If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
When looking at the last two reports, this shipbuilder has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 5.52%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the most recent quarter, Huntington Ingalls was expected to post earnings of $3.7 per share, but it reported $3.79 per share instead, representing a surprise of 2.43%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $3.72 per share, while it actually produced $4.04 per share, a surprise of 8.60%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Huntington Ingalls. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Huntington Ingalls currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.53%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 30, 2026.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
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Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Earnings estimates are expectations of growth and profitability, and are determined by brokerage analysts. Together with company management, these analysts examine every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.
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It can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates, as stock prices respond to revisions. By adding Focus List stocks, there's a great chance you'll be getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, which can lead to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) Based in Newport News, VA, Huntington Ingalls Industries designs, builds and maintains nuclear-powered ships such as aircraft carriers and submarines, and non-nuclear ships, such as surface combatants, expeditionary warfare/amphibious assault and coastal defense surface ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe.
On May 9, 2016, HII was added to the Focus List at $155.2 per share. Shares have increased 84.98% to $287.09 since then, and the company is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.
For fiscal 2026, one analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased to $17.31. HII boasts an average earnings surprise of 10.6%.
Earnings for HII are forecasted to see growth of 12.5% for the current fiscal year as well.
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The market expects Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis shipbuilder is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.79 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -1.8%.
Revenues are expected to be $3.15 billion, up 2.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.03% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Huntington Ingalls?For Huntington Ingalls, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.12%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Huntington Ingalls will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Huntington Ingalls would post earnings of $3.7 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.79, delivering a surprise of +2.43%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Huntington Ingalls doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAnother stock from the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry, General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $3.95 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +5.6%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $13.49 billion, up 3.4% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for General Dynamics has been revised 0.1% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.61%.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), this Earnings ESP indicates that General Dynamics will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
California Public Employees Retirement System increased its position in Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII – Free Report) by 2.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 75,256 shares of the aerospace company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,079 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System owned approximately 0.19% of Huntington Ingalls Industries worth $28,590,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of HII. Personal CFO Solutions LLC raised its holdings in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 3.7% in the first quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC now owns 775 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $294,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. TriaGen Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. TriaGen Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,971 shares of the aerospace company’s stock worth $670,000 after buying an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. Intrust Bank NA grew its holdings in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Intrust Bank NA now owns 821 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $279,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. now owns 2,205 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $750,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. increased its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 2.5% during the first quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 1,532 shares of the aerospace company’s stock valued at $625,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. 90.46% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insider Buying and Selling at Huntington Ingalls Industries In other news, VP Edmond E. Jr. Hughes sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $319.58, for a total value of $1,118,530.00. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 8,391 shares in the company, valued at $2,681,595.78. This trade represents a 29.43% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Huntington Ingalls Industries Stock Performance Shares of HII stock opened at $268.60 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $295.79 and a 200-day moving average price of $362.90. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. has a 52 week low of $250.91 and a 52 week high of $460.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.58 billion, a PE ratio of 17.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.25.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The aerospace company reported $3.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.70 by $0.09. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a net margin of 4.71% and a return on equity of 12.05%. The company had revenue of $3.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.79 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. will post 17.31 earnings per share for the current year.
Huntington Ingalls Industries Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 29th were issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 29th. Huntington Ingalls Industries’s dividend payout ratio is presently 35.91%.
Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on HII shares. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 6th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Huntington Ingalls Industries in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $400.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup reduced their target price on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $405.00 to $349.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Wall Street Zen cut Huntington Ingalls Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, May 18th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price target on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $420.00 to $360.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 13th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $374.00.
Read Our Latest Analysis on HII
About Huntington Ingalls Industries (Free Report)
Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a leading provider of professional services to the U.S. government. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII designs, constructs and maintains nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, submarines and other complex vessels for the U.S. Navy. The company’s products include nuclear aircraft carriers, Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines, as well as amphibious assault ships, destroyers and cutters.
Established in 2011 as a spin-off from Northrop Grumman’s shipbuilding operations, HII traces its heritage to two historic builders: Newport News Shipbuilding, founded in the 19th century, and Ingalls Shipbuilding, founded in 1938.
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McLEAN, Va., July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced that Michael DeBernardis has joined the company as vice president and chief counsel for its Mission Technologies division, HII’s global all-domain national security solutions business.
In this role, DeBernardis will advise senior leadership and lead the delivery of legal services for Mission Technologies. He will serve as a key member of the division’s leadership team, supporting its continued growth across defense, intelligence, cyber, unmanned systems, training, logistics, fleet sustainment, nuclear services, and mission-enabling capabilities and technologies.
DeBernardis brings nearly 20 years of experience advising global corporations, government contractors, and multinational organizations on complex legal, compliance, investigations, and governance matters.
Prior to joining HII, DeBernardis was the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, where he also served as chair of the firm’s Global Investigations, Enforcement and Compliance practice.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-names-michael-debernardis-vice-president-and-chief-counsel-of-mission-technologies/.
DeBernardis has represented organizations before the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Senate permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and numerous international development institutions.
“As HII continues to expand its integrated technology portfolio and deliver mission-enabling capabilities to customers around the world, Michael’s proven leadership, strategic judgment and deep experience navigating complex regulatory environments will be invaluable as we support our customers’ most critical missions,” said Andy Green, executive vice president and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division.
“Michael has a proven record of leading talented teams and solving some of the most complex legal challenges around the globe,” said Chad Boudreaux, executive vice president and chief legal officer of HII. “As chief counsel for Mission Technologies, he will continue to advance our company’s mission of delivering all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.”
DeBernardis earned a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from George Washington University Law School, where he served on the International Law Review, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Delaware.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
PASCAGOULA, Miss., July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has reached a key milestone in its distributed shipbuilding initiative with the installation of the first grand blocks, made up of three units constructed by partner facilities, for Thad Cochran (DDG 135), a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Fabricated by Gulf Copper and Eastern Shipbuilding, the units arrived at Ingalls ahead of the ship’s October 2025 keel authentication, demonstrating successful early-sequence production by qualified offsite partners and enabling increased throughput at Ingalls.
“This milestone reflects the strength of our partner network and the efficiencies of distributed shipbuilding for our destroyer production line,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette. “The DDG 135 pilot is proof that we can expand capacity across the program while allowing our skilled Ingalls shipbuilders to focus on final assembly, integration and testing.”
Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hiis-ingalls-shipbuilding-erects-first-grand-blocks-built-by-distributed-shipbuilding-partners-on-thad-cochran-ddg-135.
Since 2023, Ingalls has built an expanded network of qualified fabrication partners through a structured evaluation process that included technical capability assessments, workforce reviews, quality system verification and close collaboration with Portfolio Acquisition Executive Maritime’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair Gulf Coast (SSGC). All partners are fully integrated into HII’s quality and material-control systems, ensuring consistency with shipyard production standards.
Building on the success of Thad Cochran, outsource work is also underway for John F. Lehman (DDG 137) and Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139) by five different partnering companies that support Ingalls-destroyer construction. To date, all of the off-site production contracts have been awarded for 32 structural and pre-outfitted units for DDG 137 and 37 units for DDG 139. Of those units, the first two for DDG 137 have already arrived at Ingalls Shipbuilding ahead of the previously announced start of fabrication ceremony that took place July 1, marking another advantage as outsourced units are phased into the Ingalls construction processes for destroyers.
“Early deliveries for DDG 137 units show the model is not only repeatable but scalable,” said Blanchette. “Pushing work outside yard increases capacity. We have more hands working on more units that enables more work to be done in parallel and can contribute to accelerating the build by the Ingalls team. I’m confident as more partners come online and produce larger, more outfitted units, over time we expect to gain additional schedule efficiency while expanding capacity across multiple ship classes.”
There are 40 ships under construction at both HII shipyards and the shipyards will deliver five ships over the next 12 months, including an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. To sustain this momentum, HII is counting on distributed shipbuilding to help increase the throughput to meet a generational demand. Combined, HII doubled its distributed shipbuilding last year, and has a goal of increasing it by an additional 30% this year.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
MCLEAN, Va., July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Mission Technologies division announced today that Frederick “Fritz” Roegge has joined the company as vice president of operations for its Nuclear and Environmental team, bringing decades of distinguished leadership, strategic insight and national security expertise.
Roegge is a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral whose career includes command roles across undersea, joint and alliance forces, and leadership positions in the national security and strategic deterrence enterprises.
His background spans operational command, academic leadership and high-level commercial nuclear roles, making him exceptionally well-suited to support Mission Technologies’ mission of delivering advanced integrated solutions for the nation’s most complex challenges.
“Bringing exceptional leaders onto our team is one of the most important investments we can make in our future,” said Michael Lempke, president of Mission Technologies’ Global Security group. “Admiral Roegge’s unmatched experience in nuclear operations and national security will enhance the critical services we deliver, expand our capabilities in nuclear management and operations, and position us for continued growth across our portfolio.”
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/retired-us-navy-vice-admfrederick-fritz-roegge-joins-hiis-nuclear-environmental-team/.
In his new role, Roegge will oversee HII Nuclear, a subsidiary of HII, in its management and operation of Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration sites, the execution of complex production and environmental remediation, and will leverage HII’s decades of nuclear fabrication experience to support U.S. government and commercial nuclear projects.
Roegge replaces Lauren Bruner who transitioned to a new role within Global Security where she will be leading a Mission Assurance team that will integrate proactive issue identification and corrective action within the organization’s existing quality management capabilities.
About HII
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.
As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
What: Following HII’s acquisition of an advanced manufacturing facility and assets, work is underway at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) — Charleston Operations site in South Carolina. Media are invited to visit the site to learn how HII is increasing U.S. nuclear-powered submarine and aircraft carrier capacity and throughput for its national security customers. When: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Where: Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) — Charleston Operations 2040 Bushy Park Road, Goose Creek, South Carolina, 29445 RSVP: U.S. citizenship and confirmation of media attendance is required. Please RSVP by noon on Monday, March 10. Please RSVP to: Todd Corillo [email protected]
(757) 688-3220 Please note that because this is an industrial setting, long pants and flat, sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required. More: Media are also invited to cover a breakfast HII is hosting for community leaders on Monday, March 17, in Charleston. Additional details will be provided upon RSVP. About HII
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.
