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Promising defense stocks to watch today - july 18th. July 18, 2026 Key points. * GE Aerospace, Rocket Lab, Boeing, RTX, Lockheed Martin, Howmet Aerospace, and Keysight Technologies were highlighted as the top defense stocks to watch, based on recent dollar trading volume. * The article frames defense stocks as relatively defensive investments because demand can stay steady thanks to government spending, long-term contracts, and national security needs. * Each featured company spans different parts of the aerospace and defense ecosystem, from military aircraft and missile systems to rocket launches, engine components, and electronic test solutions. * MarketBeat previews the top five stocks to own by August 1st. GE Aerospace, Rocket Lab, Boeing, RTX, Lockheed Martin, Howmet Aerospace, and Keysight Technologies are the seven Defense stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeat's stock screener tool. Defense stocks are shares of companies that produce military equipment, weapons, aerospace systems, cybersecurity tools, and other products or services used by governments and armed forces. For stock market investors, they are often viewed as relatively defensive investments because demand for their products can remain steady due to government spending, long-term contracts, and national security needs. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Defense stocks within the last several days. GE Aerospace (GE). GE Aerospace (also known as General Electric) is a company that specializes in providing aerospace products and services. It operates through two reportable segments: Commercial Engines and Services and Defense and Propulsion Technologies. It offers jet and turboprop engines, as well as integrated systems for commercial, military, business, and general aviation aircraft. Rocket Lab (RKLB). Rocket Lab USA, Inc., a space company, provides launch services and space systems solutions for the space and defense industries. The company provides launch services, spacecraft design services, spacecraft components, spacecraft manufacturing, and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions; and constellation management services, as well as designs and manufactures small and medium-class rockets. Boeing (BA). The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; and Global Services segments. Discover more Stock research tools RTX (RTX). RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for civil and military aircraft manufacturers and commercial airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation, defense, and commercial space operations. Lockheed Martin (LMT). Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. The company operates through Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space segments. Howmet Aerospace (HWM). Howmet Aerospace Inc. provides advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Poland, China, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Engine Products, Fastening Systems, Engineered Structures, and Forged Wheels. Keysight Technologies (KEYS). Keysight Technologies, Inc. provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Communications Solutions Group and Electronic Industrial Solutions Group. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. Before you consider GE Aerospace, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and GE Aerospace wasn't on the list. While GE Aerospace currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. The AI boom is creating opportunities across semiconductors, cloud computing, enterprise software, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and automation. Inside this report, you'll find 10 companies positioned to benefit as artificial intelligence moves from hype to real-world deployment and becomes a core growth driver for corporate America.

US technology giant Keysight Technologies has invested nearly $17 million in Australian medical device company EMVision for approximately 9% stake. The New York-listed firm, with a market capitalisation exceeding US$50 billion, specialises in radiofrequency test and measurement technology. EMVision is developing portable brain scanners to diagnose strokes at point-of-care. Its emu bedside scanner is currently in pivotal trials at major stroke hospitals in the US and Australia, aiming for FDA clearance. The device targets haemorrhage detection sensitivity and specificity above 80%. The collaboration centres on a bespoke vector network analyser co-developed with Keysight. Current stroke diagnosis requires transporting patients to CT or MRI machines, causing treatment delays. EMVision's technology uses ultra-high frequency radio signals for faster diagnosis. The World Health Organisation reports 15 million people suffer strokes annually worldwide.

Bell Global Equities Fund sold its position in Keysight Technologies in May 2026 following exceptional share price strength. The fund took profits before the company's Q2 results, believing the valuation had expanded to a level that left little room for error. Keysight subsequently delivered strong earnings results, with revenue growing 31% to $1.72 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. However, the muted share price reaction validated the fund's concerns about positive sentiment already embedded in the stock. The fund stated it believed it could redeploy capital into other names with better risk-adjusted upside potential. Keysight remains a critical provider of electronic design and testing solutions for AI infrastructure, particularly for next-generation 1.6T Ethernet. The fund will monitor for a more attractive re-entry point.