This century's great-power rivalry will be decided at sea — and China's navy just became the largest in the world by number of hulls. But the more alarming story is that the US can't keep up building warships and submarines, because it has too few shipyards left and not enough skilled workers. This is a story about an industry that's capital-heavy, slow, and ringed by a wide moat — but whose 'capacity ceiling' has become a national-security problem.
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Theme index· base 100 · USD total return
Why is Naval Systems & Shipbuilding moving?
Latest
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Naval orders broaden; Anduril's $3.7B yard adds new shipbuilding capacity
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US naval shipbuilders win fresh repair, overhaul and submarine-component work General Dynamics' NASSCO won a $149.6M Navy destroyer repair job, HII secured a $5.1B Truman carrier overhaul plus unmanned-vessel work, and Anduril took a $2.9B contract for submarine parts. These awards keep existing yards busy and pull new suppliers into the naval pipeline.
Shows concrete new demand flowing to US naval shipbuilding and systems firms.
Anduril's $3.7B Maryland shipyard adds capacity and jobs Anduril will build a $3.7B high-tech shipyard at Sparrows Point, Maryland, to make Virginia-class submarine components, creating about 3,100 jobs. New yard space helps ease the shipbuilding bottleneck and signals private capital is betting on long-term naval demand.
New private investment expands physical shipbuilding capacity, a key constraint on the theme.
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Naval systems suppliers win electronics, propulsion and reactor work Leonardo DRS won electric-propulsion work for Korea's KDDX destroyers plus MK 41 and Growler electronics; Lockheed Martin added $209M of shipboard electronic-warfare systems and a $724M Japan Aegis deal; BWX Technologies targets $5.5-6B 2030 revenue on naval nuclear work. This broadens the supplier base.
Shows demand spreading across propulsion, combat systems and nuclear components, not just hulls.
Allied naval programs advance, but German orders slump and a Chinese supplier is banned Mitsubishi Heavy launched a new Japanese submarine and US-Korea talks advanced shipbuilding and nuclear-submarine cooperation. Offsetting this, German industrial orders fell 10.6% on fewer ship and military orders, and China banned Zhongke Haixun from Navy procurement for bid rigging.
Captures the broadening allied pipeline alongside real counterweights in demand and regulation.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches New Maritime Self-Defense Force Submarine Shogei, Scheduled for Commissioning in March 2028
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries held a naming and launching ceremony on the 8th at its Kobe Shipyard for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's new submarine Shogei. It is the seventh vessel of the conventionally powered Taigei-class submarines and is scheduled to enter service in March 2028. It has a total length of 84 meters, a beam of about 9 meters, a standard displacement of 3,000 tons, a crew of about 70, and a construction cost of about 80.5 billion yen. According to the Maritime Self-Defense Force, it has improved detection capabilities and a structure that makes it difficult for underwater noise to leak, making it harder to detect from the outside. Shogei is written in kanji as "翔鯨," and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi selected the name from candidates solicited from Maritime Self-Defense Force units and other sources.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — Europe & Asia Demand
7011.JP · Demand · Positive Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched the new MSDF submarine Shogei, the seventh Taigei-class vessel, an order/contract for its defense shipbuilding business.
Anduril to build $3.7 billion shipyard in Maryland as Trump attends groundbreaking
U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries announced on the 6th that it will invest $3.7 billion to build a shipyard in Maryland on the U.S. East Coast, with President Trump attending the groundbreaking ceremony. The company will build a new high-tech shipyard at Sparrows Point near the Port of Baltimore, where it plans to manufacture components for the U.S. Navy's Virginia-class nuclear submarines, with an expected 3,100 jobs created. The U.S. Navy on the same day awarded Anduril a $2.9 billion contract to manufacture submarine components such as torpedo tubes and hatches. Amid a broad push by the United States and its allies to expand weapons production in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, this investment and the related contract total up to $6.6 billion. The site was once home to a large steel mill, but it closed in 2012 after decades of decline and bankruptcy. The project has put Trump unusually in step with Maryland Governor Moore, a Democrat who has frequently criticized him.
Zhongke Haixun banned from Navy procurement activities for one year due to bid rigging
Zhongke Haixun announced that the company received a dishonesty handling notice from the military procurement website. Due to bid rigging violations in a certain assessment system procurement project, the Navy procurement management department decided to ban the company from participating in Navy materials, engineering, and services procurement activities from September 23, 2026 to September 23, 2027. The company stated that its overall operations are currently normal and signed contracts are still being executed. From 2024 to the present, the amount the company won through the military procurement website accounted for approximately 4.21% of its total winning bids. The company expects that this will affect the acquisition of some orders in the short term, but will not affect its ongoing operations.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding Regulation
300810.CS · Regulation · Negative Navy procurement department banned Zhongke Haixun from Navy procurement activities for one year due to bid rigging, which the company expects will hurt short-term order acquisition.
Lockheed Martin Wins $209 Million Navy Electronic Warfare Contract Modification
Lockheed Martin's Rotary and Mission Systems business received a $209 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy for production of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program AN/SLQ-32(V)6 systems. The award includes options that could raise the cumulative value of the contract to approximately $1.71 billion, with work performed in Liverpool, NY, and Lansdale, PA, and expected completion by September 2029. The AN/SLQ-32(V)6 is designed to help Navy ships detect, identify and respond to electromagnetic threats, capabilities the service is prioritizing as adversaries field more advanced radar, communications and electronic attack systems. The award underscores continued Navy investment in shipboard electronic warfare and fleet survivability, and Lockheed Martin's role in producing the system positions it to benefit from recurring procurement and upgrades as the Navy modernizes its surface fleet. RTX Corporation and Northrop Grumman also maintain established electronic warfare and sensor capabilities that could benefit from growing naval investment.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — United States ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
LMT · Demand · Positive Lockheed Martin won a $209M Navy contract modification (up to $1.71B with options) to produce AN/SLQ-32(V)6 electronic warfare systems.