As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.hii.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/wearehiiHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearehii Media Contact
Greg McCarthy [email protected]
ARLINGTON, Va., July 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The release issued earlier today by HII (NYSE: HII) was issued in error. The release has been replaced as follows:
Media Advisory — Media Invited to HII Unmanned Autonomy Briefing
What:As the U.S. Navy and allied navies accelerate the integration of manned and unmanned maritime operations, one technology will be essential to mission success: proven, reliable autonomy.Join HII experts for an exclusive media briefing on the Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS), HII’s proven autonomy software powering the next generation of intelligent unmanned vehicles.
Built on an open architecture, Odyssey ACS combines advanced autonomy, navigation, communications, onboard processing and modular interfaces that enable the rapid integration of commercial, government and customer-developed payloads.
The system transforms any vehicles into intelligent robotic platforms capable of collaborative autonomy, sensor fusion and enhanced perception across a broad range of missions.
Already deployed on REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles in more than 30 countries and ROMULUS unmanned surface vehicles, Odyssey ACS provides a proven foundation for future integrated operations while reducing technology risk, lowering lifecycle costs and enabling rapid capability upgrades.
During this briefing, HII experts will discuss how Odyssey ACS is helping shape the future of U.S. Navy and allied undersea operations and why trusted autonomy will be a decisive advantage in the evolving maritime battlespace.
When:Monday, July 20, 2026
10:30 –11:30 a.m. Eastern timeRSVP:Members of the media interested in participating should contact Greg McCarthy at [email protected] for call-in details.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Media Contact
Greg McCarthy [email protected]
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SpaceX has the world's best rockets and the only reusable ones (Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy) that have been consistently proven to be able to fly and return to fly time and time again. (For the time being, at least. Blue Origin, keeps trying!)
SpaceX is building the world's biggest rocket ever, the Starship, making more and more progress with each test flight, en route to ultimately turning the vessel into a lunar lander -- and then a Mars lander, too.
It's got the world's biggest satellite internet system, Starlink, may soon have the biggest satellite direct-to-cellphone system as well, and recently conducted the biggest initial public offering (IPO) in history.
It makes perfect sense that SpaceX is getting all the attention from the aerospace and defense press these days -- but that doesn't mean SpaceX stock is the best place to put your money. In fact, it doesn't take much more than a simple stock screener to find a good handful of defense stocks with stronger fundamentals: Lockheed Martin (LMT +0.96%), Huntington Ingalls (HII 0.04%), and Leidos (LDOS +0.38%).
Image source: Getty Images.
Lockheed Martin Starting from the top with the biggest pure-play defense contractor in the world, Lockheed Martin boasts $4.8 billion in annual profit and an even more powerful free-cash-flow (FCF) score -- $5.7 billion during the past year. Both numbers outclass SpaceX, which is unprofitable ($8.7 billion in net losses last year) and burning cash -- $19.8 billion in negative FCF, twice as much as the net loss.
Lockheed makes most of its money selling defense systems such as F-35 fighter jets and Patriot missiles. But even in space -- SpaceX's forte -- Lockheed runs a profitable operation building satellites and providing space services, which generated $1.3 billion in pretax earnings during the past year; according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, SpaceX's marquee business had a $1.2 billion loss in the same period.
Priced at 21 times FCF today, with a 2.7% dividend yield and a long-term annual growth rate forecast to approach 19%, Lockheed stock looks better than fairly priced to me today.
Huntington Ingalls Significantly smaller and more specialized than Lockheed Martin, military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls did just $12.8 billion in sales during the past 12 months (about a sixth as much as Lockheed), earned $605 million in profit, and generated $792 million in positive FCF. So once again, we've got an old-school defense contractor here that's not only generating cash where SpaceX is burning it, but generating more cash than it reports as net income.
Huntington Ingalls doesn't have an aerospace business, focusing primarily on shipbuilding at Newport News, Virginia, and Ingalls, in Mississippi, which combined generate more than 75% of its sales. The company's also got a fast-growing mission technologies business, providing command-and-control and cyber technologies, and that business's sales have more than doubled during the past year.
Huntington stock costs less than Lockheed, at only 14 times FCF. With a 1.9% dividend yield and a 13.5% projected growth rate, the company appears similarly undervalued.
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Leidos Best of all (for value investors) may be defense technology specialist Leidos (which also happens to own a space subsidiary after acquiring Dynetics in 2020). Leidos stock isn't expected to grow very fast -- just 5.6% annually during the next five years. It offers the lowest dividend of the three stocks named above -- just 1.6%. But after underperforming the stock market during the past year, Leidos stock trades for an ultralow 7.2 times FCF today, which is cheap enough to put it on my radar -- and the cheapest valuation by far of these three defense stock value plays.
Indeed, with $17.3 billion in annual sales but a market capitalization of only $13.4 billion, Leidos is the only one of these stocks to hit my personal target valuation for defense stocks: It trades at less than 1 times annual sales (0.8, to be precise).
Based on their strong fundamentals and low stock prices, I fully expect Lockheed, Huntington Ingalls, and Leidos to outperform SpaceX stock during the next few years -- and Leidos to outperform most of all.
PASCAGOULA, Miss., July 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be built at the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division.
The ship is named for Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran and Navy Cross recipient. In 1951, Neal’s helicopter crashed during a rescue attempt in the North Korean mountains. He evaded enemy forces for nine days before being captured and held as a prisoner of war for two and a half years. He was released and returned to the United States in 1952 along with more than 320 fellow prisoners of war.
Performing the duties of the under secretary of the Navy, William Toti delivered the keynote address. “The future USS George M. Neal honors a legacy of extraordinary courage and sacrifice,” Toti said. “As we christen this ship, we mark another step toward building the Navy our nation needs. Flight III destroyers are critical to our nation’s security, and we are proud to accept each one built by the skilled workforce at Ingalls."
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-christens-guided-missile-destroyer-george-m-neal-ddg-131/.
Toti’s remarks highlighted the deep connection between the Navy’s mission and the dedicated Americans who design and build the ships that carry it forward. Building on that message, HII President and CEO Chris Kastner underscored the unique skill and commitment of the Ingalls Shipbuilding team.
“As a company, HII does a lot of amazing things, but only people — human beings — build ships. They build ships with their hands, their minds and toughness. The people of Ingalls Shipbuilding are among the finest craftsmen and craftswomen on the face of the Earth,” Kastner said. “When she is delivered, DDG 131 will be the most powerful surface combatant in the world. She will be ready. She’ll be ready because the United States of America makes a conscious choice, generation after generation for now 250 years, to invest in U.S. Navy ships, built by Americans, in America.”
The ship’s sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Kelley Neal Gray, performed the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony against the bow to formally christen DDG 131. In her remarks, she honored her father’s legacy and expressed gratitude to those who built the ship.
“On behalf of my family, I express my deepest gratitude to the United States Navy, to the incredible honor, for this magnificent destroyer after my father, George Milton Neal,” Gray said. “We are forever grateful that his life of service, sacrifice and courage will be remembered through a ship that will one day defend our nation and carry his legacy throughout the world.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, representing Mississippi’s 4th District, also addressed ceremony attendees.
“Today’s christening of the future USS George M. Neal is a proud moment for Mississippi and our nation,” Ezell said. “George M. Neal’s courage, sacrifice, and service represent the very best of America, and it is fitting that this warship will carry his legacy for generations to come. I’m grateful to the hardworking men and women of Ingalls Shipbuilding whose craftsmanship strengthens our Navy, supports our Gulf Coast economy, and helps keep our nation safe.”
To date, Ingalls has delivered 36 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including the first Flight III, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), and Ted Stevens (DDG 128). Flight III destroyers currently under construction include Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131), Sam Nunn (DDG 133), Thad Cochran (DDG 135), and John F. Lehman (DDG 137). Ships in pre-planning include Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139), Ernest E. Evans (DDG 141), Charles French (DDG 142), Richard J. Danzig (DDG 143), Intrepid (DDG 145), Robert Kerrey (DDG 146), and Ray Mabus (DDG 147).
Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers represent the next generation of surface combatants and incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability. Upgrades include the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System required to keep pace with the threats well into the 21st century.
Video of the ceremony, along with additional information on DDG 131 and the Arleigh Burke-class program, is available at www.hii.com/events/DDG131.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
Contact:
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., July 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) will release its second quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, July 30 and host an earnings conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern time the same day. The call will be webcast live on HII’s website: https://www.hii.com/.
The company’s remarks will be supplemented by a series of slides available on the investor relations website. Listeners are encouraged to view these materials in conjunction with the call.
Replays of the call will be available on the website for a limited time.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contacts:
Key Takeaways HII is expanding its UUV presence through its REMUS family of autonomous underwater systems.REMUS vehicles support surveillance, reconnaissance and mine countermeasure missions.REMUS 130 adds flexibility, endurance and custom payload options powered by Odyssey software. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) market through its advanced REMUS family of autonomous underwater systems. The company is expanding its presence in next-generation maritime autonomy by developing highly capable UUVs that support naval, commercial and scientific missions while enhancing underwater surveillance, reconnaissance and mine countermeasure capabilities.
A key example is HII's continued expansion of its REMUS portfolio. The company's REMUS family of UUVs is designed to collect critical underwater data across a wide range of missions. These autonomous systems are known for their durability, long service life and modular architecture, allowing customers to upgrade capabilities as mission requirements evolve. REMUS vehicles can operate independently or alongside crewed platforms, including submarines, helping extend operational reach while reducing risk to personnel.
The latest REMUS 130 further strengthens HII's underwater autonomy capabilities. Built on the proven REMUS 300 technology, the platform offers enhanced operational flexibility, improved endurance and a modular design that allows users to customize payloads for different missions. Powered by HII's Odyssey software suite, the vehicle supports advanced mission planning, autonomous navigation and multi-platform coordination, improving mission effectiveness across complex underwater environments.
Growing geopolitical tensions, rising maritime security concerns and increasing investments in naval modernization are driving demand for autonomous underwater systems worldwide. HII's broad REMUS portfolio, continued investment in autonomous technologies and strong relationships with defense customers position the company well to benefit from this expanding market.
