RTX's $289 Billion Backlog, Explained

RTX's growing $289 billion backlog, driven by surging orders in both commercial aerospace and defense sectors, is a key indicator of future revenue and earnings growth. The backlog provides earnings visibility, de-risks the business from economic weakness, and drives long-term growth through profitable aftermarket services and recurring revenue. Management projects 2026 adjusted sales of $95-96 billion, with backlog growth dependent on orders exceeding sales growth.

08/22/2026, 3:05 AM • The Motley Fool

Which Aerospace & Defense ETF Is a Better Buy: Big Bets or Broad Exposure?

The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) offers lower costs (0.37% expense ratio) and stronger 1-year returns (27.2%), but is highly concentrated with top three holdings representing 47% of the portfolio. The Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA) provides broader diversification across 62 holdings with tech exposure, delivering superior 5-year growth but at a higher expense ratio (0.58%). The choice depends on whether investors prefer concentrated exposure to major defense contractors or diversified sector exposure.

08/21/2026, 11:12 PM • The Motley Fool

Which Space and Defense ETF Is the Better Buy: ARK's ARKX or First Trust's MISL?

ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF (ARKX) delivers higher returns (28.8% over 1 year) but with significantly higher volatility and a 0.75% expense ratio, while First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL) offers steadier performance (22.6% returns) with lower costs (0.6% expense ratio) and reduced risk. ARKX is suited for aggressive investors backing Cathie Wood's innovation thesis, while MISL appeals to those seeking stable aerospace and defense exposure.

08/18/2026, 1:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Is It Too Late to Buy Ondas Stock?

Ondas, a military drone company, has surged 110% over the past year as demand for military drones accelerates due to ongoing conflicts. Despite a $4.3 billion market cap, the company has secured major contracts from the U.S. military and Israel, competing effectively against larger defense contractors. With projected revenue growth exceeding tenfold in 2026 and a forward P/S ratio of 8, analysts suggest the stock has significant upside potential despite its current valuation.

08/15/2026, 5:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Why Voyager Stock Skyrocketed This Week

Voyager Technologies stock surged 70% this week following strong Q2 results with record bookings of $113 million and a backlog of $335.5 million. The aerospace company is benefiting from the Trump Administration's Golden Dome missile defense project ($84 million in awards), its Astrobotic acquisition strengthening NASA ties, and a new RTX contract for propulsion technology. Despite current losses, Voyager projects 66-84% revenue growth for 2026, positioning itself well amid expanding defense budgets and accelerating space investment.

08/08/2026, 8:07 PM • The Motley Fool

3 Defense Stocks That Could Benefit From the Crisis in the Strait of Hormuz

Frontline, RTX, and ExxonMobil are benefiting from the Strait of Hormuz crisis through scarce tankers, depleted missile inventories, and higher oil prices. However, these opportunities carry different risk profiles, and a ceasefire could reveal which stocks have durable demand versus those riding a temporary war premium.

08/08/2026, 3:30 PM • The Motley Fool

Military Drone Market Size to Hit USD 42.80 Billion by 2035 as AI-Powered Autonomous Defense Systems Accelerate Global Growth | SNS Insider

The global military drone market is projected to grow from USD 16.50 billion in 2025 to USD 42.80 billion by 2035, with a CAGR of 10.0%. Growth is driven by AI-powered autonomous systems, defense modernization, increased demand for ISR capabilities, and border security investments. The U.S. market is expected to expand from USD 6.31 billion to USD 16.22 billion, while Europe grows from USD 4.19 billion to USD 10.14 billion.

08/04/2026, 6:48 AM • GlobeNewswire

Which Aerospace and Defense ETF Is the Better Buy: State Street's XAR or First Trust's MISL?

State Street's XAR and First Trust's MISL offer different approaches to aerospace and defense sector exposure. XAR uses an equal-weighted strategy with lower fees (0.35% expense ratio) and broader mid-cap/small-cap exposure, delivering stronger 1-year returns of 20.6%. MISL employs market-cap weighting with higher concentration in defense giants and tech companies, offering lower volatility but higher fees (0.6%) and lower returns (9.6%). For most long-term investors, XAR's lower costs and stronger performance make it the more practical choice.