German industrial orders fall 10.6% in August, missing forecasts on reversal of large-scale contracts
Germany's Federal Statistical Office reported on the 6th that industrial orders in August fell 10.6% from the previous month on a seasonally and working-day adjusted basis, far below the 1.0% decline forecast by analysts polled by Reuters. Large orders for aircraft, ships, rail vehicles and military vehicles declined, with the "other transport equipment" category plunging 61.5%. This is a reversal after orders in that sector more than doubled in July. Excluding large-scale contracts, new orders in August edged down just 0.1%. On a three-month comparison that smooths out volatility, new orders from June to August rose 1.3% compared with the preceding three-month period. July's new orders were revised up to a 3.2% month-on-month increase from the preliminary reading of 2.5%. Foreign orders in August fell 5.4%, with orders from the euro zone down 5.4%, orders from outside the euro zone down 5.5%, and domestic orders down 17.3%.
HII Wins US$5.10 Billion Truman Overhaul Contract, Expands Unmanned Vessel Work
Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division secured a US$5.10 billion contract in late September 2026 to conduct the refueling and complex overhaul of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The award sits alongside the Navy's order for 10 ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels and an expansion of the Pocasset unmanned systems campus, tying long-duration carrier work to growing autonomous maritime capabilities within HII's Mission Technologies division. The company's narrative projects $15.3 billion in revenue and $963.2 million in earnings by 2029, requiring 5.2% yearly revenue growth and a $302.2 million earnings increase from $661.0 million today. That forecast yields a $367.25 fair value, a 37% upside to the current price, while some optimistic analysts assume revenue of about US$16.2 billion and earnings of roughly US$1.2 billion by 2029. The Truman overhaul reinforces HII's backlog but does not remove near-term risk that 2026 free cash flow could miss if contract advances or tax benefits arrive later or smaller than management hopes.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — United States ▲Demand
HII · Demand · Positive HII's Newport News won a $5.10B contract to refuel and overhaul the USS Harry S. Truman, adding to its backlog.
HII · Capital · Positive The article cites a $367.25 fair value with 37% upside and projected 2029 revenue/earnings growth, though it flags 2026 free cash flow risk.
Oceaneering Wins $154M U.S. Navy Dry Deck Shelter Contract
Oceaneering International announced that its Aerospace and Defense Technologies segment, known as ADTech, has secured a follow-on contract from the U.S. Navy to support the Dry Deck Shelter program. The five-year award, which includes one base year and four option years, carries a potential value of $154 million. The agreement covers maintenance, overhaul, engineering and field change services for Dry Deck Shelters, specialized systems that help enable the deployment of special operations forces and undersea vehicles. Oceaneering has supported the Navy's Dry Deck Shelter program since 2002, and the company said its ADTech segment provides engineered solutions for U.S. Navy undersea programs. The full $154 million value depends on the exercise of the four option years, with the initial base-year award providing the foundation for continued engagement with the Navy.
BWX Technologies Targets $5.5B-$6B 2030 Revenue After 27% Pullback
BWX Technologies held an investor day on September 29 where management laid out bullish long-term targets, after the stock fell 27% over the past three months. The company, which holds a virtual monopoly on naval nuclear reactors and fuel components for the U.S. Navy, said its total backlog has doubled to $8.4 billion, roughly nine quarters of contracted run rate, and projected 2026 revenue of $3.8 billion, about 98% of it from core nuclear activities. BWXT is selling a majority stake in its non-core medical isotope unit for up to $800 million while retaining a 20% interest, and is reallocating proceeds into nuclear manufacturing assets, including a 500,000-square-foot footprint expansion through the Precision Components Group acquisition. Its updated 2030 roadmap targets annual revenue of $5.5 billion to $6 billion on low double-digit compound organic growth, with adjusted EBITDA margins expanding from 17.5% to approximately 20% and cumulative free cash flow exceeding $2 billion through the end of the decade. The stock, which peaked above $241 and has traded down into the $130-$140 range, still carries a roughly 36x trailing and 27x forward price-to-earnings multiple, while hedge fund holders rose to 65 in the second quarter from 61 in the prior quarter and short interest sits at 4.42% of the public float.
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Advanced Nuclear — SMR & Microreactor Supply
BWXT · Capital · Positive Investor day lays out bullish 2030 revenue/EBITDA/FCF targets, doubled $8.4B backlog, and a $800M medical-isotope divestiture reallocating proceeds into nuclear manufacturing.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to invest 100 billion yen in Shimonoseki Shipyard, acquiring land on Choshu Dejima
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced on the 2nd that it will invest approximately 100 billion yen to expand the construction capacity of its Shimonoseki Shipyard. The company will acquire industrial land on Choshu Dejima, an artificial island being developed by the city of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and build a new factory there. The move is aimed at strengthening its shipbuilding business, which the government is seeking to promote, and at the Shimonoseki Shipyard, the company's subsidiary Mitsubishi Shipbuilding builds ferries and car carriers. In addition to transferring some of the shipyard's functions to the newly acquired land, the company will build a factory to manufacture hull blocks, the components that make up a ship, with operations targeted to begin in 2030.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Supply
7011.JP · Capital · Positive Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will invest ~100 billion yen to expand Shimonoseki Shipyard capacity, acquiring land and building a new hull-block factory targeting 2030 operations.
Lockheed Martin Wins $94.2 Million Navy AEGIS Contract Modification for Royal Canadian Navy
Lockheed Martin's Rotary and Mission Systems business received a $94.2 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy to support continued development and integration of the AEGIS Combat System for the Royal Canadian Navy. The award funds system engineering, computer program baseline development and integration testing of AEGIS Weapon System elements and interfaces, with work performed primarily in Moorestown, New Jersey, and expected completion by December 2027. The contract is funded through the Foreign Military Sales program, underscoring Canada's continued investment in advanced naval capabilities. AEGIS integrates sensors, weapons and command-and-control capabilities so ships can detect, track and respond to airborne and surface threats. The award adds to Lockheed Martin's long-term AEGIS-related work and supports its position in the naval defense market.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — United States ▲Demand
LMT · Demand · Positive Lockheed Martin won a $94.2M Navy contract modification to develop and integrate the AEGIS Combat System for the Royal Canadian Navy.
