SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (ARCA: XAR)

最新ニュース SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (ARCA:XAR)

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF

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Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index. In addition, in seeking to track the Index, the Fund may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by the Adviser). 

Woodward Inc

Howmet Aerospace Inc.

Aerovironment Inc

Heico Corp.

Raytheon Technologies Corp

Curtiss-wright Corp

Transdigm Group Inc.

General Dynamics Corp.

Lockheed Martin Corp

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.

President-elect Donald Trump's proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is raising questions about the future of U.S. defense contractors <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41927289/trump-appoints-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-to-lead-doge-targeting-bureaucracy-and-65-trillion-federal-spending-we-will-not-go-gently">and government IT firms. </a>
Could the defense budget flatten—or even fall? And who stands to gain in this new sector shake up?
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">DOGE Puts Defense Budget Under Pressure</h3>
Trump's plan to restructure federal agencies and reduce wasteful spending through DOGE is a bold move, and its potential ripple effects are hard to ignore—especially for defense and government IT companies. 
With the Department of Defense (DoD) being one of the largest slices of federal spending, investors are understandably focused on what's next for defense stocks in a DOGE-driven world.
On one hand, Trump's campaign has consistently expressed support for strengthening the U.S. military. 
On the other, it's hard to make sweeping government cuts without touching the $877 billion defense budget, which accounts for 13% of federal spending as of 2023.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41965420/department-of-government-efficiency-led-by-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-opens-x-account-with-username-doge">Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy-Led Department Of Government Efficiency Opens Account On X</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defense Spending At All-Time Highs Spells Risks</h3>
Historically, defense spending runs in decades-long cycles. Investment in the sector experiences periods of growth followed by downturns, and we may be nearing the peak of the current cycle, according to Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak.
 &#8220;The defense budget is at an all-time high, which creates difficult comparisons and challenging base effects,&#8221; the analyst said in a note published Friday. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Risks For Defense Stocks</h3>
<ol>
<li>Peak Spending: The defense budget is hovering at historical highs, making future growth difficult.</li>
<li>Geopolitical Shifts: If major conflicts ease, defense spending could decline.</li>
<li>Government Debt: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratios are near record levels, increasing pressure to curb federal spending.</li>
</ol>
Margins in the defense industry are already under pressure due to Pentagon efforts to shift risks onto contractors. Fixed pricing on long-term contracts, for example, has eroded unit economics. 
At the same time, defense stocks – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) – are trading at valuations above historical averages, leaving them vulnerable to a "de-rating" if the budget flattens or falls.
&#8220;It is difficult to embark on any large government spending reduction effort without touching defense, and there are potentially enough inefficiencies within the defense budget to reduce its total level without necessarily reducing military readiness or capability,&#8221; Poponak said. 
The investment bank maintains a cautious stance on the defense sector, issuing Sell ratings for Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>), and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Government IT: Winners In The Efficiency Game?</h3>
While defense hardware could take a hit, government IT firms might find themselves potentially on the winning side of DOGE. 
The sector has been outperforming traditional defense industries in revenue growth, driven by a market share shift toward advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why IT Could Shine:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Tech-Driven Efficiency: DOGE's focus on cutting waste could emphasize the adoption of technologies that streamline government operations.</li>
<li>Advanced Capabilities: Firms offering cutting-edge solutions may be seen as key enablers of government efficiency.</li>
<li>Resilient Demand: Even with DoD cuts, IT spending for Operations &amp; Maintenance and national security could remain strong.</li>
</ul>
Goldman Sachs believes that companies like Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAH#NYSE">BAH</a>) and Leidos Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) are well-positioned to benefit.
On the flip side, SAIC Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAIC#NYSE">SAIC</a>) faces challenges due to slower growth and tougher competition, earning it a Sell rating from Goldman Sachs.
The bottom line is that Investors should prepare for a sector shakeup, as the creation of DOGE could mark a significant shift in federal spending priorities.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42006982/activist-investor-nelson-peltz-says-he-was-a-matchmaker-for-elon-musk-with-donald-trump">Activist Investor Nelson Peltz Says He Was &#8216;A Matchmaker&#8217; For Elon Musk With Donald Trump</a></li>
</ul>
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Trump's DOGE Plan: Goldman Sachs Says Defense Stocks Face Risks, IT Firms Could Win

Invesco has unveiled a new series of thematic exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and defense sectors. These funds aim to leverage emerging trends within these industries.
What Happened: The newly introduced ETFs, named Invesco Artificial Intelligence Enablers, Cybersecurity, and Defence Innovation Ucits, are based on benchmarks crafted by Kensho, a division of S&amp;P Global Indices. Kensho utilizes natural language processing to pinpoint companies with significant involvement in each theme, categorizing them into &#8220;core&#8221; and &#8220;non-core&#8221; groups, Financial Times<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/476d3e81-cbd2-4484-8fb5-4a074dcaa97c"> reported</a> on Thursday.
As per Invesco, core companies generate a substantial portion of their revenue from products and services aligned with these themes, while non-core companies provide essential inputs without focusing on end products. The AI enablers strategy targets firms advancing AI technology and infrastructure, whereas the cybersecurity ETF invests in companies protecting enterprises from unauthorized electronic access. The defense fund provides exposure to companies developing advanced weapons and defensive systems
Here are a few ETFs and how they fared in the past year, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>:
Artificial Intelligence
<ul>
<li>iShares U.S. Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITW#NYSE">ITW</a>) increased 45.40% over the year with holdings like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).</li>
<li>Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTEC#NYSE">FTEC</a>), with similar exposure, rose 43.17%.</li>
<li>First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTX#NYSE">FTX</a>), which gives exposure to Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), increased 45.59%.</li>
</ul>
Cybersecurity
<ul>
<li>First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CIBR#NASDAQ">CIBR</a>) increased 38.08%. Its holdings include Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>) and Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>).</li>
<li>Amplify Cybersecurity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HACK#NYSE">HACK</a>) rose 39.57%. Along with Broadcom, and Cisco, the ETF&#8217;s major holdings also include Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>), and General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>).</li>
<li>iShares Cybersecurity &amp; Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHAK#NYSE">IHAK</a>) with exposure to companies such as SentinelOne, Inc. Class A (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/S#NYSE">S</a>), and Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTNT#NASDAQ">FTNT</a>), rose 33.95%.</li>
</ul>
Defense
<ul>
<li>iShares US Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) with exposure to companies such as General Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>) and RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) increased 33.86%.</li>
<li>Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) with exposure to companies such as Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) and Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) increased by 43.05%.</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) was up by 34.86%. It gives exposure to Axon Enterprise, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXN#NASDAQ">AXN</a>), L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>).</li>
</ul>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41794596/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-slingshot-to-the-moon-after-trump-victory-but-sharp-correction-m?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slingshot To The Moon After Trump Victory But &#8216;Sharp&#8217; Correction Might Be In Store: Analyst Views BTC Between $80-90K By End Of Year</a>
Why It Matters: The launch of these ETFs by Invesco comes at a time when thematic investing is<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41713236/donald-trumps-return-to-white-house-could-propel-these-etfs-to-new-highs"> gaining traction among investors</a> looking to capitalize on specific industry trends. The focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and defense aligns with growing global interest in these areas, driven by technological advancements and increasing security concerns.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/41734887/cathie-woods-latest-shake-up-dumps-palantir-and-jack-dorseys-block-along-with-tesla-buys-amazon-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood&#8217;s Latest Shake-up: Dumps Palantir And Jack Dorsey&#8217;s Block Along With Tesla, Buys Amazon And Meta</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Invesco

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Invesco Launches New ETFs Targeting AI, Cybersecurity, And Defense. Here's How Some Of Their Peers Have Performed In The Past Year

