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Lockheed Martin (LMT) Unit Wins $5.6B Deal to Offer F-35s
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Lockheed Martin Corp.'s (LMT - Free Report) Aeronautics business division has won a modification contract to offer low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the 11th lot of F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter.
Contract Details
The contract is valued at $5.6 billion and has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.
Per the modification, Lockheed Martin will support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production by procuring 74 fiscal 2017 aircraft, comprising − 48 F-35A aircraft for the Air Force, 18 F-35B aircraft for the Marine Corps, and eight F-35C aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Additionally, it includes financial support to previously awarded fiscal 2015 and 2016 aircraft contract line item numbers for the U.S. Services.
Moreover, the contract covers 61% of the purchases for the Air Force; 26% for Navy; 13% for the Marine Corps. The LRIP 11 contract also comprises requirements for international partner nations, and foreign military sales (FMS) customers.
The work is scheduled to be completed by Dec 2020 and will use fiscal 2015, 2016, and 2017 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps) funds. Majority of the work related to this contract will be carried out in Fort Worth, TX; while the rest will be performed in multiple locations across the U.S. and the UK.
F-35 Attributes
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine 5th Generation fighter aircraft, which comes with an advanced stealth feature combined with enhanced fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Currently, three variants of F-35 are set to replace five fighter jets for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as a variety of fighter jets for at least 10 other countries.
Notably, the F-35 program has been supported by an international team of leading aerospace majors, with Lockheed Martin being the primary partner. Evidently, Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC - Free Report) contributed its expertise in carrier aircraft and low-observable stealth technology to this program, BAE Systems plc’s (BAESY - Free Report) short takeoff and vertical landing experience, and air systems sustainment supported the jet’s combat capabilities. Moreover, Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corporation , provided F-35s with the F135 propulsion system, which is the world's most powerful fighter engine.
Our View
We remind investors that despite offering superior air security and stability, the F-35 program has been facing some engine-related technical issues for the last few years. Additionally, it has been repeatedly criticized by President Trump on being an overtly expensive project. In this context, Lockheed Martin finally signed a $8.5 billion deal with Pentagon this February with the intent of delivering 90 F-35s of the 10th Lot at a historically low rate either forced by Trump’s intervention or to keep management’s earlier promise to cut down cost by 6–7%,
Going ahead, Lockheed Martin's management is likely to adopt a cost-saving initiative to lower sustainment costs for F-35 by 10%, over the next couple of years. This, in turn, will result in cost savings of $1 billion over a five-year period. In fact, we believe the recent contract win will enable the company to take a step toward achieving its goal and allow it to provide more of these combat aircraft at an efficiently reduced rate.
Lockheed Martin is enjoying steady flow of contracts from the Pentagon since it has reduced its price. Recently, Lockheed Martin won a modification contract, worth $258 million, to offer low-rate initial production of the 10th lot of F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter.
Furthermore, with the U.S. government expecting to spend approximately $400 billion in the upcoming decades to develop and purchase 2,443 F-35 jets, Lockheed Martin is trying its best to effectively reduce the price of this program. Also, the government may place larger orders. This, in turn, will boost the company’s profits in the near term.
Price Movement
Lockheed Martin's stock was up about 12.1% in the last one year, underperforming the Zacks categorized Aerospace/Defense industry's gain of 26%. This could be because the company faces intense competition for its broad portfolio of products and services both domestically as well as internationally. Moreover, its limited commercial exposure and almost full government dependency may prove fatal in maintaining its margins and bottom line.
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With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
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Lockheed Martin (LMT) Unit Wins $5.6B Deal to Offer F-35s
Lockheed Martin Corp.'s (LMT - Free Report) Aeronautics business division has won a modification contract to offer low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the 11th lot of F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter.
Contract Details
The contract is valued at $5.6 billion and has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.
Per the modification, Lockheed Martin will support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production by procuring 74 fiscal 2017 aircraft, comprising − 48 F-35A aircraft for the Air Force, 18 F-35B aircraft for the Marine Corps, and eight F-35C aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Additionally, it includes financial support to previously awarded fiscal 2015 and 2016 aircraft contract line item numbers for the U.S. Services.
Moreover, the contract covers 61% of the purchases for the Air Force; 26% for Navy; 13% for the Marine Corps. The LRIP 11 contract also comprises requirements for international partner nations, and foreign military sales (FMS) customers.
The work is scheduled to be completed by Dec 2020 and will use fiscal 2015, 2016, and 2017 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps) funds. Majority of the work related to this contract will be carried out in Fort Worth, TX; while the rest will be performed in multiple locations across the U.S. and the UK.
F-35 Attributes
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine 5th Generation fighter aircraft, which comes with an advanced stealth feature combined with enhanced fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Currently, three variants of F-35 are set to replace five fighter jets for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as a variety of fighter jets for at least 10 other countries.
Notably, the F-35 program has been supported by an international team of leading aerospace majors, with Lockheed Martin being the primary partner. Evidently, Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC - Free Report) contributed its expertise in carrier aircraft and low-observable stealth technology to this program, BAE Systems plc’s (BAESY - Free Report) short takeoff and vertical landing experience, and air systems sustainment supported the jet’s combat capabilities. Moreover, Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corporation , provided F-35s with the F135 propulsion system, which is the world's most powerful fighter engine.
Our View
We remind investors that despite offering superior air security and stability, the F-35 program has been facing some engine-related technical issues for the last few years. Additionally, it has been repeatedly criticized by President Trump on being an overtly expensive project. In this context, Lockheed Martin finally signed a $8.5 billion deal with Pentagon this February with the intent of delivering 90 F-35s of the 10th Lot at a historically low rate either forced by Trump’s intervention or to keep management’s earlier promise to cut down cost by 6–7%,
Going ahead, Lockheed Martin's management is likely to adopt a cost-saving initiative to lower sustainment costs for F-35 by 10%, over the next couple of years. This, in turn, will result in cost savings of $1 billion over a five-year period. In fact, we believe the recent contract win will enable the company to take a step toward achieving its goal and allow it to provide more of these combat aircraft at an efficiently reduced rate.
Lockheed Martin is enjoying steady flow of contracts from the Pentagon since it has reduced its price. Recently, Lockheed Martin won a modification contract, worth $258 million, to offer low-rate initial production of the 10th lot of F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter.
Furthermore, with the U.S. government expecting to spend approximately $400 billion in the upcoming decades to develop and purchase 2,443 F-35 jets, Lockheed Martin is trying its best to effectively reduce the price of this program. Also, the government may place larger orders. This, in turn, will boost the company’s profits in the near term.
Price Movement
Lockheed Martin's stock was up about 12.1% in the last one year, underperforming the Zacks categorized Aerospace/Defense industry's gain of 26%. This could be because the company faces intense competition for its broad portfolio of products and services both domestically as well as internationally. Moreover, its limited commercial exposure and almost full government dependency may prove fatal in maintaining its margins and bottom line.
Zacks Rank
Lockheed Martin currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>