Huntington Ingalls Industries received a US$5.1b contract to refuel and overhaul the USS Harry S. Truman carrier, work that will be carried out at the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division in Virginia. The refueling and complex overhaul, or RCOH, lands squarely in the backlog and cash flow side of the company's business, which is built on a $56.9 billion backlog of multi-year, multi-program contracts. Separately, HII reached preliminary acceptance of the future USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier with the U.S. Navy ahead of formal delivery, a milestone that speaks to execution on complex Ford-class programs. Huntington Ingalls Industries is a US$10.2b aerospace and defense contractor focused on designing, building, overhauling and repairing military ships for the U.S. fleet, making large carrier projects like Truman and the future John F. Kennedy central to its operations. The carrier work keeps heavy yards fully loaded, though it also locks the business further into large manned platforms while management commits capital, partners and factory space to ROMULUS and REMUS unmanned systems.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — United States ▲Demand
HII · Demand · Positive HII won a $5.1B contract to refuel and overhaul the USS Harry S. Truman, adding to its $56.9B backlog.
HII · Technology · Positive HII reached preliminary acceptance of the future USS John F. Kennedy, a milestone showing execution on complex Ford-class programs.
U.S. Navy Doubles MQ-25A Control Capacity with Second MD-5C Station
The U.S. Navy has doubled its fleet capacity to operate the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aircraft system over a five-month period by standing up a second operational MD-5C Ground Control Station powered by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works MDCX. USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) received the first operational MD-5C in March 2026, followed by USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in August 2026. The MD-5C is a highly complex system-of-systems that includes the government Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence network, Lockheed Martin's MDCX software and hardware, and additional government-produced ancillary equipment. Within the Ground Control Station, MDCX is the mission planning and execution software that enables Navy operators to command and control the MQ-25A Stingray, extending carrier air wing reach and freeing manned aircraft for higher-priority missions. Capt. Daniel Fucito, PMA-268 program manager, said the two operational unmanned air warfare centers aboard CVN 71 and CVN 76 bring the Navy closer to integrating unmanned carrier aviation into the fleet, while MDCX Program Manager Ben Tongue said the team has doubled the number of U.S. Navy carriers ready to fly the MQ-25A Stingray in five months.
LMT · Demand · Positive Navy stood up a second operational MD-5C Ground Control Station powered by Lockheed Martin's MDCX software, doubling carriers able to operate the MQ-25A Stingray.
General Dynamics' Electric Boat Wins $40 Million Navy Order for Virginia-Class Submarine Parts
General Dynamics' Electric Boat business has received a $40 million order from the U.S. Navy for 19 hydraulic actuators used on Virginia-class submarines. The work will be performed in Groton, CT, and is expected to be completed by December 2040, a long timeline that highlights the extended nature of the Navy's submarine procurement and sustainment programs. Hydraulic actuators are critical components supporting submarine system operations, and continued procurement of such equipment reflects the Navy's focus on maintaining fleet readiness while supporting ongoing Virginia-class production. The award reinforces Electric Boat's position as a key supplier to the Navy's submarine programs, and demand for Virginia-class submarines is expected to remain an important driver for General Dynamics as the Navy expands and modernizes its undersea fleet. Shares of GD have lost 2.5% in the past year compared with the industry's 16% decline, and the stock trades at a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 1.56X versus the industry average of 2.19X.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — United States ▲Demand
GD · Demand · Positive Electric Boat received a $40 million U.S. Navy order for 19 hydraulic actuators for Virginia-class submarines, a concrete product order.
Electric Boat · Demand · Positive Electric Boat won the $40 million Navy order for Virginia-class submarine hydraulic actuators.
Lockheed Martin Wins $297M Navy Modification and $724M Japan Aegis Contract
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has been awarded a $244.96M firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded U.S. Navy contract, adding scope to procure Full Rate Production 2 of F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track Block II systems. That modification covers 48 infrared receivers, 45 for the Navy and three for the Royal Australian Air Force, along with 74 processors and 27 inertial measurement units for the Navy, plus test equipment maintenance and lay-in material, with work performed across Florida, California and Pennsylvania and expected completion in February 2031. The Navy also awarded Lockheed a $52.11M cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract to incorporate engineering changes into F-35 Lot 18-19 air vehicle production for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, F-35 Cooperative Partners and Foreign Military Sales customers. Separately, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems of Moorestown, New Jersey, was awarded a $724M contract modification for the Japanese Ministry of Defense, raising the total contract value from $1.64B to $2.36B. That contract covers delivery of the Aegis System-equipped vessel #1 and ASEV #2 AEGIS Combat System to Japan, with work performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and Japan from Sept. 29, 2026, through March 31, 2030.
LMT · Demand · Positive Lockheed won a $244.96M Navy modification for F/A-18 IRST Block II systems plus a $52.11M F-35 engineering-change modification and a $724M Japan Aegis combat-system contract, adding concrete orders.
HII's Newport News Shipbuilding Wins Preliminary Acceptance for Carrier John F. Kennedy
HII announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has achieved preliminary acceptance of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered carrier. Preliminary acceptance is the final step before formal delivery to the U.S. Navy, and it allows the Navy to begin underway test and evaluation of Kennedy's unique systems while the crew gains operational proficiency. CVN 79 successfully completed acceptance trials in August. Bryan Caccavale, NNS vice president of program management, said achieving preliminary acceptance is another step toward ensuring the U.S. Navy has the aircraft carriers it needs to carry out its mission of defending the nation. The carrier departed Newport News Shipbuilding today and will transition to Naval Station Norfolk.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — United States ▲Demand
HII · Demand · Positive HII's Newport News Shipbuilding achieved preliminary acceptance of carrier John F. Kennedy, the final step before formal delivery to the U.S. Navy.
Nel ASA unit wins USD 12 million Collins Aerospace order for US Navy submarine stacks
Nel Hydrogen US, a subsidiary of Nel ASA, has received a new purchase order from Collins Aerospace for PEM electrolyser stacks valued at approximately USD 12 million. The equipment will generate oxygen for life-support systems used on US submarines, with deliveries expected throughout 2027 and 2028. The stacks will be manufactured at Nel's facility in Wallingford, Connecticut. Chief Commercial Officer Todd Cartwright said the order extends a long-standing cooperation built around reliable oxygen generation for demanding submarine applications, and confirms the continued relevance of Nel's PEM technology and manufacturing capabilities. The order reflects growing momentum for Nel's technology in defence applications, where reliability, operational resilience and a long service life are paramount.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Supply
0E4Q.LSE · Demand · Positive Nel ASA subsidiary received a ~USD 12 million PEM electrolyser stack order from Collins Aerospace for US Navy submarine oxygen systems.
