Key Highlights
- RTX shares advanced approximately 6.6% during premarket hours Monday, climbing to $215.80 following coordinated military strikes in Iran.
- Defense peers Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman posted premarket gains of 6.9% and 5.8% respectively, while the ITA defense ETF also moved higher.
- Brent crude oil prices jumped nearly 10% as global markets adopted a defensive posture, lifting both energy and defense equities.
- The company exceeded fourth quarter expectations, delivering EPS of $1.55 compared to the anticipated $1.47, while revenue climbed 12.1% annually to $24.24 billion.
- Management established FY2026 EPS guidance between $6.60 and $6.80, significantly exceeding the analyst consensus near $6.11.
RTX Corp experienced a 6.6% premarket surge Monday morning, touching $215.80, following weekend military operations conducted by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets.
The advance occurred while broader U.S. equity futures declined over 1%, reflecting investor concerns about prolonged regional tensions and potential energy market disruptions.
Israeli officials characterized Saturday’s operation as a “pre-emptive” military action against Iran. American military forces joined the coordinated effort, with President Trump articulating objectives including regime transformation and dismantling Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
Tehran launched retaliatory missile strikes targeting American military installations and Israeli positions across the region.
RTX concluded Friday’s trading session at $202.62, posting a daily gain of 2.52% before the weekend developments.
Defense industry stocks emerged as standout performers amid widespread market weakness. Lockheed Martin advanced 6.9% during premarket activity, Northrop Grumman added 5.8%, and the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) registered similar upward movement.
Brent crude oil prices spiked nearly 10% during overnight trading. Gold prices strengthened alongside the U.S. dollar — market behaviors commonly associated with heightened risk aversion.
“At least in the short term, the disruption to global energy supply is substantial,” said Michael Langham, emerging markets economist at Aberdeen Investments.
Solid Corporate Performance Underpins Rally
Monday’s premarket advance extends momentum from already strong operational results leading into the geopolitical developments.
RTX delivered fourth quarter earnings per share of $1.55, surpassing Wall Street’s $1.47 projection. Quarterly revenue reached $24.24 billion, representing a 12.1% year-over-year increase and comfortably exceeding the $22.65 billion analyst forecast.
Management issued FY2026 EPS guidance ranging from $6.60 to $6.80, substantially above the prevailing analyst consensus hovering around $6.11.
The corporation announced a quarterly dividend of $0.68 per share, which annualizes to $2.72 and yields approximately 1.3%.
Following a U.S. military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025, the ITA defense ETF has appreciated 35%. Northrop Grumman shares have climbed 46% during the same period, while Lockheed Martin has advanced 40%.
Wall Street Perspectives and Ownership Structure
Analyst sentiment toward RTX remains predominantly favorable. Morgan Stanley maintains an “overweight” stance with a $235 price objective. JPMorgan Chase elevated its target from $200 to $215, similarly rating the stock “overweight.” The consensus rating stands at “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $199.50.
Institutional ownership accounts for approximately 86.5% of outstanding RTX shares. Bahl & Gaynor reduced its holdings by 3.5% during Q3, finishing the quarter with 838,365 shares worth $140.28 million.
Regarding insider transactions, EVP Dantaya M. Williams divested 12,713 shares on February 23rd at $202.83 per share. EVP Neil G. Mitchill Jr. sold 35,755 shares on February 19th at $205.56 each. Cumulative insider dispositions over the preceding three months totaled approximately $18.15 million.
RTX recently secured a DARPA XENA contract through its BBN Technologies subsidiary for long-range X-ray situational awareness capabilities, and finalized an optics supply agreement with the German Armed Forces via Raytheon ELCAN.
RTX established a 12-month peak of $206.73 and carries a market capitalization of $271.68 billion based on Friday’s closing price.