BofA Securities analyst Ronald J. Epstein upgraded L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>) to Buy from Neutral and raised the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LHX/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price target to $300 from $240</a>.
The analyst writes that L3Harris introduced its transformation initiative, &#8220;LHX Next,&#8221; which he initially viewed with cautious optimism.
However, recent results have reinforced our positive outlook, showing that the streamlined, focused LHX is now better positioned to fulfill its commitments and exceed expectations, says the analyst.
Moreover, Ronald says that the missile and munitions industry consensus is clear: demand is relentless, with a promising outlook extending over the next five years.
LHX is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, standing out as one of the few companies with solid rocket motor (SRM) production capabilities.
LHX&#8217;s recent wins, including contracts for the Next-Gen Interceptor (NGI) and as the primary provider for the 1st and 3rd stage propulsion on the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI), underscore the strength and reliability of its products, adds the analyst.
Notably, last week, the company announced a&nbsp;strategic partnership&nbsp;with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>)&nbsp;to combine Palantir&#8217;s Artificial Intelligence Platform with L3Harris&#8217; sensor and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41554264/palantir-technologies-stock-reaches-new-52-week-high-whats-going-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">software-defined systems</a>.
The analyst writes that this partnership reflects a forward-thinking and strategic move by LHX, leveraging Palantir&#8217;s enterprise AI-driven data integration to enhance cost efficiency, gain greater supply chain visibility, and enable quicker, more informed decisions.
Additionally, the collaboration supports AI-enabled product development, aligning LHX&#8217;s focus on core capabilities with Palantir&#8217;s software expertise—a combination we view as a strong foundation for future growth, adds the analyst.
The analyst adds that the company surpassed its $400 million run-rate savings target for 2024 and now expects to achieve $600 million by year-end, bolstering confidence in its $1 billion savings target.
Consequently, Ronald raised the estimates, with 2026E free cash flow (FCF) now projected at $2.8 billion and potential for additional upside.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via XAR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) and iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>).
Price Action: LHX shares are up 0.57% at $246.81 at the last check Thursday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41555316/l3harris-poised-for-2025-growth-analysts-highlight-q3-earnings-beat-solid-orders-an" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">L3Harris Poised For 2025 Growth: Analysts Highlight Q3 Earnings Beat, Solid Orders, And Margin Expansion Potential</a></li>
</ul>

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PLTR

L3Harris And Palantir Collaboration Key To Future Growth, BofA Upgrades Stock

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/10/23/final-trades-eaton-transdigm-and-goldman-sachs.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington of Gilman Hill Asset Management, LLC named Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/10/41528055/cdc-and-prevention-advisory-panel-backs-expanded-use-of-pfizer-and-mercks-pneumococcal-vaccines">as her final trade</a>.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for expanded usage recommendation for Merck &amp; Co Inc's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) and Pfizer's pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. The CDC panel has recommended lowering the pneumococcal vaccination age from 65 to 50 years old.
Liz Young Thomas of SoFi picked SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>).
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Joshua Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management named Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYV#NYSE">LYV</a>).
The company will release its third quarter financial results on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at $1.61 per share, down from $1.78 per share in the year-ago period. The company projects to report revenue of $7.8 billion, compared to $6.99 billion a year earlier.
On Thursday, JP Morgan analyst David Karnovsky maintained Live Nation Entertainment with an Overweight and raised the price target from $118 to $137.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Pfizer shares fell 0.8% to close at $28.64 during Thursday's session.</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF slipped 0.9% during Thursday's session.</li>
<li>Live Nation Entertainment shares gained 1.5% to close at $116.45 on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/10/41528323/jim-cramer-says-hold-on-to-palantir-let-them-walk-it-up-warns-that-travere-therapeutics-is-losing-a">Jim Cramer Says &#8216;Hold On&#8217; To Palantir, &#8216;Let Them Walk It Up&#8217;; Warns That Travere Therapeutics Is Losing A &#8216;Ton Of Money&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Pfizer, Live Nation Entertainment And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Pfizer, Live Nation Entertainment, SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF

The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41385179/hamas-chief-oct-7-mastermind-yahya-sinwar-possibly-dead-idf-conducts-dna-tests-after-gaza-clash">the death of Yahya Sinwar</a>, the top leader of Hamas, with one word: &#8220;Eliminated.&#8221; 
What Happened: Israel Defense Forces killed Sinwar — Israel's most wanted target since the war with Hamas began on Oct. 7 — in a firefight in Gaza.
Sinwar orchestrated an assault that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of over 200 others.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar.
&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1846957737487278263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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In a prepared <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/17/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-death-of-yahya-sinwar/">statement</a>, President Joe Biden said the IDF &#8220;relentlessly pursued Hamas's leaders&#8221; with the help of U.S. intelligence.
&#8220;There has rarely been a military campaign like this, with Hamas leaders living and moving through hundreds of miles of tunnels, organized in multiple stories underground, determined to protect themselves with no care for the civilians suffering above ground,&#8221; Biden said. 
&#8220;Today, however, proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes.&#8221;
Sinwar's body was retrieved after an exchange of fire on Wednesday, according to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/10/17/world/israel-lebanon-iran-gaza-news?campaign_id=190&amp;emc=edit_ufn_20241017&amp;instance_id=137113&amp;nl=from-the-times&amp;regi_id=136109156&amp;segment_id=180692&amp;user_id=e415429009fa21c5b8b4141c24d72bca">New York Times</a>, citing Israeli authorities. His identity was verified using dental records and fingerprints that matched those on file, Israel Police said. There was no immediate response from Hamas regarding his death.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41112728/us-boosts-military-presence-in-middle-east-deploys-fighter-squadrons-amid-rising-tensions-with-iran">US Boosts Military Presence In Middle East As Tensions Spike With Iran</a> 
Why It Matters: Sinwar's killing marks a significant development in the yearlong conflict. 
So far, the war in Gaza devastated the region and its people. Despite being only 141 square miles, Gaza is home to over 2 million people. 
Gaza's health ministry reports over 41,000 deaths. Per the Associated Press, Gaza's health ministry <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants</a>. About 1.9 million Palestinians have been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-anniversary-statistics-e61765035c725b3c8d4840e2bab565cd">displaced</a>.
Sinwar&#8217;s death also presents an &#8220;opportunity&#8221; to proceed with negotiations between Israel and Hamas and end the war, Vice President Kamala Harris said, per <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-17/harris-says-sinwar-s-death-offers-opportunity-to-end-gaza-war?srnd=phx-latest&amp;sref=TBDibEcD&amp;embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a>. 
Both sides remain deadlocked over key issues. 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation and promised the Israeli military would secure the release of all hostages. See below for coverage via CNN.
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Reporter on what he found interesting from Netanyahu's remarks" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8hrXuXFzUjA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Defense exchange-traded funds (ETFs) at last check Thursday afternoon, were trending up with the exception of the SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF:
<ul>
<li>IShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) rose 1.8% to $154.70.</li>
<li>Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) is up 0.17% to $119.</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) is down 0.29% to $162.77.</li>
</ul>
Oil ETFs: 
<ul>
<li>The United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>), was up 0.15% at $72.51.</li>
<li>The VanEck Oil Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OIH#NYSE">OIH</a>) was down 0.25% at $286.69.</li>
</ul>
Now Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41336413/oil-prices-take-largest-plunge-in-over-a-year-as-israel-vows-to-spare-iranian-facilities-energy-stoc">Oil Prices Take Largest Plunge In Over A Year As Israel Vows To Spare Iranian Facilities</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock.