Nel Hydrogen US · Demand · Positive Nel Hydrogen US won the ~USD 12 million Collins Aerospace order, to be manufactured at its Wallingford, Connecticut facility.
Iran Sees Low Odds of War-Ending Deal With US Before Midterm Elections
Insiders say Iran sees little possibility of reaching an agreement to end the war with the United States and reopening the Strait of Hormuz before the midterm elections in November, while talks between the two sides on the sidelines of last week's UN General Assembly made only slight progress. Iran believes there is a high likelihood the conflict will escalate after the US midterm elections on November 3. President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday, September 28, that US representatives are discussing negotiations with Iran through intermediaries but declined to give details, stressing that the matter will end one way or another and will conclude fairly quickly. A US official said Washington will not reach a deal with Iran without resolving the issue of Iran's nuclear program, and that Trump is ready to ease sanctions and unfreeze Iran's frozen assets if Iran shows concrete progress on the nuclear issue. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who met last week with Trump representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, remains in the United States for further discussions through intermediaries. Qatari mediators are expected to arrange separate talks with Abbas Araghchi in New York and to hold discussions with the US side on Monday or Tuesday local time. The main issue is refining the proposal for a 7-day opening of Hormuz that Iran put forward last week. Mediators are pushing for an agreement different from the memorandum of understanding signed by Iran and the United States in mid-June, which led to a ceasefire and helped increase shipping through the Strait of Hormuz but collapsed within just two weeks and was criticized by US politicians as giving Iran too much financial benefit, especially through sanctions relief. Iran continues to restrict shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving cargo and oil transport volumes far below pre-war levels. Two sources said the US government has told intermediaries that it wants Iran to give clear commitments on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and to make concessions on the nuclear program. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated to the UN General Assembly that Iran does not seek to develop nuclear weapons but will not give up its right to develop nuclear technology for economic benefit.
Lockheed Martin Unit Wins $155.7M Navy Combat System Contract Modification
Lockheed Martin's Rotary and Mission Systems unit won a $155.7M cost-plus-award-fee contract modification to support systems engineering and software integration for the Integrated Combat System across U.S. Navy and Coast Guard surface forces. The work is expected to be completed by September 27, 2026. Of the $96.3M in fiscal 2025–2026 Navy procurement, R&D, weapons procurement, and operations funds obligated at award, $46.3M comes from fiscal 2025 other procurement and $40.6M from fiscal 2026 RDT&E, while $6.2M of the obligated funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — United States ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
LMT · Demand · Positive Lockheed Martin's Rotary and Mission Systems unit won a $155.7M Navy contract modification for Integrated Combat System engineering and software integration.
Guggenheim Initiates Curtiss-Wright With Buy Rating and $786 Price Target
Guggenheim initiated coverage of Curtiss-Wright Corporation with a Buy rating and a $786 price target, representing 41% upside potential at the time of its September 15 update, citing rising global defense spending and elevated power generation demand as a compelling one-two punch. The call rests on businesses Curtiss-Wright already operates: Aerospace & Defense market sales rose 6% year over year in the second quarter on higher naval defense revenue and stronger electromechanical actuation sales, while commercial market sales rose 5%, with Power & Process growth driven mainly by commercial nuclear solutions. Total company orders increased 8% to $1.1 billion in the quarter, with record demand for defense electronics, and backlog ended at $4.5 billion, 10% higher than at the end of 2025. In July the company announced an $80 million multi-year expansion of its Cheswick, Pennsylvania operations serving naval defense and commercial nuclear customers. For the quarter, sales rose 5% to $924 million, adjusted diluted EPS increased 15% to $3.72, and adjusted operating margin improved 110 basis points to 19.4%, prompting management to raise its full-year outlook to 2026 adjusted sales growth of 8% to 9% and adjusted diluted EPS of $15.10 to $15.40, growth of 14% to 16%.
Healey unveils £100m apprenticeship fund and £300m Rolls-Royce investment in reindustrialisation push
Chancellor John Healey has set out plans to reindustrialise Britain, announcing a £100 million fund for local mayors to boost apprenticeships, a £300 million investment by Rolls-Royce in British factories, and confirmed support for British shipbuilding. In his speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Healey said the new Local Apprenticeship Service would see teams acting like football scouts to link young people with firms, describing it as a down payment on work to tackle the almost one million young people not in employment, education or training. He also confirmed previously trailed plans for £6 billion of government contracts for British shipyards, and said Rolls-Royce would invest £300 million in factories in Derby, Bristol, Glasgow and Rotherham. Healey, who will deliver his first Budget next month, acknowledged he did not have the money available to his predecessor Gordon Brown and sought to reassure markets that fiscal discipline would be at the core of his Budget. The speech came as diesel hit a record 199.18p a litre and the Confederation of British Industry said firms across the private sector expect activity to fall in the three months to December, though CBI chief executive Rain Newton-Smith said Healey had set out a strong vision with many of the right signals.
RR.LSE · Capital · Positive Rolls-Royce will invest £300m in its Derby, Bristol, Glasgow and Rotherham factories as part of the reindustrialisation push.
Trump Expects Further US-Iran Talks This Week After Rejecting Ceasefire Proposal
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday, September 27, that he expects the United States and Iran to hold further discussions this week, just one day after confirming that he had rejected Iran's latest ceasefire proposal. Speaking in a telephone interview with Axios, Trump said, "I expect there will be more talks with Iran this week." Axios reported, citing regional sources, that another round of indirect negotiations between the US and Iran could take place as early as Monday, September 28, though it remains unclear whether the two sides can reconcile their differences. Asked whether he was considering resuming strikes on Iran, Trump said, "I think about it all the time." Earlier, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a new round of indirect talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 22. Reports said Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear negotiations within one week, on condition that the United States lift its naval blockade, end sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and restore a regional ceasefire agreement. However, Trump rejected Iran's proposal on Saturday, September 26. Araghchi told NBC News in an interview on Sunday that Iran still wants a diplomatic solution even though Trump has rejected the proposal, saying, "Even though we know from President Trump that he rejected this deal, we are still waiting for an official response through the mediators."