Other UUV Stocks to Keep on the WatchlistOther aerospace and defense companies strengthening their presence in the UUV market are discussed below:
General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) : Through its Mission Systems business, General Dynamics develops advanced autonomous underwater vehicles, including the Knifefish and Bluefin Robotics platforms. The company's UUV portfolio supports mine countermeasure, underwater surveillance and maritime security missions for the U.S. Navy and allied defense customers.
BAE Systems plc (BAESY - Free Report) : BAE Systems continues to expand its underwater autonomy capabilities through its Riptide family of UUVs. These systems combine autonomous underwater platforms with advanced sensors, navigation and electronic payloads, supporting intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and other complex maritime operations.
The Zacks Rundown for HIIShares of HII have surged 12.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s 4.5% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Sales being 0.85X compared with its industry’s average of 2.62X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HII’s 2026 earnings has moved south over the past 60 days.
PASCAGOULA, Miss., July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
What:HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division will host the christening ceremony for the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be built at the shipyard, Sat., July 11. This event is NOT open to the public but will be livestreamed at the following link:
https://www.hii.com/events/DDG131. Who: Media members are invited to the christening event and to attend the media preview day on Friday, July 10. The media preview day will include a visit to the christening site for media to capture b-roll of ceremony preparations. Media will also have opportunities to speak with the ship’s sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Kelley Neal Gray, as well as Ingalls shipbuilders and leadership. Where:Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Media will park at the Human Resource Building located at 1000 Jerry St. Pé HWY, Pascagoula, MS 39567 both days and will be escorted to and from the event site. When:Media Preview Day
Friday, July 10, 2026
Media check-in: 8:30 a.m., Event begins at 9:00 a.m., Concludes by 11:30 a.m. Christening Ceremony
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Media check-in: 8:15 a.m., Event begins at 9:00 a.m.
Interviews will take place post-ceremony. Why:The christening milestone marks a significant step in the construction of the U.S. Navy’s next Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. The preview day will provide media with background, access, and interviews to help tell the story of the ship, its namesake, and the Ingalls shipbuilders who built it. RSVP:
Confirmation of media attendance is required for both events. Please RSVP by noon on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. You must present a photo ID and be a U.S. citizen to be admitted to the events. Please RSVP to: Kimberly Aguillard, [email protected], 228-355-5663. Details:
DDG 131 is named for George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran and an aviation machinist’s mate third class who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while attempting to rescue a fellow service member under enemy fire.As a Flight III Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer, DDG 131 represents the next generation of surface combatants for the U.S. Navy, featuring the Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, designed to counter threats well into the 21st century.
Ingalls Shipbuilding currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction, with seven more in early pre-planning and material procurement phases.
For more information about the George M. Neal (DDG 131) christening visit, https://www.hii.com/events/DDG131.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d69e066f-ecc3-428f-ba3d-0688ea169ebb
George M. Neal (DDG 131) Christening HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding to host the christening ceremony for the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 1...
MCLEAN, Va., July 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Mission Technologies division announced that two of its spectrum dominance and awareness products have achieved awardable status through the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s (CDAO) Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace.
The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace is the premier offering of Tradewinds, the U.S. Department of War’s (DoW) suite of tools and services designed to accelerate the procurement and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML), data and analytics capabilities.
“Achieving awardable status underscores how HII is delivering ready-to-deploy solutions to the warfighter,” said Grant Hagen, president of Mission Technologies’ Warfare Systems group. “This designation accelerates access for our government partners and validates the operational impact and mission-relevance of these capabilities.”
HII’s GRIMM™ is a compact, high-performance spectrum dominance solution that is designed for real-time geolocation and direction-finding of adversary signals and emitters of interest. Engineered for low size, weight, power and cost, the payload provides enhanced situational awareness, intelligence support and force protection capability.
VIPER® (Volumetric Integrative Propagation Engine for Ray-Tracing) is an electromagnetic modeling and synthetic data generation capability that acts as a high-resolution channel emulator producing realistic RF scenario data to train AI-based algorithms. It solves critical AI data scarcity in Cognitive Electronic Warfare (EW) and counter unmanned aerial system (UAS) while eliminating the high costs, risks and limitations of live-fly testing.
Integrating these technologies onto manned and unmanned platforms will expand spectrum awareness, ensuring forces can detect, characterize and respond to threats across every domain.
HII’s videos-GRIMM™ Family of Systems (2-26-1773) and VIPER® Volumetric Integrative Propagation Engine for Ray-Tracing (4-26-2143)-accessible only by government customers on the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, present actual use cases in which GRIMM™ and VIPER® were recognized among a competitive field of applicants to the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace whose solutions demonstrated innovation, scalability and potential impact on U.S. DoW missions. Government customers interested in viewing the video solutions can create a Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace account at tradewindAI.com.
Additional product information is available at: www.hii.com/products/grimm and www.hii.com/products/viper.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii About the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace
The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace is a digital repository of post-competition, readily awardable pitch videos that address the U.S. Department of War’s (DoW) most significant challenges in the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), data, and analytics space. All awardable solutions have been assessed through complex scoring rubrics and competitive procedures and are available to Government customers with a Marketplace account. Government customers can create an account at www.tradewindai.com. Tradewinds is housed in the U.S. DoW’s Chief Digital Artificial Intelligence Office. For more information or media requests, contact: [email protected].
POCASSET, Mass., July 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII, a global leader in autonomous unmanned maritime systems, has been awarded an option year production contract for the U.S. Navy’s next-generation program of record, the Lionfish small unmanned undersea vehicle (SUUV). Lionfish is based on HII’s commercial REMUS 300 platform, originally developed as part of a rapid prototyping initiative in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
Designed to address a broad range of undersea warfare missions, Lionfish supports mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare operations.
This latest option year contract continues to build the momentum of the Lionfish program, which marked a major production milestone at the close of 2025 with the completion of the 42nd Lionfish vehicle at HII’s Pocasset facility. The five-year program could scale to as many as 200 vehicles, with a total contract value exceeding $347 million.
“The decision to exercise this option year production of the Lionfish program reflects the U.S. Navy’s confidence in the platform’s operational performance, reliability and adaptability,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of the Unmanned Systems group in HII’s Mission Technologies division. “Our team remains focused on delivering advanced autonomous systems that provide sailors and marines with critical undersea warfare capabilities in support of evolving mission requirements.”
An image accompanying this release is available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hii-is-awarded-option-year-contract-for-us-navy-lionfish-unmanned-undersea-vehicle-production/.
Following the selection of HII’s REMUS 300 platform for Lionfish, the program has been recognized as the U.S. Navy’s first successful transition from an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype effort to full-scale production, demonstrating accelerated application of dual-use commercial technologies in support of operational U.S. Department of Defense capabilities. Lionfish is also the first and only cyber-compliant unmanned underwater vehicle currently in production for the U.S. Navy.
The REMUS 300 platform is a modular, open-architecture SUUV engineered for multi-mission adaptability. Its open-architecture design enables rapid payload integration and future technology upgrades, allowing operators to adapt the system to evolving mission needs while maintaining cost efficiency over the platform lifecycle.
The REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles has been field-proven across global naval operations. HII has delivered more than 700 REMUS vehicles to over 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. More than 90% of REMUS systems delivered during the past 25 years remain in active service today.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
MCLEAN, Va., July 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII), America’s largest military shipbuilder and a global leader in autonomous maritime systems, announced today that Halimar Shipyard of Morgan City, Louisiana, has joined the company’s growing network of strategic industrial partners supporting serial production of HII’s ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel (USV) family.
With extensive experience in commercial and government vessel construction, Halimar brings a highly skilled workforce, modern facilities, and proven production processes that will directly support full-rate manufacturing of the ROMULUS 151 platform.
Under the partnership, Halimar will construct complete ROMULUS 151 vessels and support serial production in collaboration with Breaux Brothers Enterprises in Louisiana, where five ROMULUS 151 vessels are currently under construction.
The partnership will help accelerate production schedules, expand capacity, and support growing demand from the U.S. Navy and allied maritime forces for autonomous unmanned maritime capabilities.
“Our partnership with Halimar Shipyard represents another important step in building the industrial capacity needed to deliver autonomous maritime capability at scale,” said Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division. “Halimar’s proven shipbuilding expertise, skilled workforce, and strategic Gulf Coast location strengthen our ability to accelerate production, improve supply chain resilience, and provide affordable, mission-ready autonomous systems.”
A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hii-adds-halimar-shipyard-to-romulus-usv-production-network
“We are proud to partner with HII on the ROMULUS program and contribute to the future of autonomous maritime operations,” said William Hidalgo Jr, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Halimar Shipyard. “Our team has decades of experience building high-quality vessels, and we look forward to applying that expertise to help deliver reliable, scalable production capacity that supports evolving mission needs.”
The addition of Halimar Shipyard provides several key advantages to the ROMULUS production team:
Scalable Manufacturing Capacity
Halimar’s facilities provide an established and expandable production foundation capable of producing complete ROMULUS 151 vessels while increasing output as unmanned surface vessel demand grows.
Long-Term Strategic Partnership
As a core member of the ROMULUS production team, Halimar is collaborating closely on vessel construction, manufacturing integration, and production readiness to support delivery of an affordable, reliable, and producible autonomous maritime solution.
Distributed Shipbuilding Model
Expanding HII’s Gulf Coast manufacturing footprint strengthens supply chain resilience, increases surge capacity, and supports efficient execution of the ROMULUS production schedule through multiple production locations.
The partnership with Halimar Shipyard expands HII’s distributed manufacturing, which brings together specialized shipbuilders, fabricators, designers, and technology providers to accelerate delivery of autonomous maritime capability at scale.
Working with Halimar, Breaux Brothers Enterprises, Bayou Metals, and additional strategic partners, HII is reducing lead times, streamlining fabrication, and advancing major assembly work ahead of final integration. This approach enhances throughput, supports consistent, repeatable production, and enables efficient serial delivery of ROMULUS vessels across multiple shipyards.