Global

Israeli Military, With Help Of US Intelligence, 'Relentlessly Pursued' Deceased Hamas Leader

United Nations Security Council members convened for an emergency session Wednesday in New York to address Israel, Lebanon, Iran and whether an all-out war in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/middle-east">Middle East is preventable</a>.
What Happened: Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon, in his remarks to the UN Security Council, called Iran&#8217;s missile strike the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/10/41126038/iran-attacks-israel-with-missiles-middle-east-tensions-escalates-s-p-500-stocks-bitcoin-fall-as-oil">&#8220;largest&#8221; in Israel&#8217;s history</a>. 
&#8220;The council must understand the situation Israel is forced to live in. We are under attack,&#8221; Danon said, citing how holy sites were targeted. 
Israeli defense systems intercepted most of the 200 missiles Tuesday as they prepped for ground operations, the <a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-lebanon-ground-operation-updates">Associated Press</a> reported.
&#8220;The world watched silently as Iran funded and directed attacks against us for the past year, arming and training their proxies for decades,&#8221; Danon added. &#8220;Now the world must step up. Iran must pay a heavy price for this attack. Anything less is complicity.&#8221;
As of early Wednesday afternoon, the meeting remained in session. See video below.
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41143156/oil-prices-spike-energy-stocks-jump-after-irans-missile-attack-on-israel-what-investors-need-to-know">Oil Prices Spike, Energy Stocks Jump After Iran&#8217;s Missile Attack On Israel — What Investors Need To Know</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bracing For Further Escalation</h3>
The UN meeting is taking place while Israeli troops&nbsp;battle Hezbollah militants&nbsp;inside Lebanon, making good on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8216;s&nbsp;vow to retaliate, per <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-02/israel-vows-retaliation-for-massive-iranian-missile-attack">Bloomberg</a>.
The Israeli army Wednesday suffered at least eight fatalities since the ground operation began, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-missile-attack-middle-east-10-02-24-intl-hnk#cm1rx3x98000e3b6qp2nmm7pn">reported</a> citing Israel Defense Forces. 
Iran launched the attack against Israel following the recent killing of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41079860/israel-tightens-grip-hezbollah-leader-hassan-nasrallah-killed">Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah</a>. 
Since its formation in the early 1980s, Hezbollah — which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization — has received substantial support from Tehran, which views the group as an ally in advancing its influence in the Middle East.
The White House promised consequences for Iran's attack on Israel. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden reiterated at the start of a meeting with officials: &#8220;Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully supportive of Israel.&#8221;
Market Reaction: Following the missile attacks from Iran on Israel, plus Tuesday&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/10/41139919/private-sector-job-gains-outpace-forecasts-in-september-as-us-adds-143-000-jobs">job and economic data</a>, major stock indices dropped. As of early Tuesday afternoon:
<ul>
<li>The S&amp;P 500 was down slightly by 0.08%. </li>
<li>The Dow Jones was down by 0.02%. </li>
<li>The Nasdaq was up by 0.09%. </li>
</ul>
At last check, ETFs that track the indexes were up:
<ul>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was down 0.01% at $568.56 Tuesday.</li>
<li>SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) was down slightly at $421.23.</li>
<li>The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq 100, is up 0.22% to $482.33.</li>
</ul>
&#8220;Financial markets have reacted as one would expect to the heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with a bout of risk aversion sweeping through asset classes in the past 24 hours,&#8221; said Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy and global financial services at Ebury.
Equity markets are trading lower and, in currencies, the safe-havens have outperformed most of their peers, he adds. This includes the U.S. dollar, which remains buoyed following some hawkish <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20240930a.htm">comments</a> from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday.
The conflict is also causing broader concerns for inflation and central bank policy. Higher oil prices could undermine the U.S. Federal Reserve&#8217;s efforts to control inflation, potentially delaying future interest rate cuts, per <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/stock-markets-slump-oil-jumps-as-iran-attack-sparks-fear-of-all-out-war-in-mideast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Times of Israel</a>.
What To Look For: Ryan says investors are &#8220;rightly fearful&#8221; that Israel&#8217;s retaliation could disrupt oil supplies. After all, Iran is the seventh-largest oil producer in the world. 
The price of gold and oil both spiked higher after the attack. The United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) was trading slightly higher on the day at $72.13 at last check while the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) is down 0.11% to $245.33 Wednesday. 
&#8220;The wider implication for markets is the rising possibility of a sharp move higher in global oil futures, and another period of elevated energy prices and consumer inflation,&#8221; Ryan says.
The ramifications will not be &#8220;anywhere near as severe&#8221; as those that followed Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine, Ryan adds. &#8220;So far, at least, the moves in markets have been relatively contained.&#8221;
Defense ETFs, as of Wednesday afternoon, were trending up:
<ul>
<li>IShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) rose 0.37% to $151.91.</li>
<li>Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) is up 0.15% to $116.10. </li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) is up 0.67% to $159.98. </li>
</ul>
Now Read: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41112728/us-boosts-military-presence-in-middle-east-deploys-fighter-squadrons-amid-rising-tensions-with-iran">US Boosts Military Presence In Middle East As Tensions Spike With Iran</a> </li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock.

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Commodities

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

Markets Turn Risk-Off As Israel, Iran Clash: Investors 'Rightly Fearful' Of Oil Disruption, Strategist Says

The Biden administration&#8217;s decision to enhance Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities has U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/russia-ukraine-war">intelligence agencies on high alert.</a> 
What Happened: President Joe Biden &#8220;decided to provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition,&#8221; according to a White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/26/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-u-s-support-for-ukraine/">statement </a>on Thursday. 
But the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/26/us/politics/us-ukraine-strikes.html?nl=the-morning&amp;regi_id=136109156&amp;segment_id=178988">reports</a> U.S. intelligence agencies are assessing the risks of such a scenario.
Western allies face the potential threat of Russian-led attacks if those long-range missiles are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ukraine">aimed at certain targets</a> deep inside Russia.
The discussions were at the center of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy&#8216;s visit to the U.S. this past week in which he met with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
A meeting between Zelenskyy and ex-President Donald Trump is reportedly taking place on Friday in New York.
Ukraine Winter: The Russia-Ukraine war began on Feb. 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion.
Since then, Russia has bombarded critical power infrastructure across Ukraine — the latest attack being on Thursday, per Reuters. Such tactics, considered war crimes, leave Ukraine&#8217;s citizens vulnerable heading into the winter months. 
&#8220;Due to ongoing attacks on civil infrastructure, front-line movements, mass displacements and disruptions of access to essential health-care services, the war's impacts, compounded by winter, can increase the risk of excess cold-related morbidity and mortality,&#8221; according to a Thursday <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2024-2946-42704-59552">report</a> from the World Health Organization.
Germany agreed to provide a $78 million winter aid package to help Ukraine maintain heat and electricity.
Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze <a href="https://defence-industry.eu/germany-supports-ukraine-with-arms-and-winter-package/">said</a> Germany&#8217;s support aligns with national interests, as Ukraine&#8217;s defense also protects European security.
"We are supporting Ukraine in its efforts to rebuild a decentralised power supply infrastructure, as Russia will then not be able to destroy it so easily," he added.
Russia&#8217;s invasion affected oil and gas pipeline relations with Germany and Ukraine starting in 2022. This resulted in major <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/08/28447445/vladimir-putin-is-waging-war-not-just-against-ukraine-but-against-the-west-expert-warns-as-germany-i">disruptions and geopolitical shifts</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41037745/mike-johnson-lashes-out-over-weapons-factory-tour-snub-cries-election-interference-to-ukraine-presid">Mike Johnson Lashes Out Over Weapons Factory Tour Snub, Cries Election Interference To Ukraine President — Wants Ambassador Fired</a>
Why It Matters: In the U.S., Democrats and Republicans are at odds over whether to provide aid at all to Zelenskyy. 
Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, met with Zelenskyy and criticized those suggesting Ukraine should cede territory for peace. Her comments were seen as a veiled jab at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/21/01/19152983/donald-trump-is-the-first-us-president-to-be-impeached-twice">twice-impeached former President</a> Trump, who often <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-6e02fc7575a14d9abb64a326ffd0a4a3">derides</a> efforts to help Ukraine.
At a North Carolina event Wednesday, Trump said Ukraine was &#8220;demolished&#8221; and should have conceded to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ukraine-putin-zelenskyy-0f4d539aa73a943474d779716e5fe42a">Associated Press</a> reported. 
The comments come just weeks after a debate with Harris, in which the 2024 Republican nominee refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40998738/trump-says-ukrainian-president-backs-kamala-harris-for-white-house-zelenskyy-is-the-greatest-salesma">to win the war</a>. 
Price Action: Defense contractors saw gains and losses on Friday.
<ul>
<li>General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) is up 0.34% to $301.55</li>
<li>Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) rose 034% to $526.08</li>
<li>TransDigm Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDG#NYSE">TDG</a>) declined 0.069% to $1,400.08</li>
</ul>
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold defense stocks trended up:
<ul>
<li>IShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) rose 0.52%</li>
<li>Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) is up 0.29%</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) is up 0.82%</li>
</ul>
Now Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41059253/trump-set-to-meet-ukraines-president-amid-growing-kyiv-concerns-over-botched-visit-republicans-were">Trump Set To Meet Ukraine&#8217;s President Amid Growing Kyiv Concerns Over Botched Visit</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Ukraine Missile Use Worries US Intelligence About Potential Russia Retaliation, Germany Pledges Winter Aid