Iran ready for doomsday war but keeps door open for talks with US
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran is ready for a doomsday war with the United States but is still keeping diplomatic channels open so as not to miss a chance to build peace. Speaking in an interview on NBC News' Meet the Press after last week's United Nations General Assembly, Araghchi said there is no reason for Iran to return to diplomacy, but he is still trying to negotiate because the opportunity to build peace should not be missed, and he affirmed that Iran is as ready to negotiate as it is to face any challenge, even one leading to a doomsday war. On Friday, Araghchi proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear talks with the United States within seven days if the government of President Donald Trump accepts Iran's conditions, but Trump rejected the proposal, and according to The Wall Street Journal, Trump also said he expects to go back to bombing Tehran again after the US midterm elections in November. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz said in another NBC News interview that Iran's proposal was a self-serving attempt to put something on the table that it knows is unacceptable. On Sunday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had seized a US Remus 600 unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz and declared the strait closed to unauthorized traffic, while Major General Amir Hatami, Iran's top military commander, stressed that the war is not over. The war, which began on February 28, has severely restricted energy shipments from the Middle East, sending oil prices sharply higher and adding to global inflation concerns. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 2.3% to close at 92.41 dollars a barrel, and Brent crude dropped 2.1% to close at 104.32 dollars. For the week, US crude fell 7.9%, while Brent was roughly flat. Year to date, WTI is up nearly 61% and Brent is up more than 71%.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Autonomous Systems & Counter-Drone Geopolitics
BRENT · Geopolitics · Positive Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing war severely restrict Middle East energy shipments, supporting Brent crude prices.
WTI · Geopolitics · Positive Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing war severely restrict Middle East energy shipments, supporting WTI crude prices.
Iran Tightens Control of Hormuz, Warns Commercial Ships Against Using Unauthorized Routes
The Persian Gulf Strait Authority, or PGSA, which Iran established to oversee shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, issued a warning via the X platform on September 27, 2026, telling commercial vessels and shipping operators to avoid routes Iran designates as unauthorized, warning that violators could face additional consequences and restrictions in the future. The PGSA said that sailing through unauthorized routes could pose risks to life and property for the vessel itself, its owners, the captain and the crew, and that if charterers or operators violate the rules, all ships under the related company or business group could face shipping restrictions in the future. The move comes amid diplomatic efforts to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, after maritime traffic was severely disrupted by the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel starting in late February 2026. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had proposed a seven-day plan to the United States through Qatari mediation, stating that if the necessary conditions were met, Iran could return shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to normal within seven days and move on to broader agreement negotiations. But U.S. President Donald Trump said on September 26, 2026, that he had rejected Iran's latest proposal, refusing to accept the conditions Tehran offered, while indirect talks through intermediary countries continue on some issues. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important strategic energy routes, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. In normal times, about one-fifth of global oil supply is shipped through the route, and it is also a key channel for liquefied natural gas, or LNG, and other goods from producers in the Persian Gulf region. Since the regional conflict intensified, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen significantly amid safety concerns, attacks on vessels and route restrictions, putting pressure on global energy markets from supply risks, as well as rising shipping and insurance costs.
TISCO Says Era of Capital Competition Will Keep Interest Rates High Through 2028
The TISCO Economic and Strategic Analysis Center, or TISCO ESU, assesses that global financial markets are entering a phase of capital competition, as governments around the world need to borrow heavily to expand defense budgets while private-sector big tech and hyperscaler firms seek to raise enormous sums to accelerate the buildout of data center infrastructure, chip fabrication plants, AI facilities, and power plants. This is pushing interest rates and government bond yields up by roughly 0.60 to 0.90 percent. Komson Prapakpol, head of the TISCO Economic and Strategic Analysis Center, said the United States plans to expand its defense budget from 1 trillion dollars to 1.5 trillion dollars, an increase of 50 percent, while Japan aims to raise defense spending from below 2 percent to 3.5 percent of GDP, the highest level since the period from 1970 to 1980. Germany and France are also accelerating increases in their security budgets. Thanaphat Thanachat, an analyst at TISCO ESU, said the United States has public debt exceeding 100 percent of GDP, or more than 40 trillion dollars, and a fiscal deficit as high as 6 percent of GDP per year, driving its interest burden to double that of four to five years ago. France's public debt has risen by nearly 20 percent of GDP between 2019 and 2025, with an annual deficit of 5 percent of GDP. As for the interest rate path of the three major central banks, TISCO ESU expects the Federal Reserve to raise rates one more time, by about 0.25 percent, at its December meeting, ending at 4.25 percent, and to hold at that level through 2027 before cutting in 2028. The European Central Bank is expected to raise rates one more time, by about 0.25 percent, in December, while the Bank of Japan is expected to gradually keep raising rates until they reach 1.75 percent in mid-2027. The yield on 10-year U.S. government bonds is expected in the base case to hold steady at 5 percent through the end of 2026, but if the Federal Reserve fails to control inflation, the worst case could see the bond yield rise to 6 percent.
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Grid, Transmission & Power Equipment ▼Capital
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
TISCO.BK · Monetary · Neutral TISCO ESU forecasts higher-for-longer rates (Fed to 4.25% through 2027), a macro-rate view from the group's research arm rather than a company-specific event.
US and Iran Seek Phased Deal on Strait of Hormuz Reopening and Lifting of Naval Blockade
It has emerged that negotiators for the United States and Iran are exploring a phased agreement aimed at Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the United States lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports. According to people familiar with the talks, the two countries are pursuing discussions aimed at breaking the deadlock on the 24th, on the sidelines of related meetings of the United Nations General Assembly being held in New York, with Qatari officials mediating the negotiations. The phased agreement is expected to take a form similar to a memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran in mid-June, but the ceasefire that was established, albeit precariously, on the back of that memorandum collapsed just a few weeks later. Reuters was first to report on the talks over a phased agreement. A White House official said President Trump remains open to dialogue with Iran, while stressing that the United States has no need to negotiate, as intensified sanctions and the naval blockade are pressuring the Iranian economy and the United States holds the upper hand. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi armed group said in a statement on Telegram that it had attacked Saudi Arabia twice using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The first attack targeted a key site in the Saudi capital Riyadh, and the second targeted a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, according to the spokesman.
Saudi Aramco · Geopolitics · Negative Houthi spokesman said the group attacked a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.