The ROMULUS program also benefits from the expertise of internationally recognized design and engineering partners such as Sydney-based Incat Crowther. The integration of Incat Crowther into the ROMULUS initiative exemplifies how trusted international partners strengthen the global defense ecosystem through high-performance vessel design, engineering agility, and regional expertise. Their contributions help ensure that ROMULUS platforms combine advanced operational capability with manufacturability, scalability, and lifecycle efficiency.
Collectively, these efforts strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base by expanding regional manufacturing capacity, creating new opportunities to grow and sustain a skilled workforce, and establishing a resilient production network capable of supporting future autonomous fleet requirements.
ROMULUS USV: Built for Scale and Mission Flexibility
ROMULUS is a modular family of AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels designed to support a broad range of missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); mine countermeasures; strike operations; counter-unmanned systems; and the launch and recovery of unmanned underwater and aerial vehicles.
Engineered for serial, repeatable production, ROMULUS combines endurance, global reach, and modular adaptability. The platform’s common manufacturing architecture and autonomy baseline enable scalability across multiple vessel sizes while reducing production complexity and accelerating fleet fielding. Supported by a growing network of production partners across the Gulf Coast and beyond, ROMULUS is designed not only as a highly capable autonomous platform, but as a scalable maritime manufacturing program capable of delivering operational capability at the pace required by modern naval forces.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
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The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.
Since stock prices respond to revisions, it can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates. By buying Focus List stocks, then, you're likely getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) Based in Newport News, VA, Huntington Ingalls Industries designs, builds and maintains nuclear-powered ships such as aircraft carriers and submarines, and non-nuclear ships, such as surface combatants, expeditionary warfare/amphibious assault and coastal defense surface ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe.
HII, a #3 (Hold) stock, was added to the Focus List on May 9, 2016 at $155.2 per share. Since then, shares have increased 87.82% to $291.5.
Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $17.32. HII boasts an average earnings surprise of 10.6%.
Additionally, HII's earnings are expected to grow 12.5% for the current fiscal year.
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PASCAGOULA, Miss., July 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division began fabrication of the future USS John F. Lehman (DDG 137) Monday, marking the official start of construction on the Navy’s newest Flight III Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer.
The milestone builds upon early construction gains enabled by HII’s distributed shipbuilding model, which expands capacity by shifting fabrication of major structural units from Pascagoula to partner yards beyond the company’s traditional labor market that have available workforce and production space. For DDG 137, six partners across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida are producing structural units, allowing Ingalls to distribute work across the supply chain.
“Our Ingalls shipbuilders have worked hard to reach fabrication start on DDG 137, and by focusing our teams and facilities on final assembly and integration, our distributed shipbuilding partners are enabling us to grow the Flight III fleet,” said Chris Brown, Ingalls Shipbuilding DDG 51 program manager. “We know the U.S. Navy is counting on us to deliver highly capable ships, and this industry-wide effort is helping us meet that responsibility with urgency.”
DDG 137 is the seventh Flight III destroyer to be constructed at Ingalls. Flight III ships represent the next generation of surface combatants, featuring the Flight III AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system designed to counter evolving threats well into the 21st century.
Photos and a video accompanying this release are available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hii-begins-fabrication-of-destroyer-john-f-lehman-ddg-137.
Ingalls currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction and seven more in early pre-planning and material procurement phases. As part of its distributed production strategy, HII plans to outsource more than 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026, driving work to qualified yards nationwide and supporting long‑term industrial base resiliency.
For more information about the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers under construction at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division visit, https://www.hii.com/capabilities/arleigh-burke-flight-iii.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
Key Takeaways HII secured a nearly $417.7M Navy contract for carrier and amphibious ship maintenance support.Huntington Ingalls supports fleet readiness through maintenance, modernization and technical services.HII's shipbuilding and sustainment expertise positions it for long-term naval modernization demand. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the naval sustainment market through its long-standing partnership with the U.S. Navy and broad portfolio of shipbuilding, maintenance and lifecycle support capabilities. The company provides mission-critical maintenance, modernization and technical support services that help ensure the operational readiness of some of the Navy's most advanced surface vessels.
A key example is HII's latest U.S. Navy contract. In June 2026, the company secured a nearly $417.7 million contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command to provide maintenance and repair support for aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. The contract is expected to be completed by June 2031.
Aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships play a critical role in projecting naval power and supporting expeditionary operations worldwide. Maintaining key systems, such as aircraft elevators, is essential to ensuring uninterrupted flight deck operations, efficient movement of personnel and equipment, and overall mission readiness. HII's expertise in providing long-term sustainment and maintenance services reinforces its role in supporting the operational availability of the U.S. Navy's fleet.
With governments worldwide increasing investments in naval modernization and fleet readiness, demand for maintenance, repair and lifecycle support services is expected to remain strong. Huntington Ingalls' extensive experience in naval shipbuilding, sustainment and modernization, combined with its long-standing relationship with the U.S. Navy, positions it well to benefit from long-term defense modernization initiatives and the growing focus on maintaining combat-ready naval fleet.
Other Naval Sustainment Stocks to WatchOther aerospace and defense companies strengthening their presence in the naval sustainment market are discussed below:
Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) : The company's Rotary and Mission Systems segment supports advanced naval warfare programs, including the AEGIS Combat System, the Littoral Combat Ship and Multi-Mission Surface Combatant programs, strengthening the operational capabilities of the U.S. Navy and allied fleet.
BAE Systems plc (BAESY - Free Report) : The company designs, builds, modernizes and supports a wide range of naval platforms, including aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates. Its broad naval sustainment capabilities and shipbuilding expertise position it to benefit from rising global investments in naval fleet modernization.
The Zacks Rundown for HIIShares of HII have surged 11.9% in the past year compared with the industry’s 6.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Sales being 0.83X compared with its industry’s average of 2.62X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HII’s 2026 earnings has moved north over the past 60 days.
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) Based in Newport News, VA, Huntington Ingalls Industries designs, builds and maintains nuclear-powered ships such as aircraft carriers and submarines, and non-nuclear ships, such as surface combatants, expeditionary warfare/amphibious assault and coastal defense surface ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe.
HII is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 16.01; value investors should take notice.
For fiscal 2026, four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $17.32 per share. HII boasts an average earnings surprise of +10.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, HII should be on investors' short list.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., June 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) and the U.S. Navy celebrated the opening of a new facility at Newport News Shipbuilding Thursday that will enhance the work environment for sailors and shipbuilders during refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
The Carrier Refueling Overhaul Workcenter (CROW) provides approximately 80,000 square feet of dedicated space near aircraft carriers undergoing RCOH. The facility includes office spaces for sailors and shipbuilders, as well as quality of service areas sailors can utilize while executing RCOH.
“This new facility, designed to serve sailors — and benefit shipbuilders as well — is a shining example of what teamwork can do,” NNS President Kari Wilkinson said. “We are grateful for the tenacity with which this project was envisioned, pursued and executed, and we are honored to celebrate its opening.”
“The RCOH facility directly supports Admiral Caudle’s ‘Sailors First’ vision for the Navy,” Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby said. “It is our obligation to our sailors and the employees at this shipyard to keep improving and striving to deliver the best quality of service. This facility provides our sailors and shipyard partners with a dedicated, modern space outside of the heavy industrial environment to build sailors’ well-being and warfighting readiness.”
Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hii-and-us-navy-celebrate-opening-of-carrier-refueling-overhaul-workcenter-at-newport-news-shipbuilding.
The new CROW facility is located mid-yard at NNS, conveniently between the dry dock and the outfitting pier that support RCOH work.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. reported Q1 2026 double-beat earnings, with revenue of $3.1B and EPS of $3.79, both above consensus. Newport News segment revenue rose 19% to $1.665B, driven by higher volumes in naval nuclear support, aircraft carriers, and submarines. Despite strong financial results, HII's stock has declined over 35% since my last coverage, underperforming the broader market.
MCLEAN, Va., June 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII), America’s largest military shipbuilder, has been awarded a $418 million contract to repair and maintain shipboard-based elevators on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious ships, supporting the fleet’s operational readiness.
Under the five-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), HII’s Mission Technologies division will provide engineering, maintenance and technical repair support for the elevators, cargo handling equipment and associated systems installed on the ships.
“Ensuring that essential operational systems — including shipboard elevators — run reliably is central to meeting the readiness needs of our U.S. sailors and Marines,” said Michael Lempke, president of Mission Technologies’ Global Security group. “We look forward to applying four decades of Elevator Support Unit experience to safeguard the performance of these systems and ensure they are reliable, resilient and fully capable of supporting the fleet.”
HII’s Mission Technologies will also conduct sailor training to promote self-sufficiency at sea and provide rapid response fly-away teams that deploy globally to ensure complex maintenance and repairs are completed safely and effectively.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hii-awarded-418-million-contract-to-continue-supporting-fleet-operational-readiness-for-the-us-navy.
Building on more than 40 years of Elevator Support Unit experience, the team will apply lessons learned to ensure consistent high-quality, rapid-response and affordable sustainment services for the U.S. Navy’s fleet.
Work will be performed within the continental United States, outside the continental United States and at forward-deployed locations around the world.
HII currently maintains and modernizes the vast majority of the U.S. Navy’s fleet. The team employs a holistic approach to life-cycle maritime defense systems, from small watercraft to submarines, surface combatants and aircraft carriers, to ensure a high state of readiness.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
Greg McCarthy
(202) 264-7126 [email protected]
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6006a2f1-709b-4f25-9cda-c354870a7b54
Key Takeaways HII won a nearly $417.7M Navy contract for ship elevator maintenance and repair services.The contract supports aircraft carriers and amphibious ships in U.S. and forward-deployed locations.Rising naval vessel spending may benefit HII's shipbuilding units and boost revenue prospects. Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (HII - Free Report) recently secured a contract to provide elevator support unit maintenance and repair services for U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. The work will support naval operations both within and outside the continental United States, including forward-deployed locations. The contract was awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C.
Valued at nearly $417.7 million, the contract is expected to be completed in June 2031.
Growth Prospects for HIIAccording to a report from the Mordor Intelligence firm, nations across the globe are fortifying their defense spending on military weapons and arsenals as they look to strengthen their defense capabilities. This also includes augmented spending on navy ships for enhanced sea warfare capabilities. Mordor Intelligence also forecasts that the naval vessels market will witness a compound annual growth rate of 6.12% during the 2026-2031 period.