A significant Ukrainian drone assault on Russia caused an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40888451/russia-to-expand-army-for-third-time-since-war-with-ukraine-began-defense-stocks-rtx-northrop-grumma">earthquake-sized eruption</a> at a major arsenal in the Tver region on Wednesday, forcing citizens in the city of Toropets to evacuate, according to reports from war bloggers and some media.
Unverified video and images on social media showed a huge ball of flame rising into the night sky and numerous explosion detonations tearing across a lake about 240 miles west of Moscow, Reuters reported.
NASA satellites registered intense heat sources coming from an area of about five square miles at the site in the early hours. Earthquake monitoring stations picked up the attack as a small earthquake&nbsp;in the area.
&#8220;The enemy hit an ammunition depot in the area of Toropets,&#8221; said Yuri Podolyaka, a Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger. &#8220;Everything that can burn is already burning there (and exploding).&#8221;
Read Also: <a href="http://US And Allies Worried Amid Reports Of Russia Potentially Sharing Nuclear Secrets With Iran">US And Allies Worried Amid Reports Of Russia Potentially Sharing Nuclear Secrets With Iran</a>
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address, praised the attack without mentioning the target.
&#8220;A very important result was achieved last night on Russian territory and such actions weaken the enemy,&#8221; Zelenskyy said. &#8220;I thank everyone involved. Such precision is truly inspiring.&#8221;
A source in Ukraine&#8217;s SBU state security service told Reuters earlier that the drone attack had destroyed&nbsp;a warehouse storing missiles, guided bombs and artillery ammunition.
Igor Rudenya, governor of the Tver region, said Ukrainian drones had been shot down, a fire had broken out and some residents were being evacuated. He did not say what was burning, Reuters reported.
The size of the main blast shown in the unverified social media video was consistent with 200 to 240 tons of high explosives detonating, said George William Herbert of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in California.
Some war bloggers asked how drones could trigger such large blasts at what was thought to be a highly fortified facility.
Price Action: Defense contractors saw gains and losses by the end of Wednesday&#8217;s trading day.
<ul>
<li>General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) slipped 0.44% to $302.52</li>
<li>Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) rose 0.2% to $521.77</li>
<li>TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDG#NYSE">TDG</a>) declined 0.12% to $1,273.80</li>
</ul>
Exchange-traded funds that hold defense stocks trended up and down.
<ul>
<li>IShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) rose 0.06%</li>
<li>Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) fell 0.13%</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) declined 0.01%</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://over-30-months-of-war-zelensky">Russia Launches &#8216;One Of The Heaviest Strikes&#8217; On Ukraine In Over 30 Months Of War: Zelensky</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Ukrainian Drone Attack Causes Earth-Rattling Blast In Russia's Tver Region

Morgan Stanley is advising investors to pivot towards defensive stocks as the AI market loses momentum. This recommendation comes after a noticeable decline in semiconductor shares.
What Happened: On Tuesday, Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanley&#8217;s chief U.S. equity strategist, <a href="https://youtu.be/l97udx2X7Ws?feature=shared">told</a> Bloomberg Surveillance that the excitement around AI investments has diminished. 
He noted that the semiconductor sector, including major players like Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), has seen significant drops in stock prices.
&#8220;A lot of those stocks have really come off. And that makes sense to me. We just got overcooked on the whole AI theme,&#8221; said Wilson.
Wilson highlighted that semiconductor shares have fallen nearly 7% since Nvidia&#8217;s recent earnings report, with Nvidia itself experiencing a roughly 13% decline. He emphasized that this downturn doesn&#8217;t spell doom for the industry but indicates a longer-term benefit and return.
With the AI rally fading, Wilson suggests that investors should focus on &#8220;quality defensive stocks&#8221; in sectors such as utilities, staples, and healthcare. He believes these areas are well-positioned to perform amid a slowing labor market.
&#8220;With that theme now gone, the market is looking for a new theme. On the growth side, there isn&#8217;t one, so what it does is it hunkers down into defensive, high-quality assets until we get the next thing. Whether that&#8217;s a bad outcome or a positive outcome, they&#8217;re going to hide out in these areas,&#8221; Wilson said.
Investors looking to explore the defense sector may want to consider checking out defense-focused ETFs like Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>), First Trust Indxx Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MISL#NYSE">MISL</a>), SPDR S&amp;P Kensho Future Security ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITE#NYSE">FITE</a>), iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>), and SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>).
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40815343/not-a-slam-dunk-for-harris-but-the-chances-of-a-trump-victory-have-slipped-investors-markets-adjust?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Not A Slam Dunk For Harris, But The Chances Of A Trump Victory Have Slipped:&#8217; Investors, Markets Adjust Positions After Presidential Debate</a>
Why It Matters: The shift in Morgan Stanley&#8217;s strategy comes <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40701071/market-bull-warns-of-up-to-10-september-pullback-urges-caution-but-stresses-be-read">amid broader market concerns</a>. Last week, Tom Lee, co-founder and head of research at The Fundstrat, warned of a potential 7%-10% market pullback, citing historical trends that make September a challenging month for stocks.
Adding to the cautious sentiment, Bank of America advised <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40787329/analyst-says-dont-buy-the-tech-dip-amid-election-policy-uncertainty-advises-focusing-on-these-se">investors to avoid increasing their exposure</a> to the tech sector due to ongoing market volatility and election-related policy uncertainty. This aligns with Morgan Stanley&#8217;s recommendation to pivot towards more stable, defensive sectors.
Moreover, the Federal Reserve&#8217;s recent actions add another layer of complexity. On Wednesday, economists suggested that the Fed has the green light to cut rates, given the inflation rate fell to its lowest point since February 2021. 
However, JPMorgan cautioned that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40700320/jpmorgan-warns-anticipated-rate-cuts-may-not-significantly-boost-stock-markets-fed-will-start-ea">these cuts might not significantly</a> boost stock markets, as they are likely to be reactive to slowing economic growth.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40787302/nvidia-shares-riding-on-huge-ai-tailwind-says-portfolio-strategist-why-expert-says-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Shares Riding On Huge AI Tailwind, Says Portfolio Strategist: Why Expert Says Stock Will Stay On An Upward Path For Next 2-3 Years</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

FITE

MISL

NVDA

Morgan Stanley Advises Shift To Defensive Stocks As AI Rally Loses Steam Following Drop In Nvidia And Others: 'We Got Overcooked On The Whole AI Theme'

Looking for broad exposure to the Industrials - Aerospace &amp; Defense segment of the equity market? You should consider the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ita#BATS">ITA</a>), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 05/01/2006.
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.
Sector ETFs also provide investors access to a broad group of companies in particular sectors that offer low risk and diversified exposure. Industrials - Aerospace &amp; Defense is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 1, placing it in top 6%.
<h2>Index Details</h2>
The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $6.64 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Industrials - Aerospace &amp; Defense segment of the equity market. ITA seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace &amp; Defense Index before fees and expenses.
The Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace &amp; Defense Index measures the performance of the aerospace and defense sector of the U.S. equity market.
<h2>Costs</h2>
When considering an ETF&#39;s total return, expense ratios are an important factor, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts in the long term if all other factors remain equal.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.40%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.84%.
<h2>Sector Exposure and Top Holdings</h2>
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure which minimizes single stock risk, it is still important to look into a fund&#39;s holdings before investing. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Industrials sector--about 99.70% of the portfolio.
Looking at individual holdings, Ge Aerospace (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ge#NYSE">GE</a>) accounts for about 18.43% of total assets, followed by Rtx Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rtx#NYSE">RTX</a>) and Boeing (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ba#NYSE">BA</a>).
The top 10 holdings account for about 76.93% of total assets under management.
<h2>Performance and Risk</h2>
Year-to-date, the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF return is roughly 15.22% so far, and it&#39;s up approximately 26.94% over the last 12 months (as of 08/29/2024). ITA has traded between $103.16 and $145.30 in this past 52-week period.
The ETF has a beta of 0.97 and standard deviation of 18.55% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 39 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers.
<h2>Alternatives</h2>
IShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, ITA is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Industrials ETFs segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.
SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (ARCA:XAR) tracks S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense Select Industry Index and the Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (ARCA:PPA) tracks SPADE Defense Index. SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF has $2.30 billion in assets, Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF has $3.76 billion. XAR has an expense ratio of 0.35% and PPA charges 0.58%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2328670/should-you-invest-in-the-ishares-u-s-aerospace-defense-etf-ita?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-sector_etf-2328670">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Should You Invest in the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF?