Tutor Perini Unit Wins $43 Million U.S. Coast Guard Astoria Homeport Phase 2 Contract
Tutor Perini Corporation announced that its subsidiary, Perini Management Services, Inc., has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $43 million by the U.S. Coast Guard to design and construct improvements at the Coast Guard's property at East Tongue Point in Astoria, Oregon. The project, the Phase 2 Astoria Fast Response Cutter Homeport effort, covers construction of facilities to accommodate the homeporting of four Fast Response Cutters. Those new facilities consist of a new fixed pier, two floating docks, and a new uplands Maintenance Weapons Division cutter support facility, along with demolition of existing facilities, in-water dredging, and utility and site improvements. Design work is expected to begin in late September 2026, with substantial completion anticipated in May 2029. The contract value will be added to the Company's backlog in the third quarter of 2026.
BWX Technologies Receives Inaugural BBB Investment Grade Rating from Fitch
BWX Technologies announced it has received an inaugural investment grade credit rating of BBB with a Stable Outlook from Fitch Ratings. Fitch assigned the company's revolving credit facility a BBB+ rating and its 4.125% senior notes due in 2028 and 2029, BBB ratings. Chief financial officer Mike Fitzgerald said the rating reflects BWXT's critical role in providing nuclear solutions to national security and commercial power customers, its strong financial position and its disciplined approach to capital allocation. Fitch cited BWXT's strong position in supplying critical nuclear reactor components and fuel for U.S. naval propulsion and other strategic government programs, backed by specialized licenses, intellectual property and the ability to meet stringent regulatory requirements. The agency also pointed to multi-year revenue visibility and cash flow stability supported by a robust backlog, along with conservative financial policy and the flexibility to fund growth while maintaining leverage consistent with the investment grade rating.
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Advanced Nuclear — SMR & Microreactor ▲Capital
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Capital
BWXT · Capital · Positive BWXT received an inaugural BBB investment grade credit rating from Fitch, reflecting its strong financial position and disciplined capital allocation.
Dow futures fall 131 points, Brent crude surges above $100
Dow futures fell more than 100 points today, pressured by a rebound in oil prices and US Treasury yields amid uncertainty over a war between the United States and Iran. As of 7:40 p.m. Thailand time, Dow futures were down 131 points, or 0.25%, at 52,148 points, while Brent crude surged above $100 per barrel and West Texas crude stood at around $90 per barrel. President Donald Trump said US officials met with an Iranian delegation for about three hours on Tuesday, September 22, in New York during the United Nations General Assembly. The US side included Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, and Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, while the Iranian side was led by Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, who proposed conditions regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, namely that the United States must end its naval blockade of Iran, release frozen Iranian assets, and halt fighting on various fronts. Witkoff said the two sides had completed a first round of talks, and President Trump said they would meet again in the near future, adding that the United States and Iran could reach a peace agreement immediately after the US midterm elections.
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Natural Gas Value Chain Geopolitics
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding Geopolitics
US-10Y.GB · Geopolitics · Positive Uncertainty over a US-Iran war and the naval blockade of Iran drives flight-to-safety demand for Treasuries, pushing the 10Y yield down.
Lee Jae-myung and Trump cite progress on $350 billion South Korea-US investment project
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump agreed that discussions on a strategic investment project between the two countries have made significant progress, after the two met for 30 minutes on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday. Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's national security adviser, said the two leaders also agreed to strengthen cooperation and continue discussions on various issues under the joint statement issued after their summit last November, including nuclear fuel reprocessing, nuclear-powered submarines, shipbuilding, and the transfer of wartime operational control of military forces from the United States to South Korea. Trump also reaffirmed his readiness to open negotiations with North Korea again, and the two leaders agreed to maintain close contact to advance the peace process. The meeting came after South Korea's Ministry of Industry reported to legislators yesterday on implementation plans under the two countries' 350 billion dollar investment package, which includes a gas-fired power plant in Texas identified as possibly the first investment project under the package, as well as the possibility of investment in nuclear energy and a liquefied natural gas project in Alaska. Wi said President Lee also views the US-China summit scheduled for Thursday as important for developments in the region, including South Korea-China relations, and expressed hope that the meeting will be successful.
Leonardo DRS, Inc. has announced a series of defense contract wins in recent weeks, including a deal with Doosan Enerbility to supply integrated electric propulsion systems for the Republic of Korea Navy's KDDX destroyer program. The company also booked US$96.00 million in MK 41 Vertical Launching System electronics awards and a US$39.60 million Joint Tactical Terminal Transceiver contract for the EA-18G Growler. Together, the naval propulsion, missile-launch electronics and resilient communications awards highlight Leonardo DRS's expanding role in next-generation, networked military platforms across air and sea domains. The company has upgraded its 2026 revenue guidance and reported improving margins, though the dollar value of these wins looks incremental relative to its multibillion revenue base. Five Simply Wall St Community fair value estimates for DRS span roughly US$31.62 to US$59.
DRS · Demand · Positive Leonardo DRS won multiple defense contracts including KDDX naval propulsion, MK 41 VLS electronics, and Growler transceiver awards, expanding its role in military platforms.
DRS · Capital · Positive The company upgraded its 2026 revenue guidance and reported improving margins.
034020.KO · Demand · Neutral Doosan Enerbility is named as the partner for the KDDX destroyer propulsion deal, but the article focuses on Leonardo DRS's contract win rather than Doosan's own impact.
Leonardo DRS Wins Electric Propulsion Contract for South Korea's KDDX Destroyer Program
Leonardo DRS announced September 17 that it signed a contract with Doosan Enerbility to supply electric propulsion for South Korea's KDDX destroyer program, covering propulsion motors and the electronic drives that control them. The broader KDDX program is expected to include at least six destroyers, but the announcement does not establish funded orders covering all six ships, and no contract value, delivery timing, or expected profitability was disclosed. Leonardo DRS says its hybrid electric drive systems have been provided for 20 Korean frigates across the FFX Batch II, III and IV programs, an existing relationship the company cites as strengthening its commercial case. The award fits an area already contributing to growth: Leonardo DRS reported second-quarter revenue of $913 million, up 10% year over year, with electric power and propulsion among the growth drivers, and funded backlog reached approximately $5.1 billion at June 30, up 17%, figures that predate the September announcement. Insider Monkey's database showed 32 hedge funds holding Leonardo DRS at the end of 2Q2026, up from 28 funds three months earlier.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
DRS · Demand · Positive Leonardo DRS signed a contract with Doosan Enerbility to supply electric propulsion motors and drives for South Korea's KDDX destroyer program.
