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10 best defense stocks to buy now

Here are the best defense stocks for investors seeking steady growth and rising dividends.

Matt Miczulski's headshot

By

Matt Miczulski

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Updated

Fact checked

During periods of economic uncertainty, defense stocks may offer reliability because a portion of their profits are often tied to long-term government contracts. Defense stocks also tend to get a boost during periods of war and conflict.

Our top picks for where to buy defense stocks

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10 best defense stocks of 2026 and historic performance

The companies and stocks below comprise the top 10 defense stocks by year-to-date performance. Also included is each stock’s 2022 performance. We compiled this list by choosing only S&P 500 stocks in the Aerospace & Defense that have a Buy or better analyst recommendation.

LogoStock name and tickerStock descriptionYTD return
TransDigm Group Inc logoTransDigm Group Inc (TDG)TransDigm Group is an aerospace manufacturing company based in Cleveland, Ohio.31.51%
Axon Enterprise IncAxon Enterprise Inc (AXON)Axon Enterprise Inc develops public safety technology and non-lethal weapons products for law enforcement, military and civilians.23.59%
Howmet Aerospace IncHowmet Aerospace Inc (HWM)Howmet Aerospace Inc is a Pittsburgh-based manufacturer of jet engine components, engineered structures, fastening systems and forged wheels.12.58%
Textron Inc logoTextron Inc (TXT)Textron Inc is an American industrial conglomerate based in Providence, Rhode Island, with operations spanning aerospace and defense, specialized vehicles, turf care and fuel systems.7.30%
Beoing Co logoBeoing Co (BA)Boeing is a global aerospace company that develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems.-0.50%
General Dynamics Corp logoGeneral Dynamics Corp (GD)General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company headquartered in Reston, Virginia.-2.28%
Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc logoHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc (HII)Huntington Ingalls Industries is a global defense provider and builder of the majority of the US navy fleet.-4.29%
Northrop Grumman Corp logoNorthrop Grumman Corp (NOC)Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense technology company for space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace.-13.34%
L3Harris Technologies Inc logoL3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX)L3Harris Technologies is a global aerospace and defense company that develops advanced software, hardware and systems integration solutions for spac, air, land, sea and cyber domains.-14.11%
Rtx Corp logoRtx Corp (RTX)RTX Corp is an aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.-18.52%

How to invest in defense stocks

Follow these steps to invest in defense stocks:

  1. Choose a platform. Choose from our Top Picks above or jump straight to the best stock trading apps of 2026.
  2. Open your account. Provide your personal information and sign up.
  3. Confirm your payment details. Fund your account with a bank transfer, debit card or credit card.
  4. Research stocks. The platform should provide the latest information available. For more, see our guide on stocks like nvidia. For more, see our guide on railroad stocks. For more, see our guide on virtual reality stocks. For more, see our guide on cobalt stocks.
  5. Buy your stocks. Place a market order or limit order with your preferred number of shares. It’s that simple.

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Frequently asked questions about defense stocks

Bottom line

Defense stocks stand out for their steady growth and generous dividends that may provide reliability during periods of economic uncertainty. If you’re only getting started trading stocks or you’re looking to build a strong foundation for your portfolio, consider whether defense stocks should have a place in your portfolio.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Matt Miczulski's headshot
Written by

Investments editor and market analyst

Matt Miczulski is an investments editor and market analyst at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on Yahoo Finance, CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise
Matt has written 241 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
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