Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) wrapped up the week with a strong move higher, closing at $480.25 on Friday, December 12, 2025, extending a nine-session winning streak even as broader U.S. equities finished the day lower. [1]
For investors tracking LMT stock into next week, the story is a mix of momentum, contract-driven visibility, and headline risk—especially around the F-35 program after Switzerland said it will trim its planned purchase to stay within budget. [2]
Below is a detailed, Google News/Discover-ready roundup of what moved Lockheed Martin stock this week, the most important news from the last several days, updated analyst forecasts, and what to watch in the week ahead.
LMT stock today: Price, weekly performance, and key levels
Lockheed Martin stock (LMT) closed at $480.25 on Dec. 12, up +1.13% on the day, with volume around 1.38 million shares. [3]
LMT stock snapshot (as of the Dec. 12 close)
- Close: $480.25 [4]
- Day range (Dec. 12): $470.79 – $480.84 [5]
- Weekly move (Fri-to-Fri): about +6.2% (from $452.20 on Dec. 5 to $480.25 on Dec. 12) [6]
- Distance from 52-week high: about 6.9% below ~$516 [7]
How the week unfolded (daily closes)
| Date (2025) | Close |
|---|---|
| Dec 8 | $465.38 |
| Dec 9 | $466.89 |
| Dec 10 | $467.94 |
| Dec 11 | $474.88 |
| Dec 12 | $480.25 |
(Prices shown are daily closes.) [8]
What this says about momentum: LMT pushed steadily higher through the week and finished near its weekly high, a pattern technicians often interpret as “strong close” behavior—especially when accompanied by a multi-day run. That said, the stock remains below its recent peak area near the low-$500s, leaving a clear overhead reference point for the next leg. [9]
The biggest Lockheed Martin news from the last several days
Lockheed Martin is often a “contracts + geopolitics + budgets” stock. This week’s price action coincided with several notable developments across those themes, plus new AI-related announcements that broaden the company’s positioning beyond traditional platforms.
1) Switzerland says it will reduce its F-35 order as costs rise
On Dec. 12, Switzerland said it will reduce its planned purchase of F-35A jets from the U.S. because costs have risen and it wants to stay within the 6 billion Swiss franc budget approved by voters. The government said it will procure the maximum number of jets possible within that budget, while leaving open the possibility of revisiting the original target later. [10]
Why it matters for LMT stock: The F-35 program is a cornerstone of Lockheed’s Aeronautics segment, and any sign of order reductions—even if budget-driven—can pressure sentiment. On the flip side, Switzerland also indicated longer-term defense planning could still imply a need for more modern jets overall, which keeps the broader demand question open. [11]
2) Turkey–F-35 headlines return: talks continue, but S-400 stance unchanged
Turkey said—all while talks continue with the U.S.—that there has been no change in its position on the Russian S-400 air defense systems, a central obstacle to rejoining the F-35 program. [12]
Earlier in the week, reporting also described discussions about Turkey potentially rejoining the program, highlighting how geopolitics can quickly swing the narrative around foreign participation in major defense platforms. [13]
Why it matters: Re-entry would be meaningful, but it’s not just a commercial decision—there are legal and alliance-security constraints involved, making this a headline-driven variable rather than a predictable near-term catalyst. [14]
3) Lockheed launches “Astris AI for Government” with major partners
On Dec. 11, Lockheed Martin’s subsidiary Astris AI announced Astris AI for Government, positioned as a turnkey platform to help public-sector customers adopt AI securely—highlighting collaborations with Oracle, NVIDIA, and Meta (open-source models). [15]
Why it matters for the investment story: This expands Lockheed’s “defense prime” narrative into “defense + AI infrastructure + integration,” potentially supporting multi-year services and platform revenue alongside traditional hardware programs—though commercialization pace and procurement adoption remain the key questions. [16]
4) Lockheed and Microsoft announce next-gen counter-drone collaboration
A Lockheed Martin feature published this week described a collaboration with Microsoft to develop Sanctum, a counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) approach combining Lockheed’s mission experience with cloud/AI capabilities. [17]
Why it matters: Counter-drone demand has been rising globally, and partnerships that connect defense-grade systems with scalable cloud/AI tooling are increasingly part of modern procurement conversations. [18]
5) Next Generation Interceptor production facility progress in Alabama