08/03/2026, 8:37 AM • The Motley Fool

Iran Tensions Illustrate Defense Supply Shortages That Will Benefit These 3 Stocks

Iran tensions have prompted the U.S. Defense Department to announce seven-year agreements with defense contractors to expand missile defense production capacity. Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies, and RTX are positioned to benefit from record order backlogs and increased global demand for Patriot and THAAD interceptor systems, with all three companies showing strong financial performance and consistent dividend growth.

07/30/2026, 9:30 PM • The Motley Fool

Which Aerospace ETF is the Better Buy in 2026: Invesco Aerospace & Defense or U.S. Global Jets?

The article compares two aerospace ETFs: Invesco Aerospace & Defense (PPA) and U.S. Global Jets (JETS). While JETS has outperformed recently due to small-cap rally strength (up 46.1% in 52 weeks vs PPA's 25.4%), PPA demonstrates superior long-term performance with a 17.8% annualized return over the past decade compared to JETS' 5.2%. PPA offers lower volatility (0.74 beta vs 1.20), broader diversification across defense contractors and aerospace manufacturers, and a lower expense ratio. Despite PPA's stronger fundamentals, the article recommends JETS as the better buy, citing the historic small-cap rally and belief that small caps will continue outperforming.

07/24/2026, 2:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Military Drone (UAV) Market to Reach USD 22.81 Billion by 2030, Growing at 7.6% CAGR, Says MarketsandMarkets™

The global Military Drone (UAV) Market is projected to grow from USD 34.85 billion in 2026 to USD 109.22 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 25.7%, driven by rising defense budgets, geopolitical tensions, and advancements in AI and autonomy. Strategic drones and ISR applications dominate the market, with North America leading and the Middle East & Africa showing fastest growth. Key players include Northrop Grumman, RTX, and General Atomics.

07/17/2026, 10:00 AM • GlobeNewswire

Missed Out On The SpaceX IPO? Buy These Industrial Giants Instead.

For investors who missed SpaceX's IPO, established defense contractors offer steadier exposure to the space boom through government spending on Golden Dome (a space-based missile shield). Companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, RTX, and Boeing provide dividend income and diversified portfolios, though with lower growth potential than pure-play space companies.

07/15/2026, 3:05 AM • The Motley Fool

GE Aerospace vs. StandardAero: Which Industrials Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

GE Aerospace and StandardAero both benefit from growing aerospace demand but operate at different stages of the aircraft lifecycle. GE Aerospace manufactures engines with a massive installed base and strong profitability (19% net margin), while StandardAero provides maintenance and repair services with lower valuation but higher risk due to customer concentration and internal control issues. The author favors GE Aerospace for conservative investors despite its higher valuation, citing its scale, history, and stability.

07/10/2026, 8:10 AM • The Motley Fool

PPA vs ARKX Aerospace ETF Showdown: Which ETF Is the High Flier for 2026?

The article compares two aerospace and defense ETFs: Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA), a passively managed fund focused on traditional defense contractors with lower costs and higher long-term returns, and ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF (ARKX), an actively managed fund with higher volatility that concentrates on space technology innovation. While PPA offers stability and lower fees, ARKX has delivered stronger recent returns, making the choice dependent on investor risk tolerance and confidence in active management.

07/09/2026, 3:20 PM • The Motley Fool

Soaring Defense Spending Means Great News for These 2 Defense Stocks

U.S. defense spending is projected to reach $1 trillion in 2026 and $1.5 trillion in 2027, driven by geopolitical tensions and military modernization efforts. Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation are well-positioned to benefit from this surge, with massive backlogs ($186 billion and $271 billion respectively) and strong positions in key defense programs including the F-35 fighter jet and air defense systems.

07/09/2026, 7:15 AM • The Motley Fool