Such increased spending tends to benefit Huntington Ingalls as its Ingalls Shipbuilding segment constructs amphibious assault ships, expeditionary warfare ships, surface combatants and national security cutters for the U.S. Navy and boasts a strong portfolio of products. The company’s Newport News segment is involved in the design and construction of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines.
Huntington Ingalls continues to enjoy a consistent flow of orders, like the latest one, which boosts its revenue generation prospects.
Opportunities for Other Defense StocksSome other defense players that can gain from the expanding naval vessel market are discussed below.
Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) : Lockheed’s Rotary and Mission Systems unit supports integrated warfare systems and sensors programs such as the AEGIS Combat System, the Littoral Combat Ship and Multi-Mission Surface Combatant for the U.S. Navy and other allies.
LMT’s long-term (three-to five-year) earnings growth rate is 18.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 sales implies growth of 5.3% from the prior-year figure.
BAE Systems plc (BAESY - Free Report) : The company commissions, designs, builds, repairs and services a wide range of complex navy ships, including aircraft carriers. Its Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers are the largest warships ever constructed in the United Kingdom.
BAESY has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 sales suggests a year-over-year increase of 56.4%.
General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) : General Dynamics’ Marine Systems segment is the leading designer and builder of nuclear-powered submarines and a leader in surface combatant and auxiliary ship design and construction for the U.S. Navy.
GD’s long-term earnings growth rate is 9.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 sales implies growth of 4.7% from the prior-year figure.
Price PerformanceIn the past year, shares of HII have gained 20.3% compared with the industry’s 3.9% growth.
Key Takeaways HII delivered its first REMUS 130 UUV to a U.S. ally, boosting its maritime systems business.REMUS UUVs support naval, commercial and research missions with modular, durable designs.HII could benefit as the global UUV market is forecast to reach $25.9 billion by 2035. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII - Free Report) recently delivered the first REMUS 130 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to a U.S. ally, marking an important milestone for its autonomous maritime systems business.
The delivery highlights HII's continued investment in next-generation underwater technologies and expands the global presence of its REMUS family of UUVs.
HII’s Focus on REMUS UUVsHuntington Ingalls’ REMUS family of UUVs is used to collect data for a variety of operations. They are well-known for their long service life, durability and easy upgradeability. The autonomous systems can operate independently or teamed with crewed platforms — such as Virginia-class nuclear submarines — expanding operational reach while reducing detection risk and personnel exposure.
Designed for flexibility, REMUS UUVs operate at different depths and durations, making them suitable for tasks like offshore exploration, scientific research and naval missions. Their modular design and advanced technology ensure reliable performance while keeping costs manageable. With proven capabilities, REMUS UUVs continue to enhance underwater operations across military and commercial sectors.
The REMUS 130 is the latest version of the REMUS 100 series and the third generation of the platform. Built on the proven REMUS 300 technology, it offers improved underwater capabilities, greater flexibility and a modular design while keeping costs and risks lower. The vehicle is powered by HII’s Odyssey software suite, which helps improve mission coordination, operational efficiency and autonomous operations across different platforms.
Growth ProspectsAccording to a report from Market Research Future, the increased demand for exploration activities among oil and gas manufacturers, along with the growing concerns regarding maritime security and cross-border maritime threats, has led to the growth of the UUV industry. Market Research Future also forecasts that the global UUV market is expected to witness a CAGR of 16.6% during 2025-2035 to reach $25.9 billion by 2035.
This market growth opportunity should boost Huntington Ingalls’ operating results as it is the largest producer of UUVs worldwide.
Opportunities for Other Defense StocksOther defense companies that are likely to benefit from the expanding global UUV market are discussed below:
General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) : General Dynamics’ Mission Systems unit has a wide portfolio of autonomous UUVs, with its major programs including the Knifefish and Bluefin Robotics. Currently, the company is engaged in the production of next-generation UUVs for the U.S. and Australian Navy, which will be deployed on mine-hunting missions all over the world to protect sailors and their ships.
General Dynamics has a long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate of 9.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GD’s 2026 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 4.7%.
BAE Systems PLC (BAESY - Free Report) : BAE Systems’ Riptide UUVs have created unmatched vehicles by combining autonomous undersea platforms with world-class sensor and electronic payloads. These UUVs provide multiple capabilities like autonomy, navigation, signals intelligence systems, acoustic, sensor processing and many more.
BAE Systems has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BAESY’s 2026 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 56.4%.
Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) : Lockheed Martin’s Marlin is a 10-foot-long autonomous underwater vehicle system. It uses advanced sensors and high-definition video to create 3D models of its undersea environment. With an operational depth of up to 1,000 feet below the surface, it caters to multiple civil and military operations.
Lockheed Martin has a long-term earnings growth rate of 18.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LMT’s 2026 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 5.3%.
HII Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of Huntington Ingalls have gained 27.5% in the past year compared with the industry’s 7.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
HII’s Zacks RankHII currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
POCASSET, Mass., June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII), America’s largest military shipbuilder and a global leader in autonomous maritime systems, today announced the delivery of the first REMUS 130 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to a U.S. ally, marking a major milestone for the next generation of the world’s most widely deployed autonomous underwater vehicle.
Building on more than 25 years of operational success, REMUS 130 is the latest addition to the REMUS family, which is trusted by the U.S. Navy, allied naval forces, government agencies, research institutions and commercial operators worldwide for critical undersea missions.
As the third generation of the highly successful REMUS 100 series, REMUS 130 combines the reliability, simplicity and mission effectiveness that have defined the REMUS brand with modernized electronics, open-architecture interfaces and enhanced payload flexibility.
“The delivery of the first REMUS 130 represents an important step in the continued evolution of the REMUS family,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of the Unmanned Systems group in HII’s Mission Technologies division. “For decades, customers have relied on REMUS vehicles for their durability, ease of operation and proven performance. REMUS 130 builds on that legacy with a highly capable, modular platform that delivers greater flexibility, interoperability and value while leveraging common architecture across the REMUS fleet.”
A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hii-delivers-first-of-the-newest-remus-variant-130.
Designed to meet growing demand for affordable and adaptable autonomous underwater systems, REMUS 130 features a compact, two-person-portable design, operates at depths of up to 100 meters and provides up to 10 hours of endurance. Field-swappable batteries further increase operational availability and mission readiness.
Built on the same technology foundation as the REMUS 300 and REMUS 620 platforms, REMUS 130 integrates HII’s proven Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS), advanced navigation, communications and processing capabilities, and modular interfaces that enable rapid integration of commercial, government and customer-developed payloads.
Odyssey ACS transforms underwater vehicles into intelligent robotic systems through an open-architecture design that supports evolving mission requirements while reducing lifecycle costs and technology risk. Currently deployed on REMUS platforms in more than 30 countries, Odyssey enables advanced capabilities including collaborative autonomy, sensor fusion and enhanced perception across a wide range of vehicles, sensors, payloads and mission profiles.
The REMUS 130 is designed to support a broad spectrum of missions, including:
Oceanographic research and data collectionOffshore energy and infrastructure inspectionSearch and rescue operationsMine countermeasuresEnvironmental monitoring and seabed mapping This delivery further expands HII’s global portfolio of autonomous maritime systems, which includes more than 750 REMUS vehicles delivered worldwide. Today, REMUS systems are operated by 14 NATO navies and have earned a reputation for reliability, longevity and mission versatility across defense, commercial and scientific applications.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
Huntington Ingalls Industries is indispensable to U.S. naval power, serving as the sole-source supplier of nuclear aircraft carriers and a key submarine partner. HII is undervalued due to recent CapEx for production capacity, but its $53B backlog and high barriers to entry provide long-term cash flow safety. The DCF base case shows limited upside, but relative valuation signals up to 152% potential, supporting a BUY rating despite conservative modeling.
On May 12, 2026, Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc (HII) shares rose 5.5% to a current price of $333.56. This move comes amid a 52-week range that has seen the
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) Based in Newport News, VA, Huntington Ingalls Industries designs, builds and maintains nuclear-powered ships such as aircraft carriers and submarines, and non-nuclear ships, such as surface combatants, expeditionary warfare/amphibious assault and coastal defense surface ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe.
HII is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 19.49; value investors should take notice.
Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.04 to $17.29 per share. HII boasts an average earnings surprise of +10.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, HII should be on investors' short list.
MCLEAN, Va., May 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII), in partnership with MetalCraft Marine, has delivered and sea tested two unmanned surface vessels (USV) awarded in a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract for smaller form factor autonomous boat prototypes for the U.S. Marine Corps.
The two ROMULUS-25 autonomous USVs were delivered in December 2025 and supported successful testing and demonstration of advanced autonomous mission behaviors at sea.
“Successfully delivering on this prototype contract with the Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Marine Corps is a strong recognition of HII’s deep experience and the maturity of our proven autonomous technologies,” said Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division. “The ROMULUS-25, powered by our Odyssey autonomy suite, builds on thousands of hours of successful at-sea operations and demonstrates how scalable, AI-enabled unmanned systems can extend the reach, endurance, and effectiveness of naval forces.”
The ROMULUS-25 is a 27-foot high-speed interceptor vessel designed to deliver up to 1,000 pounds of payload with a range of up to 1,000 nautical miles. Fully capable of autonomous operation, the vessel is powered by HII’s Odyssey AI-based autonomy system, which integrates multiple sensors and effectors to enable coordinated, cross-domain maritime operations in support of the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as U.S. and allied navies.
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-metalcraft-marine-deliver-next-generation-autonomous-usv-prototypes-for-us-marine-corps/,
Over the past five years, Odyssey autonomy has been validated through more than 2,200 hours of autonomous operations during government-led tests and exercises.
Odyssey autonomy has been deployed on more than 30 platforms, accumulating over 12,000 hours of successful at-sea operations. Its modular open systems architecture (MOSA), service-based design enables integration with the HII Minotaur targeting network, enhancing mission-level operations and edge capabilities through AI-based contact recognition and identification.
The ROMULUS-25 is part of HII’s broader family of USVs, which range from 7-foot micro-USVs to the ROMULUS-190, a 190-foot aluminum USV capable of carrying multiple containerized payloads.