At least nine <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/24/05/39048961/all-eyes-on-rafah-as-israeli-forces-enter-safe-zones-spain-ireland-and-norway-officially">Palestinians were killed</a> on Wednesday, according to Palestinian authorities, as Israeli forces moved into the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm and other areas in the occupied West Bank.
The major attack, which carried out by helicopter and drones, came after smaller raids in the area in recent weeks as Israeli forces tried to defeat Palestinian militant groups, Reuters reported.
Israel is combatting Hamas fighters in Gaza while handling rising tensions with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon.
The Palestinian health ministry said Israeli troops surrounded Jenin&#8217;s main hospital with earthmounds to block fighters seeking refuge.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/08/40416808/oil-prices-drop-as-gaza-ceasefire-talks-progress-china-releases-weak-economic-dat">Oil Prices Drop As Gaza Ceasefire Talks Progress, China Releases Weak Economic Data</a>
Palestine&#8217;s military released the names of five Palestinians identified as militant fighters for Hamas and Islamic Jihad who were killed in Tulkarm on Monday.
In addition to the raids in Jenin and Tulkarm, the military said forces also raided the town of Far&#8217;a near Tubas in the Jordan Valley, killing at least four people in a drone strike.
Battles in the West Bank have risen sharply since the start of the&nbsp;Israel-Hamas War in Gaza.
Thousands of Palestinians have been arrested in raids and more than 660 fighters and civilians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the war in Gaza began almost 11 months ago, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
At least 30 Israelis have been killed in attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank during the period, according to Israeli tallies.
Price Action: Defense companies experienced ups and downs into Wednesday&#8217;s mid-day trading, while exchange-traded funds that hold their stocks trended upward.
<ul>
<li>Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) gained 0.55% to $563.51 </li>
<li>Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) slipped 1.47% to $170.50</li>
<li>Northrup Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) ticked down 0.12% to $511.84</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) picked up 0.38%</li>
<li>Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) went up 0.21%</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) rose 0.45%</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40325523/oil-prices-soar-to-80-on-middle-east-tensions-us-moves-military-assets-to-region-5-defense-stock">Oil Prices Soar To $80 On Middle East Tensions, US Moves Military Assets To Region: 5 Defense Stocks On The Move</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Dimitrios Karamitros via Shutterstock

Nine Palestinians Killed As Israeli Forces Press Into West Bank

Government orders for weapons are expected to increase due to escalating geopolitical tensions, leading to a surge in cash flow for global aerospace and defense companies over the next three years.
What Happened: Vertical Research Partners projected that the top 15 defense contractors worldwide will generate a free cash flow of $52 billion in 2026, nearly double their combined cash flow at the end of 2021, Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5e368d70-b6e2-4433-a747-cdcfab061f27">reported</a> on Monday.
Five leading U.S. defense contractors, excluding Boeing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), are projected to produce a cash flow of $26 billion by the end of 2026, more than double the amount in 2021. In Europe, defense giants like BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, and Saab are expected to see a combined cash flow increase of over 40%.
The industry&#8217;s growth is linked to a sharp rise in military spending as governments bolster their budgets in response to Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine and mounting tensions in the Middle East and Asia. The U.S. has allocated nearly $13 billion for weapons production at its five largest defense groups, including Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), RTX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), Boeing, and General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), and their suppliers. The UK Ministry of Defence has committed £7.6 billion ($10.03 billion) for military aid to Ukraine over the past three years.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40544194/robert-kiyosaki-kamala-harris-is-avocado-toast-her-lying-immoral-unethical-days-coming-to-an-end?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Kiyosaki: &#8216;Kamala Harris Is Avocado Toast, Her Lying, Immoral, Unethical Days Coming To An End&#8217;</a>
This surge in government spending has already pushed order books to near-record highs. The industry is now debating how to utilize the growing cash flows, with potential options including share buybacks, dividends, and acquisitions.
Why It Matters: Recent developments in the industry include the Pentagon&#8217;s Defense Innovation Unit&#8217;s plan to boost <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38335201/pentagons-defense-innovation-unit-to-boost-startups-with-increased-funding-and-support">startups with increased funding</a> and support, Lockheed Martin&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/12/36042512/lockheed-martin-doubles-down-on-army-contracts-as-nvidia-microsoft-intel-aid-defense-digitizatio">doubling down on</a> army contracts, and General Dynamics&#8217; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40181006/boost-for-us-defense-industry-general-dynamics-unit-wins-1-3b-contract-modification">$1.3 billion contract modification</a> from the U.S. Department of Defense. 
However,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/07/39690807/how-boeings-guilty-plea-could-impact-us-defense-contracts"> Boeing&#8217;s negotiations with</a> the U.S. Defense Department following its guilty plea could potentially impact its ability to secure future contracts.
Price Action: During Monday&#8217;s pre-market, Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) was trading 0.03% lower while SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) was trading 0.05% higher, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Lockheed Martin
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pooja Rajkumari</a>

Lockheed Martin, RTX And Other Defense Companies To Reap Record Cash Flow Of $52B Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions: Report

President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40352731/russia-strikes-back-at-ukraines-ground-incursion-into-kursk">Ukrainian forces have captured</a> another Russian village while visiting the border where his troops crossed into Russia&#8217;s Kursk region in early August, while Moscow said its ground forces have taken control of a village in eastern Ukraine.
Kyiv has also reported carrying out a drone strike on an air base in southern Russia, but Russia said it had pushed back an effort by Ukrainian forces to cross the border in an area 150 miles from the site of Ukraine&#8217;s incursion into Kursk on Aug. 6, Reuters reported.
Kyiv has announced that its ground forces have won a series of battles since the advance into Kursk, but Russian forces have been slowly but steadily moving farther into eastern Ukraine for months. 
On Thursday, the Russian defense ministry said forces had seized the village of Mezhove in Ukraine&#8217;s eastern Donetsk region.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40330846/russian-president-blames-ukraine-of-sabotaging-peace-talks-through-border-incursion-says-enemy-will">Russian President Blames Ukraine Of Sabotaging Peace Talks Through Border Incursion, Says &#8216;Enemy Will Certainly Receive A Worthy Response&#8217;</a>
Reuters could not independently confirm the latest battlefield reports from Kyiv or Moscow. Russia has repeatedly said its forces have stopped the Ukrainian incursion, but Kyiv has kept saying that its troops are making more advances into Russia.
Zelenskyy said in a statement, there had been less shelling and civilian casualties in Ukraine&#8217;s Sumy region since the Kursk operation. He also said Ukrainian forces captured one more Russian village, after Ukrainian officials said Kyiv controls more than 90 settlements in Kursk.
A security source in Kyiv said Ukraine had also carried out a drone attack on Russia&#8217;s Marinovka military airfield in Volgograd in southern Russia, hitting a storage site for fuel and glide bombs.
Russia&#8217;s defense ministry said it had shot down 28 drones over Russian territory.
The Ukrainian military&#8217;s general staff said Russian troops carried out 53 attacks and offensive actions on the front to the east of the transport hub of Pokrovsk in the last 24 hours.
The Ukrainian navy said its forces attacked a Russian ammunition and fuel storage site on the Moscow-held Kinburn Spit that juts out into the Black Sea in occupied southern Ukraine.
Price Action: Defense stocks moved upward during Thursday&#8217;s late-morning trading session.
<ul>
<li>RTX Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) gained 0.31% to $117.62</li>
<li>Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) rose 0.43% to $556.14</li>
<li>Northrup Grumman Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) went up 0.55% to $509.65</li>
</ul>
Exchange-traded funds that track defense stocks also saw gains at the time of publication Thursday.
<ul>
<li>IShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) rose 0.22%</li>
<li>Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) gained 0.09%</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) improved 0.13%</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Specialty ETFs