Lockheed Martin said construction is nearing completion on an 88,000-square-foot facility in Courtland, Alabama intended to support production of the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) for U.S. homeland missile defense, with completion targeted for early 2026. [19]
Why it matters: Missile defense programs can be long-duration and politically durable, and incremental production capacity news tends to reinforce confidence in execution and delivery timelines—two things Wall Street watches closely in defense manufacturing. [20]
6) Pentagon contract flow: F-35 long-lead items and other awards
- A widely reported Pentagon contract action involves roughly $1.14B in additional scope/funding tied to F-35 long-lead materials supporting future production lots, with work stretching into 2030. [21]
- Separately, DoD contract listings include awards tied to Lockheed Martin businesses such as Rotary and Mission Systems, including an item referencing SPY-7 radar work for Foreign Military Sales (Canada). [22]
- On the rotary-wing side, reporting described an Army order/modification around $433M for additional Black Hawk helicopters under a multi-year contract structure. [23]
Why it matters: The market tends to reward defense primes when the contract pipeline signals continuity—especially when it connects to platforms central to revenue visibility (like F-35) or to large installed bases (like Black Hawk sustainment and production). [24]
7) Hypersonics investment: new integration lab in Huntsville
Lockheed opened a new hypersonic systems integration lab in Huntsville as part of a broader capital investment initiative, reflecting continued U.S. emphasis on next-generation weapons development. [25]
8) Budget backdrop: House passes a massive 2026 defense bill
A large 2026 U.S. defense bill passed the House this week, touching areas including troop pay and other priorities—important context because U.S. budget direction remains one of the most important sentiment levers for defense contractors.
Forecasts and analyst outlook: What Wall Street expects for LMT stock
Consensus rating: still largely “Hold,” with targets clustered around the low-$500s
Across major tracking services, Lockheed Martin is generally viewed as a Hold/Neutral-type name at current levels (reflecting its mature cash-flow profile, but also the sector’s sensitivity to program execution and budget politics).
- MarketBeat shows an average target around $508.72 (about ~6% above the Dec. 12 close), with a target range that spans from the mid-$400s to $630 depending on the analyst. [26]
- MarketWatch data shows an average target around $532.72 (roughly ~11% above the Dec. 12 close). [27]
Notable update this week: Deutsche Bank trims price target
Deutsche Bank reduced its price target to $492 from $517 while maintaining a Hold rating, a signal that at least one major shop is becoming more conservative on upside after the recent move. [28]
Fundamentals check: Guidance, cash returns, and what investors focus on
2025 outlook (most recently updated in October)
Lockheed previously raised its 2025 forecasts, citing robust defense demand, and reported quarterly results that beat estimates on EPS and revenue around that time. [29]
Dividend profile
Lockheed Martin remains a high-profile dividend payer. One widely tracked schedule shows a $3.45 quarterly dividend with recent timing around early December for the ex-dividend window and late December for payment. (Dividend schedules can change; always verify with your broker or company filings.) [30]
At the $480 share-price area, the implied annualized dividend yield is roughly ~2.9% (based on four quarterly payments of $3.45). [31]
Next earnings date: late January 2026
The next major scheduled event for many LMT investors is earnings. TipRanks lists Lockheed Martin’s next earnings report for Jan. 27, 2026 (before open, confirmed). [32]
Technical read on LMT stock: Support, resistance, and what traders may watch
With LMT extending a multi-day run and closing the week strong, short-term traders often focus on:
- Near-term resistance: the recent high zone near $480–$481, followed by the 52-week high area near $516 [33]
- Near-term support: the mid-$460s (recent closes early in the week), then the prior-week close area around the low-$450s [34]
Just as important: defense stocks can gap on headlines. For Lockheed, that means F-35 export headlines and Pentagon contract announcements can overpower purely technical setups on any given day. [35]
Week ahead: What could move Lockheed Martin stock next week
Looking at the trading week ahead (starting Monday, Dec. 15, 2025), here are the most realistic near-term drivers for LMT stock:
1) Follow-through (or reversal) after the Switzerland F-35 news
Markets will likely keep parsing whether Switzerland’s decision is:
- a one-off budget adjustment, or
- an early signal of broader cost pressure affecting other buyers.