The successful execution of this award represents one of several ongoing commitments by HII and MetalCraft Marine to advance hybrid manned-unmanned fleet capabilities and enable next-generation autonomous operations in support of naval missions worldwide.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
When President Donald Trump first proposed that the U.S. Navy build a fleet of battleships, military analysts were skeptical. Although optimists predicted U.S. contractors might be able to build the lead ship of the class, USS Defiant, for as little as $9 billion, the defense and security experts at Janes thought $14 billion was more likely.
Turns out, they were both wrong -- Defiant will cost $17 billion.
And building 15 Defiant-class warships might cost U.S. taxpayers an incredible $255 billion.
Image source: U.S. Navy.
Military math Actually, that's probably an overstatement, albeit an easy mistake to make. Working off defense analyst reports that the first Defiant would cost $17 billion, media outlets such as MSN.com consulted their calculators last week and concluded that 15 times $17 billion equals the entire fleet costing $255 billion.
It's not quite that simple.
According to the Department of Defense's fiscal year 2027 budget estimates, the U.S. Navy has requested $1 billion in fiscal 2027 to fund long-lead equipment acquisition needed to build the first Defiant-class vessel. Similar long-lead equipment purchases for the second and third vessels will total $2.5 billion, running from fiscal 2028 through 2031.
Those are just the down payments, however. A further $16.5 billion must be spent to complete the first Defiant-class warship in fiscal 2028, followed by $12.5 billion for the second (in 2030) and $11 billion for the third (in 2031).
Thus, the total money spent to build the first three Golden Battleships comes to $43.5 billion, or approximately $14.5 billion per battleship -- roughly the same amount it costs to build a Ford-class aircraft carrier -- and as more ships are built at prices below that of the very first ship, the average cost should slowly drift lower.
What it means for investors Best case, we're still probably talking about more than $200 billion in total spending to build a fleet of 15 nuclear battleships. (Did I not mention that? In an evolution of earlier plans, it appears the Navy has shifted its wish list and now wants the Defiant-class battleships to run on uranium rather than diesel.)
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$200 billion is still a lot of money, though. Plus, if you're an investor in either General Dynamics (GD +0.32%) or Huntington Ingalls (HII 0.95%), the two big defense contractors most likely to win battleship contracts, it's worth keeping in mind that purchase cost is just the start of the revenue opportunity. Defiant-class battleships may ultimately cost more to maintain and upgrade over their lifespans than it costs to buy them in the first place.
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At the same time, so long as these companies stick to the budgets the Navy gives them, the fact that a battleship will cost no more than an aircraft carrier and that costs will fall over time should give this weapons program a fighting chance of surviving Congress long enough for the fleet to be built.
With both General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls trading around 21 times earnings and facing a big revenue opportunity ahead of them, it may be time to give these two defense stocks a closer look.
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, May 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) is showcasing its role as America’s largest military shipbuilder and a global leader in autonomous unmanned maritime systems at the Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2026, taking place May 19–21 at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre in the United Kingdom.
At CNE 2026, HII features exhibits and executive presentations highlighting the company’s expertise in unmanned maritime systems, autonomous operations, manned-unmanned teaming, and scalable production of next-generation undersea and surface platforms.
HII is also underscoring its role in designing, developing and operating the largest live, virtual, constructive (LVC) enterprise preparing warfighters for cross-domain battle with advanced technologies to enable mission readiness. HII partners with military experts to combine vendor-agnostic tools and operational experiences for an integrated LVC environment that maintains tactical realism, even as the scope or battlespace changes.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-showcases-next-generation-autonomous-unmanned-maritime-and-lvc-capabilities-at-combined-naval-event-2026/
“HII is proud to be a partner to the U.S. Navy, Royal Navy, NATO allies, and international partners in supporting the growing need for autonomous capabilities and mission enabling technologies in naval operations across both the undersea and surface domains,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of the Unmanned Systems group in HII’s Mission Technologies division. “Our autonomous maritime systems are operating today in some of the world’s most demanding environments, and we continue to advance capabilities that extend mission reach, improve fleet survivability, and strengthen allied interoperability across the maritime domain.”
HII’s exhibit and presentations feature the company’s expanding portfolio of autonomous maritime technologies, including the REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and the ROMULUS family of AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels (USVs) as well as HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS) software suite.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the REMUS UUV family, widely recognized as the world’s leading autonomous underwater vehicle platform supporting defense, commercial, and scientific missions worldwide. HII has delivered more than 750 REMUS vehicles to over 30 countries, including 14 NATO members, with more than 90% of systems remaining operational after more than two decades of service.
HII’s Odyssey ACS software suite has demonstrated successful performance in U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and international allied programs. Odyssey’s intuitive interface and enhanced, customizable features generate the required mission behaviors for greater lethality and survivability with simplified control of unmanned swarms across domains, making it a force multiplier for the modern fleet.
HII is also highlighting several recent milestones demonstrating the rapid advancement of autonomous naval capabilities, including:
A recent U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract award to deliver a submarine Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery (TTLR) system designed to autonomously deploy and recover HII’s REMUS UUVs from U.S. Navy submarines.Successful forward-deployed torpedo tube launch and recovery operations of an HII-built REMUS 600 UUV from USS Delaware (SSN 791), marking a significant advancement in autonomous manned-unmanned teaming for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.Expansion of HII’s unmanned systems presence in Europe through the recently enlarged Portchester, U.K., facility, which serves as a regional hub supporting allied naval customers, sustainment operations, training, and future deployment of autonomous systems.Continued progress toward scaled production of HII’s ROMULUS USV family, including construction of multiple ROMULUS 151 vessels and development of advanced manufacturing initiatives designed to accelerate delivery of autonomous maritime capability to allied fleets. HII is a leader in integrating manned-unmanned maritime teaming and mission-enabling technologies to address rapidly evolving operational requirements for U.S. and allied naval forces.
This includes the ongoing collaboration with Babcock International Group to integrate autonomous launch and recovery capabilities for UUVs through submarine torpedo tubes, and Babcock’s ARMOR (Autonomous and Remote, Maritime Operational Response) Force initiative, developed to support the U.K. Royal Navy’s next-generation autonomous and crewed maritime programs. The ARMOR Force features integration of HII’s AI-enabled ROMULUS family of USVs as part of future autonomous fleet capabilities.
HII’s autonomous maritime systems support a broad range of missions, including mine countermeasures, ISR, seabed warfare, hydrographic survey, counter-unmanned systems operations, strike missions, and launch and recovery of unmanned aerial and underwater vehicles.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) will participate in Bernstein’s Strategic Decisions Conference on May 28. A conversation with HII President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Kastner will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern time and will be webcast on ir.hii.com.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
Christie Thomas (Investors) [email protected]
757-380-2104
What:HII invites journalists to attend its second annual DefenseTech LIVE event on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Alexandria, Virginia. This is an in-person online event. There is no online access. When: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Where:Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
5000 Seminary Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22311 RSVP:Please RSVP to [email protected] Journalist attendance at the event is contingent upon prior confirmation and approval by HII.
Details:DefenseTech LIVE will bring together government and industry leaders to discuss emerging developments in defense technology, including autonomy, unmanned systems, cyber, electronic warfare, and mission enabling technologies. Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience technology demonstrations and engage directly with the teams developing and supporting these capabilities.More details and agenda: https://www.hii.com/events/defensetechlive2026#agenda
The event comes as HII continues to expand its national security and technology portfolio to accelerate the delivery of mission-enabling technologies and operational capabilities for the U.S. military and allied partners. The company is investing in developmental programs focused on field-ready systems that can be rapidly integrated, scaled, and deployed to meet evolving operational requirements.
HII’s investments are aligned with key U.S. Department of War priorities, including distributed operations, modular open systems approaches (MOSA), and rapid capability insertion across contested environments.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
PASCAGOULA, Miss., May 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division will host an on-site hiring event for experienced trade workers from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 6, at the Ingalls Maritime Training Academy, 1000 Jerry St. Pé Highway, Pascagoula.
“Meeting the U.S. Navy’s critical shipbuilding needs begins with a highly skilled workforce, and there has never been a better time to join the Ingalls team,” said Susan Jacobs, Ingalls Shipbuilding vice president of human resources. “With shipbuilding contracts extending years into the future, we are expanding our workforce and looking for experienced trades professionals who want to help build the finest ships in the country and grow their careers.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet directly with hiring managers, learn more about careers at Ingalls, and qualified applicants may receive contingent job offers on-site. Candidates are encouraged to bring a resume and any relevant certifications.
A photo and video accompanying this release is available at: http://hii.com/news/ingalls-shipbuilding-to-host-on-site-skilled-trades-hiring-event-june-6/.
Ingalls offers competitive weekly pay, with experienced trades earning more than $75,000 annually, plus holiday pay, medical plan options and access to financial wellness and career support services. In March, the company implemented an 18% base wage increase for all union‑represented crafts, including new hires. These benefits provide competitive pay, stability and opportunities for career growth.
Ingalls is hiring experienced trades in the following areas:
Electricians Pipe Insulators Inside Machinists Pipe Welders Joiners Sheetmetal Outside Machinists Shipfitters Painters Structural Welders Pipefitters Registration is now open, and candidates can sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ingalls-shipbuilding-experienced-hiring-event-tickets-1989399378093?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
With more than 11,000 employees, Ingalls Shipbuilding is Mississippi’s largest manufacturing employer and a key part of the Gulf Coast economy. For 87 years, Ingalls Shipbuilding has designed, built, and maintained the Navy’s surface combatants and amphibious ships. Today the team is constructing three classes of ships, modernizing the Zumwalt class and supporting the Navy’s Golden Fleet strategy. Ingalls was recently awarded to perform FF(X) class frigate lead yard support activities, further expanding its portfolio of work.
For more information or to view entry-level openings, visit hii.com/careers and select Ingalls Shipbuilding.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
Contact:
President Trump told Fox Business this week he would hold the line on Iran sanctions. “No we’re not talking about easing of sanctions, or giving them money, no sanctions no money, no nothing, they are starting to give us what they have to give us, if they do, that is great if they won’t, man on my left will finish them off,” with the Secretary of Defense seated beside him, he addressed the Strait of Hormuz, where 35% of global oil flows and through which Iran has tried to impose transit tolls: “It is international waters, no one controls it, we’ll watch over it, but no one will control it that is part of the negotiations that we have.”
