Lockheed Martin Corporation $LMT Stock Position Increased by VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al

Key Points

• Virginia Retirement Systems increased its Lockheed Martin stake by 5% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 114,802 shares valued at approximately $58.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 74.19% of LMT.
• Lockheed Martin reported quarterly earnings of $7.97 per share, exceeding estimates, while revenue rose 11.3% year over year to $20.71 billion. The company also raised its quarterly dividend to $3.60, or $14.40 annually, yielding about 2.3%.
• Analyst sentiment remains moderately bullish, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $638.05 price target, although ratings range from Sell to Strong Buy. Shares opened at $637.60, near the consensus target, after trading between $437.25 and $692 over the past year.

VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al increased its holdings in Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT - Free Report) by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 114,802 shares of the aerospace company's stock after buying an additional 5,480 shares during the period. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al's holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $58,463,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin during the second quarter worth $9,617,574,000. Corient Private Wealth LP bought a new position in shares of Lockheed Martin in the second quarter worth $101,960,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in shares of Lockheed Martin in the second quarter valued at $645,258,000. Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new position in shares of Lockheed Martin in the second quarter valued at $497,469,000. Finally, Papamarkou Wellner Asset Management inc. grew its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 20,302.9% in the second quarter. Papamarkou Wellner Asset Management inc. now owns 627,798 shares of the aerospace company's stock valued at $319,838,000 after purchasing an additional 624,721 shares in the last quarter. 74.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Lockheed Martin Stock Down 0.9%

LMT opened at $637.60 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $544.17 and a 200-day moving average price of $568.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $147.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 1.10. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a one year low of $437.25 and a one year high of $692.00.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The aerospace company reported $7.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.52 by $0.45. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 8.23% and a return on equity of 83.41%. The firm had revenue of $20.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $20.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $6.95 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 30.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lockheed Martin Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be issued a $3.60 dividend. This represents a $14.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 1st. This is a positive change from Lockheed Martin's previous quarterly dividend of $3.45. Lockheed Martin's payout ratio is currently 49.02%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on LMT shares. Barclays increased their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $554.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, October 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "hold" rating and issued a $615.00 target price on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research note on Sunday, October 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their target price on Lockheed Martin from $629.00 to $564.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 14th. UBS Group upped their price target on Lockheed Martin from $653.00 to $692.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Lockheed Martin from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Friday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $638.05.

Lockheed Martin News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Lockheed Martin this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The U.S. State Department approved a possible $2.1 billion Patriot missile package for Ukraine, naming Lockheed Martin as the principal contractor. The package includes 500 PAC-3 MSE interceptors, spare parts, logistics and support, and will be financed by allied and Ukrainian funds rather than direct U.S. funding. The sale could add to LMT’s missile backlog, although no delivery schedule was provided. U.S. approves $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale to Ukraine
• Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights Lockheed Martin’s record $292 billion backlog, continued F-35 production at 156 aircraft annually and a 10-year F-35 agreement with the Pentagon. These developments improve long-term revenue visibility and support the case for sustained military demand. Lockheed Martin long-term investor takeaways
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and investors are also encouraged by potentially better Department of Defense contract terms, with higher-margin Missiles and Fire Control activities expected to improve profitability and reduce development and execution risk. Lockheed Martin backlog analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain divided on LMT versus faster-growing defense companies such as Kratos Defense. While the backlog and F-35 progress are favorable, valuation, cash generation and uncertainty over future U.S. defense budgets remain key considerations. Kratos Defense versus Lockheed Martin analysis
• Negative Sentiment: After a roughly 27% October rally, some investors may be taking profits. Coverage also flags gradually weakening margins and warns that management’s January update on profitability and execution could determine whether the recent advance is sustainable. Lockheed Martin October rally analysis

Lockheed Martin Profile

Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Formed in 1995 through the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company develops and produces advanced defense, aerospace, and technology systems for government and commercial customers.

Its principal business areas include Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space. Products and services include military aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, C-130 Hercules, and F-16 Fighting Falcon; missile-defense and precision-strike systems; helicopters and naval systems; command, control, communications, and intelligence technologies; satellites; space exploration systems; and other classified space and defense programs.

Lockheed Martin serves the U.S.

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