10 defense stocks to watch

Considering investing in defense stocks? While the best defense stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals, we've identified some defense stocks that are worth keeping an eye on in the industrials sector. Keep reading to learn more about defense stocks and how to start investing.

10 popular defense stocks to watch

We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the industrials industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap stocks.

Best stock	1-year return	Market cap	Exchange	Volume	Buy on Questrade
Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT.US)	35.83% Lockheed Martin Corporation's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 6, 2025.	$147.1 billion (USD)	NYSE	1,872,300	Buy now
General Dynamics Corporation (GD.US)	4.13% General Dynamics Corporation's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 6, 2025.	$100.3 billion (USD)	NYSE	836,871	Buy now
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC.US)	-3.79% Northrop Grumman Corporation's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 6, 2025.	$78.9 billion (USD)	NYSE	788,340	Buy now
RTX Corporation (RTX.US)	13.32% RTX Corporation's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 6, 2025.	$273.7 billion (USD)	NYSE	7,135,884	Buy now
CAE IncCommon Shares (CAE.US)	-4.69% CAE IncCommon Shares's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 6, 2025.	$8.5 billion (USD)	NYSE	476,100	Buy now
L3Harris Technologies (LHX.US)	-8.56% L3Harris Technologies's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 6, 2025.	$51.9 billion (USD)	NYSE	1,681,100	Buy now
Bombardier Inc Series B (BBD-B.TO)	65.10% Bombardier Inc Series B's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 5, 2025.	$63.2 billion (CAD)	Toronto Stock Exchange	345,985	Buy now
Magellan Aerospace Corporation (MAL.TO)	96.54% Magellan Aerospace Corporation's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 5, 2025.	$1.9 billion (CAD)	Toronto Stock Exchange	73,200	Buy now
MDA (MDA.TO)	(data unavailable)	$6.7 billion (CAD)	Toronto Stock Exchange	1,306,428	Buy now
Kraken Robotics (PNG.V)	-32.74% Kraken Robotics's 1-year return based on the closing price as of November 5, 2025.	$1.4 billion (CAD)	TSX Venture Exchange	1,253,350	Buy now

The values in this table are accurate as of the market close on October 29, 2026, or the most recent data available. Volume refers to the number of shares traded during the day.

What to look for when investing in defense stock

The industrials industry is affected by a range of complex factors such as trade policies, regulations, and fluctuating supply and demand. So when considering defense stocks to buy, it's important that you have access to vital information about a company's financial health, leadership team, and market positioning.

Also keep in mind that, while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look for stocks to offer steadier gains over time.

How to invest in defense stock

1. Research the industrials industry. Before investing, learn about the defense stock sector, its trends and the companies within it. Look at each company's financial health, potential for growth and past performance to identify stocks that fit your investment goals.
2. Choose a stock trading platform. Compare trading fees, access to trading tools and user interface options. We've identified reliable trading platforms to help narrow down your options below or check out the best stock trading apps in Canada to find one that suits your needs.
3. Open and fund your account. Sign up with your personal details and link a bank account or funding method to deposit money before you start trading.
4. Select the defense stock(s) to buy. Search by company name or ticker symbol, like LMT or GD. Compare key metrics such as market cap, price history and earnings per share to pick the best stock for your strategy.
5. Buy the stock and monitor performance. Place your order to buy the stock and track its performance over time. Consider setting alerts, signing up for industry newsletters or using platform research tools to stay up to date on market changes.

Our top picks for where to buy defense stocks

Are defense stocks a good investment?

While it's possible to turn a profit investing in defense stocks, keep in mind that—like any investment—defense stocks are not immune to risk. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions both in the market and in the industrials industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest.

What are the best defense stocks?

A lot of factors go into picking the best defense stocks. Stock performance can be impacted by factors like market conditions, company decisions and global events. Plus, what may be a strong defense stock investment for one person might not be suitable for another.

That said, we rounded up this list of popular defense stocks in or related to the industrials industry to help narrow down your options:

• Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT)
• General Dynamics Corporation (GD)
• Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)
• RTX Corporation (RTX)
• CAE IncCommon Shares (CAE)
• L3Harris Technologies (LHX)
• Bombardier Inc Series B (BBD-B)
• Magellan Aerospace Corporation (MAL)
• MDA (MDA)
• Kraken Robotics (PNG)

Keep in mind that this is not a "best" list or a recommendation. It highlights some defense stocks for informational purposes only and does not indicate past or future performance or investment advice. We do not guarantee any investment performance.

We've outlined detailed company and stock performance details for each defense stock below. Keep reading to decide if any of these companies are the right investment for you.

---

Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT)

Lockheed Martin Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Aeronautics; Missiles and Fire Control (MFC); Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS); and Space.

The Aeronautics segment offers combat and air mobility aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, and related technologies.

