Best Time in a Generation to Buy Space and Defense Stocks, Led by SpaceX and Rocket Lab

섹터 동향 | Thu Jul 02 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) | 10 sources

Wedbush issued a bullish outlook on the space and defense sector, while SpaceX joined the Nasdaq-100 and Rocket Lab agreed to acquire Iridium, reshaping the industry.

Analysis

[Wedbush] initiated coverage on space and defense stocks with a bullish outlook ^[1]

• Initiated coverage on space sector names including SpaceX
• Called it the best buying opportunity in a generation
• Bullish outlook on the space and defense sector

[SpaceX] joined the Nasdaq-100 and adopted a long-term lockup structure ^[6][9]

• Added to the Nasdaq-100 via Fast Entry on July 7
• JPMorgan estimates approximately $4.3B in passive inflows
• 366-day lockup applied to Musk's stake
• $4.9B net loss in 2025
• $2.2T market cap

[Rocket Lab] announced an $8B acquisition of Iridium Communications ^[3][10]

• Cash-and-stock deal at $54 per share
• Secures Iridium's 66 satellites and L-band spectrum
• Gains 2.5M subscribers and $634M service revenue base
• $3.6B bridge loan arranged from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo
• Selected as launch provider for NASA solar and Earth science missions

[GE Aerospace] hit an all-time high with a 473% gain over five years ^[8]

• 75% market share in narrow-body jet engines
• 55% in wide-body
• $181B backlog secured
• $1.5B free cash flow in Q1
• Result of the GE split led by CEO Larry Culp

[Lockheed Martin & Cleveland-Cliffs] won major U.S. Department of Defense contracts ^[4][5]

• Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control division awarded $347.5M
• U.S. Army air and missile defense prototype system development contract
• Cleveland-Cliffs signed electrical steel contract worth up to $400M
• Five-year contract
• scheduled for completion in September 2030

[Joby Aviation] entered the final stage of FAA certification and advanced eVTOL commercialization ^[2][7]

• First flight of FAA-conforming production eVTOL
• Over 50
• 000 miles of cumulative test flights
• Participating in the White House Air Taxi Pilot Program
• Astronics to supply power distribution systems for Vertical Aerospace's Valo eVTOL
• Market cap of approximately $8.5B

Sources

• [1] This is the best time ‘in a generation’ to buy space and defense stocks, analysts say - MarketWatch Top Stories
• [2] Astronics Corporation (ATRO) To Provide Low-Voltage Power Distribution System For Vertical Aerospace’s Valo eVTOL Aircraft - Yahoo Finance
• [3] Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB) Chosen by NASA to Launch Sun, Earth Sciences Missions - Yahoo Finance
• [4] Cleveland-Cliffs wins $400M U.S. Defense electrical steel contract - Seeking Alpha Market News
• [5] Lockheed Martin's segment wins $347.5M deal for prototype defense system work - Seeking Alpha Market News
• [6] SpaceX IPO Locks Up Musk's Wealth in Equity. Here's What That Signals About the Company's Cash Strategy. - The Motley Fool
• [7] Is Joby Aviation a Buy After Clearing Its Latest Regulatory Hurdle? - The Motley Fool
• [8] This Hidden Aerospace Stock Is Up 470% in the Last 5 Years and Just Hit a New All-Time High - The Motley Fool
• [9] Should You Buy SpaceX Before It Joins the Nasdaq-100 On July 7? - The Motley Fool
• [10] Rocket Lab Just Made an $8 Billion Bet to Rival SpaceX. Is the Stock a Buy? - The Motley Fool