Defense contractors post strong Q1 revenues but mixed guidance

The United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached a landmark agreement that opens the way for the US to have a long-term security role in Greenland. Kobsak Pootrakool, Senior Executive Vice President of Bangkok Bank, or BBL, posted on Facebook under the name Kobsak Pootrakool, stating that Denmark and Greenland have granted the US the rights to use Greenland as the US wants, to serve as a key strategic point for building the Golden Dome and for controlling shipping through the emerging Arctic route. President Trump announced that this agreement gives the US permanent control over security and all other necessary matters in Greenland, at no cost to the US, and that countries hostile to the US will not be able to establish military bases, station troops, or invest in sensitive businesses in Greenland without explicit written approval from the US. Kobsak stated that this agreement is eternal, with no end date, and that the US will immediately begin the process of establishing a large military force in suitable areas of Greenland. He also viewed this as significant progress within the framework of the Donroe Doctrine, under which the US seeks to control key points around its neighborhood in North and South America, following Panama, Venezuela, Colombia and Greenland, with Cuba and Brazil remaining, awaiting the October 4 election.

Mercury Systems reported fourth quarter fiscal 2026 revenues of $289.8 million, up 6.1% year on year and 9.2% above analysts' expectations, as the 14 defense contractors stocks tracked by the report collectively beat consensus revenue estimates by 4% and guided next quarter 1.1% above expectations. Chairman and CEO Bill Ballhaus said the company delivered record bookings, record backlog, record revenue, the highest EBITDA margin of the year, and robust free cash flow, though Mercury shares are down 18.5% since reporting and trade at $85.56. Huntington Ingalls posted the group's best quarter, with revenues of $3.42 billion, up 10.9% year on year and 8.2% above expectations, while its shares have traded sideways at $278.53. Parsons delivered the weakest quarter, with revenues of $1.58 billion, flat year on year and 1.9% below expectations, alongside full-year revenue and EBITDA guidance that missed significantly, sending its stock down 25.5% to $46.19. Northrop Grumman reported revenues of $10.88 billion, up 5.1% and 0.5% above expectations, with shares flat at $526.95, and Leidos reported revenues of $4.56 billion, up 7.2% and 2.6% above expectations, with its stock up 10.4% at $131.09. On average, defense contractors shares are down 2.9% since the latest earnings results.

The State Department approved a potential $24.3B sale of 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft to Saudi Arabia, along with 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines and related equipment, a deal that still requires congressional approval and would strengthen Saudi Arabia's air defense and interoperability with U.S. and allied forces. Separately, Bloomberg reported that the U.S. could postpone announcing new tariffs on China and other countries until after President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping next week; a previously planned trade report was expected to recommend a 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods, while the final rate could potentially exceed the 20% level agreed during earlier talks. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company expects to sell roughly twice as many chips next year as this year as demand for AI infrastructure expands. China's ChangXin Memory Technologies is preparing to enter the NAND flash-memory market, with Reuters reporting that CXMT plans an R&D production line at its new Beijing plant and has established a research institute in the city, broadening its focus beyond DRAM. OpenAI has hired Brian McCarthy from SpaceX as vice president of worldwide sales, Fortune reported; McCarthy joined SpaceX through its acquisition of Cursor, where he led global revenue and field operations, and previously held senior sales roles at Rubrik, ThoughtSpot, AppDynamics and Qlik.