Meanwhile, oil markets read that as de-escalation. West Texas Intermediate settled below $89 per barrel, a six-week low, even as the hardline stance suggests the risk premium is being unwound prematurely. Polymarket traders agree with the skeptics: the “Trump agrees to Iranian oil sanction relief by May 31” contract trades at $0.15, with the asset-unfreeze contract at $0.14 and the Strait of Hormuz transit-fees contract at roughly $0.0155. April’s identical contracts all resolved NO.
What the oil majors actually showed Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM | XOM Price Prediction) absorbed the disruption head-on. Q1 2026 Adjusted EPS came in at $1.16 versus $1.01 expected, but reported net income fell to $4.18 billion after $706 million in Middle East supply-disruption losses and $3.88 billion in unfavorable mark-to-market derivative timing. Underlying earnings rose to $8.77 billion.
CEO Darren Woods, per the company’s Q1 8-K, called the quarter a stress test the company passed. Production hit 4.6 million boe/d with Guyana above 900,000 gross bpd. XOM shares slid 7% over the past week to $147, though they remain up 20% year to date.
Moreover, Chevron (NYSE:CVX) posted adjusted EPS of $1.41 versus $0.97, with production up 15% to 3,858 MBOED on the Hess acquisition and record US output above 2 million bpd. Curtailments in Israel and the Partitioned Zone were offset by Tamar and Leviathan expansion startups. CVX has dropped 5.5% in the last week on the Iran-thaw narrative. Both names are buying back stock aggressively: Exxon has $20 billion planned for 2026, Chevron repurchased $2.5 billion in Q1.
The defense complex is the cleaner trade If the blockade is working as intended, with Iran “put oil in tubs and pots and pans they don’t have places to store their oil,” the munitions math is straightforward. RTX (NYSE:RTX) posted Q1 adjusted EPS of $1.78 versus $1.52, with Raytheon segment operating profit up 25% on Patriot and naval munitions demand. Backlog stands at $271 billion. Management raised FY26 guidance to sales of $92.5 to $93.5 billion. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 26x.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) signed multiyear framework agreements with the Department of War expected to lift Patriot, THAAD, and PrSM production rates three to four times. EPS missed at $6.44 versus $6.70, free cash flow was negative $291 million, but FY26 guidance held at $77.5 to $80 billion in sales. Huntington Ingalls, the carrier and submarine yard, grew Q1 revenue 13.3% with backlog at $54 billion.
The purest geopolitical play sold off anyway Frontline (NYSE:FRO), the Cyprus-based tanker operator, posted Q1 EPS of $2.51 versus $1.58 expected, with net margins of 40.2%. Management attributed the blowout directly to “unprecedented TCE rates resulting from significant disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure.” Shares fell 11% this past week, though they remain up 67.95% year to date. The forward P/E is 5x, and the dividend yield runs near 8.83%, both functions of the cyclical bet markets are now hedging.
What to watch The EIA’s May Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts Brent at around $106 per barrel in May and June, dropping to $89 in Q4 2026 and $79 in 2027 as Hormuz traffic gradually resumes. The WTI move below $89 is running ahead of agency forecasts.
That said, with global oil inventories drawing 8.5 million b/d in 2Q26, any military incident, and Iran laying mines during ceasefire negotiations, snaps the premium back hard. Retirement investors holding XOM and CVX for the dividend already own the option. The defense names are the bet that the blockade outlasts the deal.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
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Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) Based in Newport News, VA, Huntington Ingalls Industries designs, builds and maintains nuclear-powered ships such as aircraft carriers and submarines, and non-nuclear ships, such as surface combatants, expeditionary warfare/amphibious assault and coastal defense surface ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe.
HII is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 17.79; value investors should take notice.
Five analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.07 to $17.32 per share. HII also boasts an average earnings surprise of +10.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, HII should be on investors' short list.
MCLEAN, Va., June 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Statement by Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division, on the U.S. Navy’s selection of HII’s ROMULUS Unmanned Surface Vessel to advance to the at-sea testing phase of the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) program:
“HII is proud that ROMULUS USV has advanced to the U.S. Navy’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel evaluation phase, a milestone that reflects HII’s longstanding track record for delivering mission-ready autonomous capabilities that support the U.S. Navy’s evolving operational requirements.
“At the core of the ROMULUS USV is HII’s extensive experience as a global leader in autonomous unmanned maritime systems, combined with HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control Solutions, a proven autonomy software suite and a key differentiator of our solution. Demonstrated across programs supporting the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and allied partners, Odyssey enables intuitive command and control of autonomous platforms and swarms across domains, enhancing fleet lethality, survivability, and operational effectiveness.
A photo accompanying this news release is available at https://www.hii.com/newsroom
“ROMULUS brings together advanced autonomy, scalable platform design, and efficient manufacturing in a production-ready solution engineered to meet the demands of distributed maritime operations and integrated manned-unmanned teaming. Its endurance, flexibility, and payload capacity provide the operational versatility required for future naval missions.
“We appreciate the U.S. Navy’s confidence in ROMULUS and look forward to demonstrating the platform’s maturity, reliability, and operational effectiveness in support of the service’s vision for autonomous maritime operations.”
About HII’s Odyssey Advanced Autonomy Solutions®
HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control Solutions (ACS) is currently deployed on REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel (USV) platforms in 30 countries, transforming vehicles into intelligent robotic systems. Through flexible vehicle-, module-, and algorithm-level implementations across diverse platforms, sensors, payloads, and mission profiles, Odyssey Advanced Autonomy Solutions deliver multi-vehicle collaborative autonomy, sensor fusion, and advanced perception capabilities.
About the ROMULUS Unmanned Surface Vessel
The ROMULUS family of Unmanned Surface Vessels is designed to meet the current and emerging requirements of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, joint forces, and allies. They deliver high-endurance, sustained open-ocean autonomy with a focus on lethality, cost, efficiency and scalability.
The ROMULUS family of USVs will support missions including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; counter-unmanned air systems; mine countermeasures; strike; and the launch and recovery of unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Paired with HII’s REMUS UUVs, ROMULUS extends undersea reach and supports a scalable dual-domain force package built for distributed maritime operations.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world. With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
PASCAGOULA, Miss., June 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division honored its 2026 class of Master Shipbuilders Thursday, recognizing 40 employees who have achieved 40 years of continuous service while building the Navy’s most advanced ships. The ceremony, held at the shipyard, celebrated the skill, craftsmanship and dedication of this year’s honorees, who represent trades and professions across Ingalls.
“Since 1986, these shipbuilders have brought unmatched expertise and pride to the work they do at Ingalls,” said Brian Blanchette, Ingalls Shipbuilding president. “Each of them has shaped the ships that defend our nation, the workforce that powers our mission, and the culture of excellence that defines who we are. Their legacy will continue to inspire generations of shipbuilders who follow.”
Each master shipbuilder has played a role in delivering critical national platforms, contributing to programs spanning from Aegis destroyers to amphibious warships and other key assets that support U.S. maritime strength and security.
One highlight of the event was the debut of a tribute video featuring several of this year’s honorees. The video showcased their career milestones, personal reflections and shared purpose in building ships that safeguard America’s interests around the world. Colleagues, family members and company leadership attended the celebration.
Photos accompanying this release are available at https://www.hii.com/newsroom
Master shipbuilder Johnny Brown reflected on how technology at the shipyard has evolved since he began his career in 1986, and how his understanding of Ingalls’ national security mission has grown over time. “When I look at how far technology has come, especially with AI, I never would have imagined back then that Ingalls would one day have robots working alongside us,” Brown said. “When you first come to the shipyard, it’s easy to think about it as just a job. But over time, you realize the work you’re doing supports national security. That reshapes how you see your role, and you understand that what you do here really matters.”
Jeff Davis, another master shipbuilder, also reflected on the impact of his four decades at Ingalls and the pride he takes in the fleet he helped build. “I’ve spent my life building ships, and because of that, I believe the Navy is better prepared to face any adversary it encounters,” said Davis. “I also believe our future shipbuilders will be well-equipped to lead this company long after we’re gone, and I’m honored to join the class of master shipbuilders who paved the way for us.”
Ingalls Shipbuilding extends its deepest gratitude and congratulations to the 2026 Master Shipbuilders for their extraordinary service, leadership and commitment to delivering the nation’s most advanced ships.
For more information about careers at HII, visit hii.com/careers.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
Contact:
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., June 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division is welcoming more than 50 graduating high school seniors to shipbuilding careers through an innovative outreach program coordinated with 14 schools across Virginia.
Workforce Attraction Via Experienced Shipbuilders, known as WAVES, embeds experienced skilled tradespeople from NNS into high schools that offer technical career education curriculums. These shipbuilders, known as scouts, visit the school at least once a month, where they build trusted relationships with career counselors and engage with students to provide mentorship, tutoring support and information on HII career opportunities.
“WAVES bridges the gap between education and hands-on experience, equipping students with knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to excel in their chosen fields,” said Xavier Beale, NNS vice president of human resources. “Through personalized guidance and partnerships, we are building the next generation of skilled professionals and we’re thrilled to have these students join our powerful mission at Newport News Shipbuilding.”
Photos accompanying this release are available at https://www.hii.com/newsroom.
NNS hosted its first ‘Welcoming Ceremony’ Wednesday for students recruited through WAVES mentorships who have accepted offers of employment with the company. The event recognized the students’ accomplishments and offered an introduction to the shipyard and their new teammates.
For more information about careers at Newport News Shipbuilding, visit hii.com/careers.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
Contact:
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Huntington Ingalls (HII - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 10% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Huntington Ingalls due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
HII Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Increase Y/Y
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.’s posted first-quarter 2026 earnings of $3.79 per share, matching the year-ago level and topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.70 by 2.4%.
Total RevenuesQuarterly revenues came in at $3.10 billion, up 13.4% year over year and ahead of the consensus mark of $3.02 billion by 2.7%.