034020.KO · · Neutral Doosan Enerbility is named as the contract counterparty, but the article gives no details on the impact to Doosan Heavy Ind. & Const.
HII Expands Pocasset Unmanned Systems Plant by 25%
HII has expanded its unmanned systems production campus in Pocasset, Massachusetts, by 10,000 square feet, increasing the existing 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility's capacity by 25 percent to meet growing global demand for autonomous maritime platforms. The expansion adds production capacity for the U.S. Navy's Lionfish small unmanned undersea vehicle, which is based on HII's commercial REMUS 300 platform and is currently in production, following a Navy option-year contract awarded to HII in July for continued Lionfish production. The facility will also support production of HII's REMUS 620 unmanned underwater vehicle and advance integration of the company's Odyssey Autonomous Control Solutions software, including simulation and modeling capabilities and autonomy hardware for ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels. HII celebrated the expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, MA-09, a longtime supporter of the company's Massachusetts operations who also spoke at the 2014 grand opening of the Pocasset facility. HII currently employs approximately 300 people in Pocasset and has added 50 employees year to date in 2026; the REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles, which marked its 25th anniversary in 2026, has seen more than 750 vehicles delivered to customers in more than 30 countries, including 14 NATO members, with more than 90 percent of systems delivered over the past 25 years still in active service.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Autonomous Systems & Counter-Drone ▲Demand
Robotics & Physical AI › Civil Drones & UAV ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
HII · Supply · Positive HII expanded its Pocasset unmanned systems plant by 25% to add capacity for Lionfish/REMUS production, boosting manufacturing capacity.
Defense stocks slide as Trump floats Iran peace deal at UN
Aerospace and defense stocks fell broadly Tuesday after President Donald Trump raised the prospect of a negotiated end to the U.S. conflict with Iran during an address to the United Nations, while warning that military action could intensify if Tehran refuses to reach an agreement. V2X fell about 3.8%, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions dropped 3.7% and Karman Holdings declined 3.5%, while BAE Systems was down 2.9%, Northrop Grumman fell 2.8% and Lockheed Martin lost 2.7%; General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls, L3Harris Technologies and RTX also traded lower. Trump told the UN General Assembly he expects the United States eventually to reach an agreement with Iran and believes Tehran will make a deal after the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3, and Reuters reported, citing a senior Iranian official, that Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington reduces military pressure and ends its blockade of Iranian ports, with Iran's UN delegation authorized to restart diplomatic negotiations. Trump also said the United States has ample munitions and is producing them at unprecedented levels, addressing concerns that months of fighting have depleted U.S. weapons inventories, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, Patriot interceptors and THAAD interceptors. He separately predicted progress toward ending Russia's war in Ukraine, saying the United States was working with Russian and Ukrainian leaders and suggesting an agreement could come sooner than expected, leaving defense investors weighing possible negotiated settlements against the longer-term need to replenish weapons stockpiles.
G7 Urges Houthis to Halt Attacks on Commercial Ships, Calls on Iran to Stop Arms Shipments
Foreign ministers of the G7 nations issued a joint statement on Monday, September 21, calling on the Houthi rebels in Yemen to stop attacking commercial vessels and urging Iran to halt arms deliveries to the group, amid concerns over global energy security after the Houthis seized control of key maritime shipping routes. The statement, issued following a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, or UNGA, in New York, said the situation in Yemen constitutes an unacceptable threat to regional stability and security. Kyodo News reported that the Houthis have taken over Yemeni territory along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, a route serving as an alternative shipping lane to the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade corridor that has had to close since war between the United States and Israel and Iran broke out in late February. The ministers stressed the critical need to guarantee maritime safety and security on a permanent basis to prevent chronic disruption to global supply chains. Beyond blockading Saudi shipping, the Iran-backed Houthis have also launched attacks on Saudi territory, fueling growing concern that the regional conflict could widen and compounding turmoil in global energy markets. The ministers condemned in the strongest terms the Houthi attacks in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia, saying the actions of the Houthis and Iran represent a dangerous pattern of escalation that risks deepening the conflict, undermining international trade and creating global economic instability. Japan's foreign ministry disclosed that the United States sent Allison Hooker, the State Department's acting undersecretary for political affairs, to represent it at the talks.
South Korea selects first project under $350 billion US investment deal, industry minister says
South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan said on the 22nd that the government has selected the first project to be pursued under a $350 billion investment agreement with the United States. Kim told lawmakers that no decision has yet been made on whether to proceed with two other projects under consideration, saying they reflect the "interests of both countries" but declining to give details. The explanation is seen as an important step as the two countries work toward final arrangements to implement a trade agreement that lowers US tariffs on South Korean goods to 15 percent. According to people familiar with the negotiations, a gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, was described to lawmakers as the first candidate project, and South Korean media reported that the 6.3-gigawatt plant is worth $22.3 billion and is intended to supply power to AI data centers and semiconductor factories. Of the $350 billion, $150 billion is earmarked for shipbuilding, while details of the remaining $200 billion in strategic investment have not yet been finalized. South Korea is also considering building up to eight large nuclear reactors in the United States, acquiring a minority stake in US nuclear company Westinghouse, and participating in an Alaska liquefied natural gas project, but no agreement has been reached on investment in Westinghouse, and South Korea is seeking a $20 billion annual cap on investment to limit the impact on its domestic foreign exchange market.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Capital
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Natural Gas Value Chain ▲Demand
Artificial Intelligence › AI Power & Cooling ▲Supply
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Nuclear Generation & Utilities Capital
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Advanced Nuclear — SMR & Microreactor Capital
Westinghouse Electric Company · Capital · Neutral South Korea is considering acquiring a minority stake in Westinghouse, but no agreement has been reached on the investment.
