Defense and space stocks jump to start 2026 as Boeing, Rocket Lab lead gains
NEW YORK, January 3, 2026, 13:12 ET — Market closed U.S. aerospace, defense and space-linked stocks rose sharply on Friday, led by Boeing and Rocket Lab, as investors returned to the group on the first trading day of 2026. MarketWatch The move matters because the sector sits at the intersection of two market themes that have been driving flows into January: geopolitical risk and government-backed demand. Defense contractors typically draw buyers when investors want revenue visibility, since much of their work is tied to multi-year contracts. Investing The rally also came as Wall Street steadied after a late-December slide, with