Eurozone

Zelenskyy Announces Capture Of Another Russian Village As Ukraine Pushes Deeper Into Kursk

The possibility of Donald Trump&#8216;s return to the White House has triggered a surge in investments in European defense-tech startups, as per industry executives and investors.
What Happened: Trump&#8217;s unpredictable approach towards NATO and defense budgets has led to a rise in military spending and investment in defense-tech startups across Europe. The former president is currently in a tight race with Vice President Kamala Harris for the Nov. 5 election, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Global military spending hit a record high of $2.4 trillion in 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). In June, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) announced partnerships with venture capital firms and defense startups across Europe, aiming to strengthen security in the region. The European Union also pledged over $1 billion towards military innovation earlier this year.
While the potential of a Trump presidency wasn&#8217;t the only factor driving these initiatives, it has significantly influenced investments in manufacturers of drones, robotics, and quantum computing, according to eight industry executives.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40453368/bernie-sanders-trump-labeled-kamala-harris-an-extreme-communist-on-her-price-gauging-plan-but-doesnt?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bernie Sanders: Trump Labeled Kamala Harris An &#8216;Extreme Communist&#8217; On Her Price Gauging Plan, But Doesn&#8217;t  Matter What He Says, No One Believes Him</a>
One of the leading investors is Munich-based Vsquared Ventures, which recently raised a 214 million euro ($237.99 million) fund to invest in space, robotics, and other technologies. 
&#8220;Trump&#8217;s threats have made European states think very differently about investing in their own capabilities and giving contracts out, often to startups,&#8221; said Herbert Mangesius, founding partner at Vsquared.
Currently, the NIF is backed by 24 NATO countries, with eight remaining countries &#8211; including Canada and the U.S. &#8211; not involved. Andrea Traversone, the organization&#8217;s managing partner, expressed his ambition to have all NATO allies join the fund.
Defense and security spending across Europe rose 16% to 552 billion euros since 2022, as per SIPRI data. This increase in spending has resulted in governments partnering with new technology companies and investing more in their defense capabilities.
Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s potential return and his past comments <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37061734/biden-says-if-trump-able-to-gain-power-again-he-will-let-russia-do-whatever-the-hell-they-want-with">concerning NATO allies </a>and defense spending have raised concerns among European nations. Trump hinted that the U.S. might not defend NATO allies who fail to meet their defense spending targets against a potential Russian invasion. 
These comments, coupled with escalating tensions with Russia and China, have led to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38155210/western-nations-may-face-10-trillion-defense-spending-surge-amid-russia-china-threat-report">surge in defense spending</a> by Western nations, which could surpass $10 trillion in the next decade. 
Price Action: In the U.S., defense ETFs such as Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) was trading 0.19% higher at $111.02, SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) was trading 0.17% higher at $152.29 while iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) was trading 0.28% higher at $144.30, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Did You Know?
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<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pooja Rajkumari</a>

Startups

Trump's Potential Return Triggers Investors' Demand For European Defense Startups

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>) shares are trading higher after the company reported better-<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/07/b40032953/howmet-aerospace-reports-second-quarter-2024-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">than-expected&nbsp;second-quarter FY24 financial results</a>.
Revenue grew&nbsp;14%&nbsp;Y/Y to&nbsp;$1.88 billion, beating the consensus of&nbsp;$1.836 billion, driven by growth in the commercial aerospace of&nbsp;27%&nbsp;Y/Y.
Revenue by Segments: Engine Products&nbsp;$933 million&nbsp;(+14%&nbsp;Y/Y); Fastening Systems&nbsp;$394 million&nbsp;(+20%&nbsp;Y/Y); Engineered Structures&nbsp;$275 million&nbsp;(+38%&nbsp;Y/Y); and Forged Wheels&nbsp;$278 million&nbsp;(-7% Y/Y).
Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items was&nbsp;$483 million&nbsp;(+31%&nbsp;Y/Y), and the margin was&nbsp;25.7%.
Adjusted operating income increased by&nbsp;38%&nbsp;Y/Y to&nbsp;$414 million, and the margin expanded by 370 bps Y/Y to&nbsp;22.0%.
Adjusted EPS stood at&nbsp;$0.67,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the consensus of&nbsp;$0.60.</a>
Howmet Aerospace&#8217;s operating cash flow stood at&nbsp;$397 million, and its free cash flow was&nbsp;$342 million. At the end of the quarter, the company&#8217;s cash balance was&nbsp;$752 million.
Buyback: Howmet Aerospace&#8217;s Board of Directors approved a $2 billion increase in the company&#8217;s share repurchase program, raising the total to $2.487 billion.
During the quarter, Howmet Aerospace repurchased $60 million worth of common stock at an average price of $81.66 per share.
Dividend: The Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on August 26 to shareholders of record as of August 9.
This quarterly dividend is a 60% increase from the second-quarter dividend of $0.05 per share.
The Board of Directors approved a 2025 dividend policy for common stock, set at 15% (+/- 5%) of net income, excluding special items.
Third-quarter&nbsp;FY24&nbsp;Outlook: Howmet Aerospace expects revenue of&nbsp;$1.845 billion-$1.865 billion&nbsp;(consensus&nbsp;$1.81 billion)&nbsp;and adjusted EPS <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">of&nbsp;$0.63-$0.65&nbsp;(consensus&nbsp;$0.60)</a>.
FY24&nbsp;Outlook&nbsp;Raised: Howmet Aerospace increased its revenue&nbsp;outlook&nbsp;to&nbsp;$7.40 billion-$7.48 billion&nbsp;(from&nbsp;$7.225 billion-$7.375 billion) versus the consensus of&nbsp;$7.33 billion&nbsp;and adjusted EPS to&nbsp;$2.53-$2.57 (from $2.31-$2.39) vs. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38591577" rel="noreferrer noopener">the consensus of&nbsp;$2.39</a>.
John Plant, Executive&nbsp;Chairman&nbsp;and Chief Executive Officer, said, &#8220;The outlook for commercial aerospace continues to be robust, with strong travel demand and an aging aircraft fleet, leading to an extremely high backlog at the aircraft OEMs. The issue faced by Howmet Aerospace continues to be the aircraft manufacturers&#8217; ability to build and deliver aircraft on a consistent basis.&#8221;
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;WBI BullBear Quality 3000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBIL#NYSE">WBIL</a>) and&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>).
Price Action: HWM shares are up 12.3% at $93.00 premarket at the last check Tuesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Earnings

