NEW YORK, Feb 8, 2026, 14:59 ET — Market is done for the day
- RTX shares changed hands at $198.66, a rise of roughly 1.4% over the prior close
- RTX set its quarterly dividend at 68 cents per share, with payment scheduled for March 19
- A Pentagon list naming “underperforming” contractors could land as early as early next week, and investors are tracking it closely.
RTX Corp finished its last session at $198.66, up roughly 1.4% from where it closed before. Trading volume hit about 4.35 million shares, and the price moved between $195.97 and $200.80. U.S. markets were closed Sunday, so investors are waiting on Washington with the new week ahead.
President Donald Trump’s Jan. 7 executive order is putting the squeeze on defense contractors, blocking dividends and buybacks until firms hit delivery and performance targets. David Sowerby of Ancora Advisors didn’t mince words, labeling it “micromanaging of capital allocation.” Over at Advisors Capital Management, Charles Lieberman argued, “Cash flow is not a constraint.” RTX CEO Christopher Calio, on a Jan. 27 earnings call, assured investors, “we remain committed to the dividend.” Reuters
The Pentagon could put out a list of what it sees as underperforming contractors as soon as early next week, three people familiar with the situation told Reuters. Any companies named would get 15 days to hand in board-approved plans to fix the issues. If the Pentagon isn’t satisfied, contract terminations are an option. There’s still no clarity on how officials will draw the line around “defense contractor”—it’s not clear if subcontractors get included. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, “If progress doesn’t continue to be made, we will take enforcement actions.” Reuters
RTX on Friday announced its board has approved a dividend of 68 cents per share, set for payment on March 19 to shareholders registered as of Feb. 20’s close. The company noted it’s kept up annual cash dividends on its common stock every year going back to 1936.
RTX is still trading somewhere between $112.27 and $206.48 for its 52-week stretch, Investing.com figures show. Dividend yield? About 1.37%. The stock last changed hands at $199.13 after hours on Friday.
RTX filed its annual Form 10-K for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 6, according to the filing.
RTX, in its filing, called out the Trump order as a clear market risk. The company cautioned that if the Secretary of War decides RTX hasn’t performed or given enough weight to government contracts, there could be moves to restrict dividends or stock buybacks. RTX pointed to changing tariffs too, saying it doesn’t see the latest U.S. tariffs or foreign retaliation as materially harmful at this point—but also flagged big unknowns around how long and how broad those measures might get.
RTX headed into the weekend on the heels of Friday’s sweeping rally, which sent the Dow closing past 50,000 and gave a jolt to industrials and cyclicals. The gains left investors weighing what level of policy risk is baked into defense stocks now.
But there’s a clear risk here: if RTX shows up on the Pentagon’s list, the stock might slide, especially as income-focused investors often favor defense names for their reliable dividends. Even if RTX escapes mention, questions around enforcement could rattle trading and make boards think twice about buybacks.
Traders are watching the Pentagon’s list closely as Monday kicks off, looking for any updates on remediation steps or possible enforcement. Eyes also turn to Feb. 20—the record date for RTX’s upcoming dividend.