Closing stock price	$636.95
Market Capitalization The total market value of Lockheed Martin Corporation's outstanding shares	$147.1 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	$9.3 billion
Profit margin	8.23%
Revenue (TTM)	$79.1 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	$28.16
52-week stock price range	$429.47 – $683.27

All dollar amounts in this table are in USD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on October 29, 2026.

---

General Dynamics Corporation (GD)

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies.

The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support, customer support and custom completion services, modifications, upgrades, and lifecycle sustainment support services.

Closing stock price	$354.35
Market Capitalization The total market value of General Dynamics Corporation's outstanding shares	$100.3 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	$8.4 billion
Profit margin	8.18%
Revenue (TTM)	$54.9 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	$16.39
52-week stock price range	$303.95 – $398.07

All dollar amounts in this table are in USD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on October 27, 2026.

---

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)

Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company in the United States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems and Space Systems.

The Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, produces, integrates, sustains, and modernizes aircraft systems.

Closing stock price	$550.30
Market Capitalization The total market value of Northrop Grumman Corporation's outstanding shares	$78.9 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	$8.7 billion
Profit margin	10.37%
Revenue (TTM)	$43.6 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	$31.68
52-week stock price range	$470.06 – $767.12

All dollar amounts in this table are in USD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on November 2, 2026.

---

RTX Corporation (RTX)

RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through three segments: Collins Aerospace (Collins), Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon.

The Collins segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket services for civil and military aircraft manufacturers and commercial airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation, defense, and commercial space operations.

Closing stock price	$198.43
Market Capitalization The total market value of RTX Corporation's outstanding shares	$273.7 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	$20.2 billion
Profit margin	8.75%
Revenue (TTM)	$96 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	$6.15
52-week stock price range	$164.95 – $226.41

All dollar amounts in this table are in USD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on November 3, 2026.

---

CAE IncCommon Shares (CAE)

CAE Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides training, simulation, and critical operation solutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, the Oceania, Africa, and rest of the Americas. The company operates through two segments, Civil Aviation; and Defense and Security.

The Civil Aviation segment offers training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, ground personnel, and air traffic controllers in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; a range of flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as airline operations digital solutions for commercial airlines, regional airlines, business aircraft operators, civil helicopter operators, aircraft manufacturers, third-party training centres, flight training organizations, air navigation service providers, maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations and aircraft finance leasing companies.

Closing stock price	$25.80
Market Capitalization The total market value of CAE IncCommon Shares's outstanding shares	$8.5 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	$1.4 billion
Profit margin	5.75%
Revenue (TTM)	$5 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	$0.64
52-week stock price range	$22.76 – $34.24

All dollar amounts in this table are in USD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on October 29, 2026.

---

L3Harris Technologies (LHX)

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. It operates through three segments: Space & Mission Systems (SMS), Communications & Spectrum Dominance (CSD), and Missile Solutions (MSL).

The SMS segment integrates satellite and payload capabilities, including missile warning and defense, with maritime, air special missions, and other global defense and civil government programs.

Closing stock price	$260.61
Market Capitalization The total market value of L3Harris Technologies's outstanding shares	$51.9 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	$6 billion
Profit margin	8.76%
Revenue (TTM)	$23.3 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	$10.74
52-week stock price range	$232.34 – $374.59

All dollar amounts in this table are in USD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on October 27, 2026.

---

Bombardier Inc Series B (BBD-B)

Bombardier Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of business aircraft and aircraft structural components worldwide. It also provides various services, such as parts, service centers, smart services, training, and technical publications.

The company serves multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments, and private individuals.

Closing stock price	C$327.04
Market Capitalization The total market value of Bombardier Inc Series B's outstanding shares	C$63.2 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	C$1.9 billion
Profit margin	9.58%
Revenue (TTM)	C$9.7 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	C$13.09
52-week stock price range	C$186.72 – C$377.77

All dollar amounts in this table are in CAD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on October 29, 2026.

---

Magellan Aerospace Corporation (MAL)

Magellan Aerospace Corporation engineers and manufactures aeroengine and aerostructure components for aerospace markets in Canada, the United States, and Europe. The company offers aero engine products, such as laser welded honeycomb and filament wound tubes, frames, compressor components, bypass ducts, hot section components, and aeroengine and helicopter drive shafts, as well as other flight safety critical machined components, including discs, seals, and spacers; and aerostructures comprising landing gear systems, wing ribs, spars and skins, bulkheads and fuselage components, tailcone assemblies, composite wing and fairing structures, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, plug and nozzle, exhaust systems, crown modules, and vane boxes and transition ducts.