The quarter reflected higher volumes across the business, led by aircraft carrier, submarine and naval nuclear support services work.
HII also booked $4.0 billion of new contract awards in the period, lifting total backlog to $54.0 billion as of March 31, 2026.
Operational PerformanceHuntington Ingalls reported segmental operating income of $172 million compared with $171 million in the first quarter of 2025. The segmental operating margin contracted 70 basis points from the prior-year figure to 5%.
HII Segmental PerformanceNewport News Shipbuilding remained the largest contributor in the quarter. Segment revenues rose to $1.67 billion from $1.40 billion a year earlier, driven by higher volumes in aircraft carriers, submarines and naval nuclear support services. Segment operating income edged up to $88 million from $85 million, while segment operating margin declined to 5.3% from 6.1%, reflecting contract adjustments and lower performance in aircraft carrier construction.
Ingalls Shipbuilding delivered solid growth as well. Segment revenues increased to $725 million from $637 million, primarily on higher surface combatant volumes. Segment operating income improved to $49 million from $46 million, but segment operating margin narrowed to 6.8% from 7.2% as lower performance in amphibious assault ships partially offset the benefits of stronger volume.
Mission Technologies posted steadier gains. Segment revenues were $748 million compared with $735 million a year ago, supported by higher volumes in All-Domain Operations, Unmanned Systems and Global Security, partially offset by lower volumes in Warfare Systems. Segment operating income declined to $35 million from $40 million and segment operating margin eased to 4.7% from 5.4%, mainly due to lower equity income from nuclear and environmental joint ventures.
Financial UpdateCash flow remained seasonally pressured in the first quarter. Net cash used in operating activities was $390 million and free cash flow was negative $461 million, essentially unchanged from the prior-year period. Net capital expenditures totaled $71 million in the quarter, including $74 million of capex additions and $3 million of grant proceeds.
On capital deployment, HII paid $54 million in dividends and did not repurchase shares during the quarter. The company ended March 2026, with $216 million in cash and cash equivalents.
2026 GuidanceManagement reaffirmed its full-year expectations and maintained its medium-term growth framework. For 2026, HII continues to project shipbuilding revenues of $9.70-$9.90 billion with a shipbuilding operating margin of 5.5-6.5%.
Mission Technologies revenues are still expected at $3.0-$3.2 billion, with segment operating margin around 5% and EBITDA margin of 8.4-8.6%.
The company also reiterated free cash flow guidance of $500-$600 million and capital expenditures of 4-5% of sales.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates.
The consensus estimate has shifted -9.19% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Huntington Ingalls has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a C. However, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Huntington Ingalls has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerHuntington Ingalls is part of the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry. Over the past month, GE Aerospace (GE - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 2.9%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended March 2026 more than a month ago.
GE reported revenues of $11.61 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +29%. EPS of $1.86 for the same period compares with $1.49 a year ago.
For the current quarter, GE is expected to post earnings of $1.87 per share, indicating a change of +12.7% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0% over the last 30 days.
GE has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of D.
President Trump came into office (the first time) calling for the construction of a 355-ship battle force for the U.S. Navy. A decade later, the actual "battle force" strength is just 291 ships. That's an improvement from the 275 ships in the fleet when he entered office in 2016.
But it's not good enough.
It's not even technically legal, as the just-released U.S. Navy 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan points out. By law, the Navy requires a fleet of 355 ships. What's more, the plan laments: "Over the past two decades, the shipbuilding budget has doubled, yet we have no more ships now than in 2003. This is a persistent problem."
But as part of the president's call for a $1.5 trillion defense budget, this plan proposes to fix it.
Image source: Getty Images.
A high-low mix for the high seas Over the course of 60 pages, the plan describes how the Navy will rebuild itself, slowly, toward the goal of a 355-ship fleet, spending heavily on the high end for robust weapons platforms such as aircraft carriers, submarines, and battleships, while expanding its global presence at the low end with less capable but more numerous and budget-friendly frigates and littoral combat ships -- and supplementing all this with unmanned vehicles -- i.e., sea drones.
Aiming to curb cost overruns and prevent construction delays, the Navy proposes a whole-of-industry approach to boosting ship production rates. Rising from 10% today, 50% of future shipbuilding will be done not just at a handful of legacy shipyards, but distributed among sites all around the country. These sites will build modules for later assembly into whole ships at the big shipyards.
Facilities will be upgraded, production increased, and new workforces trained in shipbuilding. "Cutting-edge AI tools" will be leveraged to accelerate construction through more efficient scheduling.
Working on the assumption these efforts will succeed, the Navy has laid out a 30-year plan describing not only the battle fleet ships (i.e., warships) it intends to build but also auxiliary ships and unmanned vessels of medium size or above, yielding what is now called the "combined total naval vessel force."
What's the plan? Looking out 30 years, it's immediately clear that there are issues with the Navy's plan -- first and foremost, the fact that, because of scheduled ship retirements, the battle force won't reach 355 ships before 2040!
Indeed, today's battle force will actually shrink a bit next year and not start growing before 2029.
Data source: U.S. Navy.
The good news is that once the build-up is under way and gaining momentum, the Navy should chart a course to far more than 355 ships. Ultimately, the goal is to approach 400 ships by the end of the 30-year plan.
This goal seems realistic, too. Although a sizable 37% increase over 30 years, the Navy's only looking to build about a dozen ships per year, which seems manageable.
Who will build all these ships? Which companies are most likely to benefit from this expansion of the combined total naval vessel force? That's hard to say.
A lot can change in 30 years, and today's forecasts for fleet needs in 2056 could be obsolete as technologies evolve and sea drones or even entire drone aircraft carriers, for example, become increasingly important in defense. In future decades, we could see one or more of these crewed ship types replaced by uncrewed surface and uncrewed underwater vessels (USVs and UUVs).
It's easier to forecast near-future trends. So let's take a quick look at the Navy's shipbuilding plans for just the next five years:
Data source: U.S. Navy.
A couple of points demand clarification here. First, you may notice that if you add the numbers up left to right, they... don't seem to tally correctly in the final "FYDP" column. That's because FYDP refers to "future years" of shipbuilding, as in 2027 and beyond. Add up only the 2027-through-2031 numbers, and the tally is 75 crewed warships and 47 uncrewed vessels.
The second point, less important to investors but still important for context: As new vessels are added to the fleet, older vessels are constantly aging out and being retired. So the Navy Battle Force will grow a little over the next five years -- just not by 122 ships.
Now, how much will this all cost, and which defense contractors should you invest in to profit from it? Here's the Navy's official estimate for these same five years:
Data source: U.S. Navy.
Again, focus on the FYDP column for total Navy shipbuilding spending on the Battle Force over the next five years. What you see here is $268.1 billion in spending. That covers just the Battle Force ships, for which General Dynamics (GD +0.32%) and Huntington Ingalls (HII 0.95%) are the primary builders.
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A few vessels -- AS(X) submarine tenders and T-AGOS spy ships, for example -- may be built by smaller shipyards, and I'd expect that a fair number of the MUSVs mentioned in the above chart will as well. Likewise, 47 support ships, including hospital ships, fireboats, tankers, and landing craft, are planned, raising the Navy's investment to $305.7 billion over the next five years.
Data source: U.S. Navy.
That figure represents a huge windfall of future business for U.S. shipbuilders. Even if General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls don't build literally all the ships the Navy is asking for, I still think they're your best bet to invest in a bigger U.S. Navy.
SLIDELL, La., June 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII), America’s largest military shipbuilder and a global leader in autonomous maritime systems, today announced that Bayou Metal Supply & Manufacturing, a strategic partner in the serial production of HII’s ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels (USVs), has launched a dedicated manufacturing line to support accelerated construction of the platform.
The new production line, located in Slidell, Louisiana, provides precision cutting, bending, welding, and assembly of major structural components into complete assembly units ready for shipment to Breaux Brothers Enterprises for final integration into the ROMULUS USV platform.
Bayou Metals is playing a critical role on HII’s ROMULUS USV shipbuilding team as a strategic aluminum supply and fabrication partner. The company is providing marine-grade aluminum while establishing dedicated manufacturing capacity to meet the ROMULUS USV production schedule.
“As we move from prototype to production, partnerships like Bayou Metals are essential to delivering capability at speed and scale,” said Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division. “Their ability to combine material supply with advanced fabrication strengthens our production model, reduces risk, and accelerates delivery the ROMULUS USV to the fleet.”
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-partner-bayou-metals-launches-dedicated-manufacturing-line-to-accelerate-romulus-usv-production/.
William Stout, chief executive officer of Bayou Metal stated, “Bayou Metal is proud to continue its longstanding relationship with and support of industry leaders such as HII and Breaux Brothers. We remain committed to providing world-class service, quality materials, and trusted partnerships to the marine and shipbuilding sectors for years to come.”
HII’s integrated coordination with Bayou Metals and other manufacturing partners ensures avoiding delays in securing materials and building parts. It also makes production more efficient by completing most of the setup work before final assembly at the shipyard. This model enhances throughput and supports faster, more repeatable serial production of ROMULUS vessels across multiple shipyards.
In addition to improving manufacturing performance, the effort supports expansion of the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base by growing Gulf Coast manufacturing capacity and building a larger skilled workforce.
HII recently announced plans for the production of four ROMULUS 151 vessels to be built by Breaux Brothers Enterprises in Louisiana, in addition to the vessel currently under construction. The announcement signals a rapid transition to initial production as HII accelerates delivery of autonomous surface capability to the U.S. Navy and allied partners.
“ROMULUS represents a shift in how we deliver unmanned capability to the fleet,” Green said. “We are combining shipbuilding experience, scalable manufacturing, proven autonomy, and strong industry partnerships to move quickly from prototype to operational deployment.”
ROMULUS USV: Built for Scale and Mission Flexibility
ROMULUS is a modular family of AI-enabled USVs designed to support a wide range of missions, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), mine countermeasures, strike operations, counter-unmanned systems, and the launch and recovery of unmanned underwater and aerial vehicles.
Engineered for serial, repeatable production, the platform combines endurance, global reach, and modular adaptability, enabling scalability across multiple vessel sizes while maintaining a common manufacturing and autonomy baseline.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
Contact:
