ITA vs ARKX: Can an Earthbound Aerospace ETF Outpace a Space Fund?

The article compares two aerospace and defense ETFs: ITA (iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF) and ARKX (ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF). ITA offers lower fees (0.37% vs 0.75%), better 5-year returns ($2,117 vs $1,440 on $1,000 invested), and lower volatility, while ARKX provides active management with higher 3-year returns but greater risk. The analysis recommends ITA for investors seeking stability and longer-term performance.

11/12/2026, 5:00 PM • The Motley Fool

How These 5 Aerospace Stocks Earn Money Beyond New Plane Sales

The article highlights five aerospace companies that generate substantial recurring revenue from aftermarket services and parts, which can last decades. GE Aerospace benefits from its dominant LEAP engine position with a growing installed base. TransDigm and Loar Holdings use acquisition-driven strategies to control niche aerospace components. AAR Corp provides maintenance and repair services. RTX generates long-term aftermarket revenue from its Pratt & Whitney engine installed base. These companies offer stable, profitable business models beyond new aircraft sales.

11/11/2026, 7:30 PM • The Motley Fool

iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF vs. State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: These Defense ETFs Have a Surprising Difference Investors Should Know for 2027

The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) and State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) both provide exposure to military spending and commercial aviation, but differ significantly in their investment approaches. ITA concentrates heavily on industry giants like GE Aerospace, RTX, and Boeing, while XAR spreads investments more evenly across 50 companies using modified equal-weighting. For long-term investors, XAR appears to be the better choice due to its lower expense ratio (0.35% vs 0.37%), more balanced risk profile, and reduced dependence on a few major companies, though both funds face risks from defense budget uncertainty and aviation demand fluctuations.

11/09/2026, 5:30 AM • The Motley Fool

The Midterms Are Tomorrow. Here's What History Says Defense Stocks Do in the 6 Months After a Midterm -- and the 2 I'd Buy First

Despite concerns about a Democratic sweep in the midterms potentially hurting defense stocks, historical data shows defense equities often recover within six months post-election. The article recommends GE Aerospace and RTX as top picks due to their significant commercial aerospace exposure, which provides a buffer against potential cuts to specific military programs. Large defense contractor backlogs tied to readiness, rearmament, and replenishment efforts remain bipartisan priorities.

11/02/2026, 8:58 AM • The Motley Fool

Prediction: Defense Stocks Like Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing Are Set to Soar

Defense contractors Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Boeing are poised for growth as the Department of Defense shifts toward more favorable contract terms. Recent long-term agreements with Lockheed Martin featuring inflation adjustments, cash flow provisions, and recovery mechanisms signal an improved relationship between the government and defense companies, potentially derisk the sector and drive valuation gains.

11/02/2026, 4:57 AM • The Motley Fool

Golden Dome Is a $185 Billion Program, but Anduril Is Private. Here Are the 3 Public Companies Building It.

The U.S. Golden Dome Initiative, a $185 billion homeland missile defense system designed to protect the continental U.S. from aerial attacks, is being developed by multiple defense contractors. While private company Anduril is involved, three major publicly traded defense firms—Lockheed Martin, RTX Corporation, and Northrop Grumman—are positioned to benefit significantly from this multi-decade program, which could reach $1.2 trillion in long-term sustainment costs over 20 years.

10/31/2026, 7:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Look Who's Upgrading America's Nuclear Forces Now

RTX Corporation won an $8 billion sole-source contract from the U.S. Air Force to upgrade Strategic Communications Terminals for America's nuclear forces. The contract spans 10 years with completion in October 2036. While significant, the deal represents less than 1% of RTX's annual revenue and adds approximately $90 million in annual operating profit, making it unlikely to meaningfully impact the stock given its current 31x P/E valuation.

10/30/2026, 6:06 AM • The Motley Fool

Lockheed Martin's Backlog Is Soaring: Time to Buy the Stock

Lockheed Martin's order backlog surged to $292 billion in Q3 from $194 billion at year start, with improvements in both quantity and quality. The company is securing higher-margin contracts like the $58.6 billion PAC-3 missile defense system and establishing more favorable long-term agreements with the Department of Defense that include fixed-price escalators, upfront payments, and cancellation protections. These developments reduce execution risk and suggest improving profit margins, making the stock attractive at 22x earnings.