Even if deliveries are long-dated, order headlines can impact short-term sentiment. [36]
2) Turkey and the F-35: headline volatility risk
Any incremental comment from U.S./Turkey officials can swing expectations quickly, but the S-400 constraint remains central. [37]
3) U.S. defense budget pathway after the House vote
With the House having passed a major defense bill, the next steps in Washington can matter for the whole group—especially if debate resurfaces around procurement priorities, modernization, and spending tradeoffs.
4) “Contract tape” and DoD award flow
Lockheed’s stock often reacts when investors see large awards tied to core franchises:
- F-35 production/sustainment,
- missile defense (including NGI),
- naval radar and mission systems,
- rotorcraft orders and modernization. [38]
5) Macro cross-currents after the December Fed meeting
The Federal Reserve’s December 9–10, 2025 meeting is now in the rear-view mirror, but markets frequently re-price “rate path” expectations in the days after a decision as investors digest the statement, projections, and commentary. [39]
Defense stocks are not the most rate-sensitive area of the market, but overall equity risk appetite still matters—especially into year-end positioning.
Risks to keep on the radar
No week-ahead outlook is complete without the downside list. For Lockheed Martin, the most watched risks remain:
- F-35 affordability and sustainment cost scrutiny (as highlighted by Switzerland’s budget-driven reduction) [40]
- Geopolitical policy constraints affecting exports and partnerships (e.g., Turkey’s F-35 situation) [41]
- Execution risk on complex programs (missile defense, hypersonics, classified work), where schedule/cost performance can shift sentiment quickly [42]
- Competitive pressure from newer defense-tech entrants even as primes remain dominant on the biggest programs [43]
Bottom line for LMT stock (Dec. 12 update)
Lockheed Martin stock ends the week with clear momentum and a supportive flow of defense-related developments—AI platform expansion, counter-drone collaboration, and production capacity investments—while facing fresh headline risk from the F-35 export market after Switzerland’s decision. [44]
For next week, the playbook is straightforward: watch the F-35 news cycle, track Pentagon contract updates, and keep an eye on budget headlines. Meanwhile, the market’s baseline forecast remains “modest upside” with many analysts clustered around low-$500s targets, but not without dissent—illustrated by at least one price-target cut this week. [45]
References
1. www.marketwatch.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. investors.lockheedmartin.com, 4. investors.lockheedmartin.com, 5. stockanalysis.com, 6. stockanalysis.com, 7. www.marketwatch.com, 8. stockanalysis.com, 9. www.marketwatch.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. news.lockheedmartin.com, 16. news.lockheedmartin.com, 17. www.lockheedmartin.com, 18. www.lockheedmartin.com, 19. news.lockheedmartin.com, 20. news.lockheedmartin.com, 21. www.govconwire.com, 22. www.defense.gov, 23. www.defensedaily.com, 24. www.govconwire.com, 25. www.reuters.com, 26. www.marketbeat.com, 27. www.marketwatch.com, 28. www.marketscreener.com, 29. www.reuters.com, 30. www.dividendmax.com, 31. www.dividendmax.com, 32. www.tipranks.com, 33. stockanalysis.com, 34. stockanalysis.com, 35. www.reuters.com, 36. www.reuters.com, 37. www.reuters.com, 38. www.defense.gov, 39. www.federalreserve.gov, 40. www.reuters.com, 41. www.reuters.com, 42. www.reuters.com, 43. www.reuters.com, 44. news.lockheedmartin.com, 45. www.marketbeat.com