Trump Announces Greenland Security Deal With Denmark
President Donald Trump announced a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would give the United States a permanent role in the Arctic territory's security and prevent adversaries from establishing military bases or making sensitive investments without U.S. approval. Trump said the United States would begin developing a larger military presence on the island, and the agreement is expected to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, though its full terms have not been released. Morningstar analysts led by Christian Aufsatz said Greenland's strategic importance is likely to be realized sooner through its military position and potential Arctic trade routes than through its mineral resources, noting the island's role in the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap, a key maritime corridor linking North American and European markets. The commentary said greater Arctic navigation could eventually create routes shortening travel between Asia, Europe and North America, increasing the potential for Greenland to serve as a location for deep-water ports, refueling facilities and logistics stations, while cautioning that climate-related uncertainty remains substantial. Morningstar also said Greenland has offshore hydrocarbon basins and rock formations that could host lithium, copper and rare earth elements, but stressed that geological potential does not guarantee commercially viable resources, as Greenland has not achieved the same exploration success as other regions and does not currently have significant mineable mineral deposits or proven oil and gas reserves ready for extraction.
MORN · · Neutral Morningstar analysts are cited for commentary on Greenland's strategic and resource potential, but the news is not about Morningstar's own business.
Iran rejects CENTCOM claim of escorting oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz
Abolfazl Shekarchi, a senior spokesman for Iran's armed forces, rejected claims by United States Central Command, or CENTCOM, that U.S. forces supported the transport of more than 1 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in recent months. In a statement carried by Iranian media, Shekarchi said the claim made by Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, on Saturday, September 19, was untrue and absurd, calling it a failed psychological operation and an attempt to rationalize the enormous losses and financial costs the United States has borne in the region. Shekarchi stressed that decision-making authority in the Strait of Hormuz remains in the hands of Iranian forces. In a video posted on social media the same day, Cooper said the United States reached that milestone while helping more than 2,000 commercial vessels transit the strait under systematic escort, and claimed that Iran has been able to export zero barrels of oil because of a strong U.S. blockade. After U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Iran restricted traffic through the strategic shipping route, while U.S. forces enforced a naval blockade targeting vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports.
Mercury Systems Beats Q2 Estimates With Record Bookings as Defense Contractors Post Strong Quarter
Mercury Systems reported fourth quarter fiscal 2026 revenues of $289.8 million, up 6.1% year on year and 9.2% above analysts' expectations, as the 14 defense contractors stocks tracked by the report collectively beat consensus revenue estimates by 4% and guided next quarter 1.1% above expectations. Chairman and CEO Bill Ballhaus said the company delivered record bookings, record backlog, record revenue, the highest EBITDA margin of the year, and robust free cash flow, though Mercury shares are down 18.5% since reporting and trade at $85.56. Huntington Ingalls posted the group's best quarter, with revenues of $3.42 billion, up 10.9% year on year and 8.2% above expectations, while its shares have traded sideways at $278.53. Parsons delivered the weakest quarter, with revenues of $1.58 billion, flat year on year and 1.9% below expectations, alongside full-year revenue and EBITDA guidance that missed significantly, sending its stock down 25.5% to $46.19. Northrop Grumman reported revenues of $10.88 billion, up 5.1% and 0.5% above expectations, with shares flat at $526.95, and Leidos reported revenues of $4.56 billion, up 7.2% and 2.6% above expectations, with its stock up 10.4% at $131.09. On average, defense contractors shares are down 2.9% since the latest earnings results.
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Naval Systems & Shipbuilding ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Primes — United States Demand
MRCY · Capital · Positive Mercury Systems beat Q2 estimates with revenue up 6.1% YoY and 9.2% above consensus, plus record bookings, backlog, and EBITDA margin.
HII · Capital · Positive Huntington Ingalls posted the group's best quarter, with revenue up 10.9% YoY and 8.2% above expectations.
LDOS · Capital · Positive Leidos reported revenue of $4.56 billion, up 7.2% and 2.6% above expectations, with its stock up 10.4%.
NOC · Capital · Positive Northrop Grumman reported revenue of $10.88 billion, up 5.1% and 0.5% above expectations.
PSN · Capital · Negative Parsons delivered the weakest quarter with flat revenue 1.9% below expectations and full-year revenue and EBITDA guidance that missed significantly.
North KoreaUnited StatesSouth KoreaJapanGuamAustraliaCanadaNew Zealand
Naval Systems & Shipbuilding
Kim Yo Jong Threatens Escalated Response to US After Pacific Vanguard 2026 Drills
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said on September 18 that US-led military exercises are steadily worsening the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and affirmed that North Korea will continue to build up its nuclear arsenal. The Korean Central News Agency reported Kim Yo Jong's statement, which referred to the annual Pacific Vanguard naval exercise scheduled for 2026 near Guam as yet another US-led war rehearsal and part of efforts to expand military influence in the Asia-Pacific region through cooperation with allies such as South Korea and Japan. Kim Yo Jong said the situation compels North Korea to take proportional or more proactive countermeasures, and warned that the North Korean military will mobilize every means at its disposal if its security or national interests are violated. The statement was her second in two days, after she rejected calls for North Korea to denuclearize once again on Thursday, September 17, at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency, reiterating the position that North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible. The multilateral Pacific Vanguard 2026 naval exercise is led by the United States, with maritime forces from South Korea, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan taking part near Guam from August 29 to September 10, according to Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Lee Jae-myung Says South Korea Will Not Send Troops to Iran War, Weighs Expanded Cheonghae Unit Role
President Lee Jae-myung, South Korea's leader, confirmed that South Korea will not become involved in the war in the Middle East, whether directly or indirectly, and that any role the country plays will have no connection to combat. Speaking to reporters on September 18, he said no troops would be sent to participate in or intervene in the war, stressing that South Korea adheres to the principle of not taking part directly in combat and will continue to uphold it. However, the South Korean leader said that while it will not participate directly in the fighting, the situation is complex and constantly changing, so the government must consider measures to protect the lives of its citizens, commercial vessels and crude oil shipping routes. He added that the South Korean military has the Cheonghae naval task force, which is ready to carry out missions to protect the country's interests, and acknowledged that the government is considering expanding its role in such missions. The remarks came in response to questions about the possibility of South Korea deploying troops near the Strait of Hormuz, amid pressure from the United States for South Korea to support operations against Iran, particularly in safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Although the South Korean government still insists no decision has been made, speculation has been growing in recent weeks that it may consider sending troops or equipment into the area.