It also designs, engineers, and manufactures assemblies and components for aerospace markets, governments, space markets, and specialty products; wire strike protection systems for helicopter safety; space solutions, including small satellite bus platforms and satellite subsystem equipment, as well as offers services for satellite assembly, integration, and testing; and aluminum and magnesium alloy sand castings, such as engine mounted accessory gearbox housings, helicopter power transmission housings, auxiliary power unit inlet and gearbox housings, engine front inlet and intermediate cases, engine front frames and fan cases, pump and accessory drive housings, and environmental control housings.

Closing stock price	C$33.30
Market Capitalization The total market value of Magellan Aerospace Corporation's outstanding shares	C$1.9 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	C$165.5 million
Profit margin	5.30%
Revenue (TTM)	C$1.1 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	C$0.99
52-week stock price range	C$15.85 – C$45.63

All dollar amounts in this table are in CAD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on October 29, 2026.

---

MDA (MDA)

MDA Space Ltd. provides space technology solutions and services in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and internationally. It offers satellite communications solutions, such as space-based broadband Internet, direct-to-device satellite communication, and IoT connectivity; MDA AURORA, a software-defined digital satellite product line; and autonomous robotics systems and services used to operate in space and on the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.

The company also provides robotic systems, robotic interfaces, tooling, robotic ground control stations, and operations services; electro-optic and light detection and ranging sensors, vision and targeting systems, guidance, navigation, and control subsystems and planetary rover locomotion subsystems; MDA SKYMAKER, a suite of scalable and modular space robotics; and Canadarm3, a robotics system.

Closing stock price	C$38.00
Market Capitalization The total market value of MDA's outstanding shares	C$6.7 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	C$535.6 million
Profit margin	5.66%
Revenue (TTM)	C$1.9 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)	C$0.79
52-week stock price range	C$20.85 – C$67.90

All dollar amounts in this table are in CAD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on October 29, 2026.

---

Kraken Robotics (PNG)

Kraken Robotics Inc., a marine technology company, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of sonar and optical sensors, batteries, and underwater robotic equipment for military and commercial applications. The company operates in two segments, Products and Services.

The company offers Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS), a technology to perform imaging and bathymetric mapping; KATFISH Towed SAS, a synthetic aperture sonar towfish operates at speeds up to 10 knots providing increased area coverage rates; and SeaPower, a pressure tolerant deep-sea battery.

Closing stock price	C$3.78
Market Capitalization The total market value of Kraken Robotics's outstanding shares	C$1.4 billion
Gross profit (TTM)	C$67 million
Profit margin	-6.90%
Revenue (TTM)	C$108.7 million
Earnings per share (TTM)	-C$0.02
52-week stock price range	C$3.77 – C$10.72

All dollar amounts in this table are in CAD. TTM refers to the "trailing 12 months." All values are accurate as of the market close on October 29, 2026.

Compare trading platforms to buy defense stock

Compare special offers, low fees and a wide range of investment options among popular trading platforms in Canada. Note that the dollar amounts in the table below are in CAD.

Related: Compare the best stock trading platforms in Canada

Bottom line

If you're considering adding defense stocks to your portfolio, make sure you thoroughly look into any companies before investing to help mitigate risk. We've compiled a list of defense stocks to help narrow down your options. Then choose a legitimate stock trading platform to start investing. After that it comes down to monitoring the industrials industry to know when to buy, sell or hold. How to buy stocks in Canada

Frequently asked questions about defense stocks

• What are defense stocks?

  Defense stocks are shares of companies that either directly work in the defense sector or operate within related industries. Investors interested in buying defense stocks may be looking to take advantage of market trends or lock in investments for the long haul.

• What is the top defense stock to buy in 2026?

  Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to choose a single "top" defense stock to invest in due to factors like market fluctuations, company management and shifting economic trends. These can all change—sometimes overnight—how a stock performs. It's best to do your own research to decide which companies fit within your risk tolerance. Reviewing a company's financial reports and past stock performance can help you decide if it's worth investing in.

• Where can I find information and regular updates about the industrials industry?

  You can keep track of the latest industrials news and updates by signing up for financial newsletters, visiting financial news sites, reading company investor relations pages and using market research platforms. Many online brokerages also offer sector reports, stock screeners and alerts to help you track movements in your stock performance or updates in or related to the industrials industry.

Check these other commodities and investment sectors

If you're thinking about diversifying your portfolio and investing in sectors beyond defense stocks, here are some others you can consider:

Important information: Powered by Finder.com. This information is general in nature and is no substitute for professional advice. It does not take into account your personal situation. This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for most investors. You do not own or have any interest in the underlying asset. Capital is at risk, including the risk of losing more than the amount originally put in, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Tax on profits may apply. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination for the product on the provider's website. Consider your own circumstances, including whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money and possess the relevant experience and knowledge. We recommend that you obtain independent advice from a suitably licensed financial advisor before making any trades.