Guidance

Dividends

Buybacks

Movers

WBIL

Howmet Aerospace Soars On Strong Q2, Dividend Boost And Buybacks: Details

President Joe Biden is set to address the nation on Wednesday night to discuss his decision <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39912859/as-election-buzz-swirls-around-biden-and-harris-dea-comment-period-ends-whats-next-">to leave the presidential race</a>.
He is scheduled to give his remarks at 8 p.m. EST, during which he is expected to discuss in detail what his priorities are for his remaining months in office, the Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/07/24/biden-speech-2024-election-campaign-updates/">reported</a>.
Biden will <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/5-things-watch-biden-address-142505064.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall">likely</a> devote much of his speech to outlining his goals for his final six months in office.
Biden is also expected to discuss securing a hostage deal in the Middle East to release those being held by Hamas following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35136071/israel-under-siege-unprecedented-hamas-attack-sparks-intense-clashes-netanyahu-says-we-are-at-war">Oct. 7 attacks in Israel</a>. The president is scheduled to meet on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/07/39918749/kamala-harris-vs-trump-views-on-nearly-every-industry-evs-oil-gas-health-care-are-worlds-apart">Kamala Harris Vs. Trump: Views On Nearly Every Industry — EVs, Oil &amp; Gas, Health Care — Are Worlds Apart</a>
"I'm still going to be fully, fully engaged. I've got six months left in my presidency," he said over the phone on Monday to campaign headquarters. "I'm determined to get as much done as I possibly can, both foreign policy and domestic policy — keep lowering costs for families, continue to speak out on guns, to child care, elder care, prescription drugs and climate."
Biden <a href="https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/1815080881981190320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1815080881981190320%7Ctwgr%5E2a87663aac24ff47ddd52bd1f0cfe859d1937f02%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2FVRuGWbb%3F_showcaption%3Dtrueapp%3D1">announced</a> Sunday his intention not to pursue a second term. He then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://t.co/RMIRvlSOYw">pic.twitter.com/RMIRvlSOYw</a>
&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1815080881981190320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
&#8220;It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,&#8221; Biden wrote in the letter, which was distributed while he recovered from COVID-19 at his residence in Rehoboth, Delaware.
&#8220;And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.&#8221;
Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, addressed a gathering of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority in Indianapolis. Former President Donald Trump is expected to appears at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Price Action: Exchange-traded funds that cover defense stocks have the potential to move on Thursday on any comments from Biden on Middle East peace talks. iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (ITA) slipped 1.22% by Wednesday&#8217;s mid-day trading, while Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) dropped 1.29% and SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) declined 0.84%.
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Biden To Address Nation On Decision To Exit 2024 Presidential Race, Outline Goals For Remaining 6 Months

Raytheon, an RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) business, was awarded a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/06/39499796/nasa-faces-setback-as-rtxs-collins-aerospace-backs-out-of-spacesuit-deal">$1.2 billion&nbsp;contract </a>to supply&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;with additional Patriot&nbsp;air and missile defense systems.
The company did not specify the number of missiles that are included in the contract.
The deal is said to provide the most current Patriot Configuration 3+ radars, launchers, command and control stations, associated spares and support.
&#8220;Patriot remains the tried-and-true stalwart of air and missile defense, relied upon by our global customers to deter aggression and defend their interests,&#8221; Tom Laliberty, Raytheon&#8217;s president of land and air defense systems, said in a statement.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39322621/biden-zelenskyy-strengthen-ties-with-new-security-agreement-at-g7-summit">Biden, Zelenskyy Strengthen Ties With New Security Agreement At G7 Summit</a>
&#8220;With each additional Patriot system,&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;is enhancing its own air defenses and strengthening NATO&#8217;s defense posture.&#8221;
Raytheon has landed this contract as Ukrainian&nbsp;President&nbsp;Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp;asked the 32-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization for more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39700167/zelenskyy-lands-in-washington-as-nato-summit-puts-ukraine-aid-first">air defense systems</a>, F-16 jets&nbsp;and further security guarantees at a summit in Washington.
Zelenskyy arrived in Washington on Monday evening, the same day that Russia released a barrage of missiles on Ukraine that destroyed numerous buildings throughout the country, including Ukraine's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39673768/russia-rains-missiles-on-ukraine-as-nato-readies-to-discuss-military-aid">largest children&#8217;s hospital</a>, and killed three dozen people.
Price Action: RTX saw a modest gain by Thursday&#8217;s mid-morning trading, while other U.S. missile manufacturers that have supplied munitions to Ukraine gave mixed reactions.&nbsp;
RTX ticked up 0.69% to $101.37.&nbsp;Lockheed Martin Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) slipped 0.18% to $460.16 and Northrup Grumman Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) gained 0.85% to $429.86.&nbsp;ITA
Aerospace and defense exchange-traded funds trended upward on Thursday.&nbsp;iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) edged up 0.39 and&nbsp;Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense&nbsp;ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.52%.&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>)&nbsp;gained 0.84%.
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Raytheon Awarded $1.2B Patriot Contract For Germany As Ukraine Asks For Support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington, D.C., as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit got underway with providing long-term support for Ukraine in the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39678547/biden-slams-russian-missile-strikes-on-ukraines-largest-childrens-hospital-horrific-reminder-of-russ"> war against Russia </a>topping the agenda.
The Ukrainian leader will seek to shore up and boost allied support for&nbsp;his country, meet with President Joe Biden and deliver a major speech on the sidelines of the summit, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/09/politics/zelensky-ukraine-nato-summit/index.html">reported</a>. The U.S. promised "significant" announcements&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ukraine during the three-day global gathering&nbsp;that began Tuesday.
The country will fight for "decisive actions" from the U.S. and Europe at the summit, Zelenskyy said Tuesday in his first remarks since arriving in the U.S. capital.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine will ask for more air defense systems, F-16 jets and additional security guarantees, "including weapons and finances, political support," according to CNN.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39458304/man-behind-ukraines-naval-operations-reveals-how-drones-frightened-russian-fleet-in-black-sea-battle">Man Behind Ukraine&#8217;s Naval Operations Reveals How Drones &#8216;Frightened&#8217; Russian Fleet In Black Sea Battle</a>
Zelenskyy arrived in Washington on Monday evening, the same day that Russia released a barrage of missiles on Ukraine that destroyed numerous buildings throughout the country, including Ukraine&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39673768/russia-rains-missiles-on-ukraine-as-nato-readies-to-discuss-military-aid">largest children&#8217;s hospital</a>, and killed three dozen people.
Ukrainian officials said the timing of Moscow's assault — a day before the start of the summit — was calculated, CNN reported. It was "a hello from Putin to all the NATO countries … making fun of us trying to follow red lines," as Ruslan&nbsp;Stefanchuk, the chair of Ukraine's parliament, said.
They also said the attack underscored the need for continued military support for Ukraine — and the ability to use those weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
Price Action:&nbsp;U.S. missile manufacturers that have supplied munitions to Ukraine gave mixed reactions on Tuesday.&nbsp;Northrup Grumman Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) declined 1.52% to close at $423.73, while&nbsp;RTX Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) ticked up 1.01% to $101.01.&nbsp;Lockheed Martin Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) slipped 0.32% to $460.30.
Aerospace and defense exchange-traded funds remained relatively flat on Tuesday.&nbsp;iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) slipped 0.32% to $132.81 and&nbsp;Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense&nbsp;ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>)&nbsp;slipped 0.38% to $102.85.&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>)&nbsp;declined 0.66% to $140.72.
Read Now:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39322621/biden-zelenskyy-strengthen-ties-with-new-security-agreement-at-g7-summit">Biden, Zelenskyy Strengthen Ties With New Security Agreement At G7 Summit</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Zelenskyy Lands In Washington As NATO Summit Puts Ukraine Aid First

