street-analyst-gushes-over-robust-earnings-from-palantir">been lauded by analysts</a>, with Wedbush analyst Dan Ives calling the company &#8220;The Messi of AI.&#8221;
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin has been making <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/41735903/meta-amazon-microsoft-partner-on-defense-ai-initiative">strategic moves of its own</a>, such as partnering with Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft for a defense AI initiative and reporting a strong free cash flow of $2.1 billion in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41505464/lockheed-martin-analyst-spotlights-revenue-free-cash-flow-cautious-about-conservati">the third quarter</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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