10/30/2026, 4:45 AM • The Motley Fool

MISL vs. JETS ETFs: Defense Stability Versus Airline Cyclicality

The First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL) and U.S. Global Jets ETF (JETS) both charge 0.6% expense ratios but differ significantly in risk and returns. MISL focuses on defense contractors with lower volatility (0.91 beta, 18.4% max drawdown), while JETS tracks airlines with higher volatility (1.30 beta, 48.3% max drawdown) but offers better dividend yield (0.9% vs 0.1%). MISL is better suited for risk-averse long-term investors, while JETS appeals to income-focused investors willing to tolerate cyclical airline industry exposure.

10/29/2026, 8:52 AM • The Motley Fool

Global Drone Defense System Market Report 2026 | Capture 30.6% CAGR Through 2030 as Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and DroneShield Scale AI Counter-UAS

The global drone defense system market is projected to grow from $4.72 billion in 2025 to $18.19 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 30.6%. Growth is driven by increasing unauthorized drone incidents, rising demand for multi-sensor fusion systems, AI integration, and mobile counter-UAS solutions. Major players include Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and others, with North America leading and Asia-Pacific expected to grow fastest.

10/27/2026, 5:00 PM • GlobeNewswire

RTX Has a $340 Billion Backlog and Trades at 32 Times Earnings. Is It the Best Defense Stock to Buy Right Now?

RTX Corporation, with a $340 billion backlog and strong recent results, is fairly valued compared to defense peers like Lockheed Martin and GE Aerospace. While the company's mix of commercial aerospace and defense businesses positions it well, valuation analysis suggests it trades at fair value rather than offering exceptional value, making it more of a long-term buy-and-hold rather than a compelling bargain.

10/27/2026, 3:22 PM • The Motley Fool

Better Defense Stock to Own Through 2030: Palantir vs. RTX Corporation

Palantir Technologies and RTX Corporation offer two distinct approaches to defense investing through 2030. Palantir, an AI software company serving defense and intelligence agencies, posted 93% revenue growth but trades at a premium P/E of 168. RTX, a diversified defense contractor with established products and a $340 billion backlog, offers more balanced valuation at P/E of 31 with dividend support. Palantir suits growth-oriented investors, while RTX appeals to those seeking stability and diversification.

10/27/2026, 8:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Lower Fees, Higher Growth: Why Cost-Conscious Aerospace Investors May Favor XAR Over PPA

XAR and PPA are aerospace and defense ETFs with different strategies. XAR uses a modified equal-weight approach with a lower 0.35% expense ratio and has delivered stronger 5-year returns (112% vs 81%), making it more appealing to cost-conscious investors. PPA uses market-cap weighting, has higher fees at 0.58%, but offers a higher dividend yield of 0.4% versus XAR's 0.2%.

10/23/2026, 1:31 PM • The Motley Fool

iShares Aerospace ETF vs Tema Space Innovators ETF

The article compares two aerospace ETFs: iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) and Tema Space Innovators ETF (NASA). ITA offers broader exposure to established defense companies at a lower cost (0.37% expense ratio) with less volatility, while NASA provides focused, higher-risk exposure to commercial space companies with a 0.75% expense ratio. ITA is recommended for most investors seeking lower costs and stability, while NASA appeals to those specifically targeting space innovation despite greater volatility.

10/21/2026, 6:30 PM • The Motley Fool

RTX: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors

RTX raised its full-year adjusted sales outlook to $97-$97.5 billion, driven by surging defense orders and steady commercial aerospace demand. The company secured $70 billion in undefinitized defense contracts providing decade-long demand visibility, commercial aftermarket sales grew 16% organically with over 800 GTF engine orders, and Collins Aerospace achieved double-digit organic sales growth while reducing costs through operational efficiency improvements.

10/20/2026, 2:43 PM • The Motley Fool