Russia mounted its largest missile <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/taking-aim-at-us-xi-jinping-urges-global-powers-to-facilitate-russia-ukraine-dialogue-during-meeting-with-hungary-s-viktor-orb%C3%A1n/ar-BB1pBcx2">attack on Ukraine</a> in months on Monday, hitting a children's hospital in Kyiv and other sites across the country, in an attack that killed at&nbsp;least 33 people&nbsp;and&nbsp;injured more than 100 people, according to Ukrainian officials.&nbsp;
The early-morning attack consisted of more than 40 missiles aimed at at least five cities across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President&nbsp;Volodymyr Zelensky, the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/russian-missiles-hit-kyiv-childrens-hospital-in-deadly-attacksacross-ukraine-bdf51e48?mod=hp_lead_pos10">reported</a>.
At least two people were killed at Kyiv&#8217;s Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital when a missile hit the dialysis ward and caused heavy damage to the medical facility. Rescue workers were searching for people under the rubble into Monday afternoon.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/06/39438195/ukraine-has-right-to-fire-back-at-russia-with-us-provided-munitions-as-kremlin-seeks-talks-with-whit">Ukraine Has Right To &#8216;Fire Back&#8217; At Russia With U.S.-Provided Munitions As Kremlin Seeks Talks With White House</a>
The strikes happened on the day before the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Washington. NATO is expected to discuss multiple measures, such as $40 billion in aid to Ukraine&#8217;s military, that are intended to show long-term help to Kyiv but exclude offering NATO membership.
Ukraine has long wanted to join the alliance as it complains about the slow delivery of air defenses and munitions from the West. Kyiv is worried a right-wing political uprise across Europe and Donald Trump possibly returning to the White House may further diminish the delivery of armaments from the U.S. and other NATO countries, according to Bloomberg.
Price Action: U.S. missile manufacturers that have supplied munitions to Ukraine have not moved much as of Monday&#8217;s mid-afternoon trading. Northrup Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) declined 0.51% to $432.51, while RTX Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) ticked uo 0.35% to $100.72. Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) has remained unchanged at $462.18.
Aerospace and defense exchange-traded funds also remained relatively flat into Monday afternoon. iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) inched up 0.40% and Invesco Aersospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) slipped 0.50%. SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) picked up 0.63% in mid-day trading.
Read Now:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39351207/nato-considers-putting-more-nuclear-weapons-on-standby-amid-rising-threats-from-russia-north-korea-t">NATO Considers Putting More Nuclear Weapons On Standby Amid Rising Threats From Russia, North Korea: &#8216;That&#8217;s Exactly What We&#8217;re Doing&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/hamara">Hamara</a> via Shutterstock

Andriy Yermak, Zelensky

Russia Rains Missiles On Ukraine As NATO Readies To Discuss Military Aid

As military spending surges around the world, defense ETFs offer investors a unique opportunity to hedge against market volatility while capitalizing on booming defense sectors. Therefore, it might be wise to invest in fundamentally solid defense ETFs, such as SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR), Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA), and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA). Continue reading… As global tension and geopolitical conflicts rise around the world, the defense industry is gaining much attention among investors. Driving the robust demand for defense products, the sector is rapidly fueling the market.
Given the industry's robust prospects, investing in ETFs like SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/XAR/">XAR</a>), Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PPA/">PPA</a>), and iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ITA/">ITA</a>) might be wise choices for those looking to gain exposure to the tech sector.
Events like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the rising military presence in the Asia-Pacific region have spurred countries to increase defense spending, with NATO members now aiming to allocate <a href="https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/defense-stock-outlook">at least 2% of GDP toward military budgets</a>, and this increased military investments, driving demand for aerospace, cybersecurity and defense companies.
Simultaneously, <a href="https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/department-of-defense?fy=2024">the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)</a> allocated a $2.10 trillion budget for fiscal year 2024, with $1.08 trillion for defense-related expenses. As per the Business Research Co. report, the global defense industry is anticipated to <a href="https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/defense-global-market-report">exhibit a CAGR of 5.8%</a> by 2028.
Investors see defense ETFs not only as a way to gain exposure to these trends but also as a hedge against market volatility caused by geopolitical instability.
With that in mind, let's look at the fundamentals of the top three <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/industrials-equities-etfs/">Industrials Equities ETFs</a>, beginning with number 3.
ETF #3: SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/XAR/">XAR</a>)
XAR seeks to invest in companies' stocks operating across the industrial, capital goods, aerospace, and defense sectors. The fund tracks the performance of the S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense Select Industry Index.
As of October 24, 2024, the fund had <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/aum.asp">assets under management (AUM)</a> of $2.39 billion and an <a href="https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/spdr-sp-aerospace-defense-etf-xar">NAV of $158.71</a>. XAR has an expense ratio of 0.35%, lower than the category average of 0.47%.
The fund's top holdings include Axon Enterprise Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/AXON/">AXON</a>) with a 5.18% weighting, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/CW/">CW</a>) at 5.02%, and Howmet Aerospace Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/HWM/">HWM</a>), and L3Harris Technologies Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LHX/">LHX</a>) at 4.80% and 4.76%, respectively. It currently has a total of 33 holdings.
The fund pays an annual dividend of $0.87, translating to a 0.55% yield at the prevailing price level. The fund's four-year average yield is 0.58%.
XAR has gained 39.1% over the past year and 21.2% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $158.65. Its fund inflows came in at $82.12 million over the past month and $275.45 million over the past year.
XAR's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect its promising prospects. The ETF has an overall rating of A, which translates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
It also has an A grade for Trade and Buy &amp; Hold and a B for Peer. Of the 36 ETFs in the B-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/industrials-equities-etfs/">Industrials Equities ETFs</a> group, XAR is ranked #10. To access all of XAR's POWR Ratings, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/XAR/">click here</a>.
ETF #2: Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PPA/">PPA</a>)
PPA invests in stocks of companies operating across aerospace and defense sectors and tracks the SPADE Defense Index. Invesco Capital Management LLC manages this fund.
With $4.50 billion in AUM, its <a href="https://www.invesco.com/us/financial-products/etfs/product-detail?audienceType=Investor&amp;ticker=PPA">top holdings</a> are RTX Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/RTX/">RTX</a>) with a 7.67% weighting in the fund, Boeing Company (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/BA/">BA</a>) at 7.17% weight, followed by Lockheed Martin Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LMT/">LMT</a>), and General Electric Co (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/GE/">GE</a>) with 7.12% and 6.91% weightings, respectively. The ETF has a total of 55 holdings.
The ETF's expense ratio is 0.58%, compared to the category average of 0.47%. PPA fund inflows were $1.31 billion over the past year and $617.25 million over the past three months.
PPA pays an annual dividend of $0.65, which translates to a 0.56% yield at the current price level. The fund's dividend payouts have grown at a 15.2% CAGR over the past three years. Its four-year average yield is 0.69%.
Over the past year, PPA has gained 44.1% to close the last trading session at $116.42. The fund's NAV was $116.24 as of October 24, 2024.
PPA's solid fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The fund has an overall rating of A, which translates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
The fund has an A grade for Trade and Buy &amp; Hold and a B for Peer. PPA is ranked #6 in the same B-rated group. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PPA/">Click here</a> to access all the PPA ratings.
ETF #1: iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ITA/">ITA</a>)
BlackRock Fund Advisors manages ITA. The fund invests in growth and value stocks of companies that are operating across industrials, capital goods, aerospace, and defense sectors. It seeks to track the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace &amp; Defense Index.
As of October 24, ITA had $6.25 billion in assets under management and an NAV of $149.29. Its expense ratio of 0.40% compares to the category average of 0.47%.
The fund's <a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239502/ishares-us-aerospace-defense-etf#:~:text=88.00-,Holdings,-All">top holdings</a> include GE with an 18.48% weight, RTX with a 15.87% weight, LMT with a 10.61% weight, and AXON with a 5.18% weight. It has a total of 35 holdings.
ITA's trailing-12-month dividend of $1.23 yields 0.81% on the current price level, while its four-year average dividend yield is 0.93%. Its dividend payouts have grown at an 11.34% CAGR over the past three years.
Over the past month, the fund's net inflow came in at $98.69 million. It has gained 39.9% over the past year to close its last trading session at $149.39.
ITA's promising outlook is reflected in its POWR Ratings. The ETF has an overall A rating, equating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It has an A grade for Trade and Buy &amp; Hold. It is ranked #3 out of 36 ETFs in the same Industrials Equities ETFs group. To see ITA's POWR ratings, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ITA/">click here</a>.
What To Do Next?
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<hr />
ITA shares were trading at $149.59 per share on Friday afternoon, up $0.20 (+0.13%). Year-to-date, ITA has gained 18.84%, versus a 23.14% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: ShreyaRathi</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0.jpeg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;"><a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=shreya-rathi">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/ita-ppa-xar-3-defense-etfs-to-watch-as-global-tensions-rise/>3 Defense ETFs to Watch as Global Tensions Rise</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

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