Updated: December 12, 2025 (after U.S. market close)
RTX Corporation (NYSE: RTX) ended Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, at $178.66, up 0.70% on the day, with shares trading between $176.63 and $179.45 and volume of about 6.44 million. [1]
That finish capped a strong five-session run: RTX climbed from $171.52 at the close on Monday, Dec. 8, to $178.66 on Friday—roughly +4.16% for the week. [2] In a notable show of relative strength, RTX finished higher Friday even as the broader market fell (S&P 500 down 1.07%). [3]
With RTX’s 52-week range listed at $112.27–$181.31, the stock is now sitting within about 1.5% of its 52-week high—keeping “breakout” chatter alive going into mid-December. [4]
Below is the complete, publication-ready look at RTX stock this week and the week-ahead setup, including the latest company headlines, sector catalysts, analyst forecasts, and technical takeaways—updated to the Dec. 12, 2025 close.
RTX stock this week: the quick read
What investors are focused on right now:
- Wall Street tone improved after Citigroup initiated bullish aerospace/defense coverage and set a $211 target for RTX. [5]
- Defense spending visibility strengthened as the U.S. House advanced a massive FY2026 defense policy bill, with the Senate expected to take it up next week. [6]
- Operational momentum remains the foundation: RTX’s most recent quarterly update showed 12% sales growth, $251B backlog, and raised 2025 outlook for adjusted sales and adjusted EPS (with free cash flow reaffirmed). [7]
- Company-specific developments continued to flow, including a U.S. Navy helmet system milestone (Collins Aerospace JV), a Raytheon–AWS space collaboration, and a major Pratt & Whitney F135 sustainment award. [8]
The most important RTX news from the last days
1) Citi turns bullish on RTX, calls sector a “megatrend” opportunity
One of the most market-relevant items this week wasn’t a contract—it was new sell-side coverage.
- Citigroup initiated coverage across a broad aerospace and defense universe and included RTX with a Buy rating and a $211 price target (about 18% above Friday’s $178.66 close). [9]
- Barron’s reported Citi’s framing of aerospace/defense as central to secular “megatrends” spanning commercial aerospace, defense, and space—supporting a longer-duration growth narrative rather than a short-cycle trade. [10]
Why it matters for RTX stock: new coverage doesn’t change earnings overnight, but it can reset narrative and multiples when a stock is already trending near highs—especially into year-end positioning.
2) Collins Elbit Vision Systems hits a U.S. Navy milestone (Dec. 12)
RTX’s Collins Aerospace business (via the Collins Elbit Vision Systems joint venture) announced it completed the Critical Design Review for the Zero‑G Helmet Mounted Display System+ tailored for the U.S. Navy’s Improved Joint Helmet‑Mounted Cueing System program. The system is aimed at F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet and EA‑18G Growler aircraft. [11]
The company said the program now moves into airworthiness testing and full integration, with initial operational capability expected in 2027 and a plan to field across more than 750 aircraft including U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force fleets. [12]
Why it matters: while this is not necessarily a “revenue surprise” event by itself, it reinforces the message that RTX continues to deliver program execution milestones in areas that support defense modernization—an important ingredient for maintaining backlog conversion.
3) Raytheon and AWS expand space-focused collaboration (early December)
RTX’s Raytheon business announced a strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to modernize satellite data processing and mission-control operations, including use of AWS AI/ML services. RTX described the effort as aimed at reducing mission costs, increasing flexibility, and accelerating delivery of capabilities. [13]
Why it matters for the stock: investors increasingly reward defense primes that can credibly position themselves for “software-defined,” data-heavy programs—particularly in space, ISR, and command-and-control domains.
4) Pratt & Whitney wins a $1.6B F135 sustainment award (Dec. 2)
Early December also brought a clear, contract-sized headline:
- RTX’s Pratt & Whitney announced a $1.6 billion contract action for F135 engine sustainment (powering the F‑35), including depot-level maintenance, repair, spares replenishment, engineering support, and software sustainment. [14]
- Reuters separately reported the contract and noted Pratt & Whitney has delivered more than 1,300 F135 engines to the U.S. and 20 allied nations. [15]
Why it matters: sustainment is typically valued for its recurring cash-flow profile, and the F‑35 ecosystem remains one of the most strategically important long-cycle programs for the U.S. and its allies.
5) Dividend cash return landed this week (paid Dec. 11)
RTX declared a $0.68 per share quarterly dividend, payable on Dec. 11, 2025, to shareholders of record as of Nov. 21—and noted it has paid dividends every year since 1936. [16]
Why it matters: dividend events rarely move a mega-cap dramatically, but for many investors RTX is owned as a compounder: a blend of defense visibility + commercial aerospace exposure + shareholder returns.
The big sector catalyst: U.S. defense policy bill advances, Senate next week
Defense stocks tend to trade on two time horizons at once: near-term headlines and multi-year funding visibility. This week, the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) moved forward in a way markets generally read as supportive for the group.
Reuters reported the U.S. House advanced a massive defense policy bill, with the Senate expected to pass it next week, and that President Donald Trump said he would sign it. [17]
Important nuance: the NDAA authorizes policy and funding levels; actual dollars still depend on the appropriations process. But in practice, a smoother NDAA path can bolster sentiment toward prime contractors by reinforcing the policy commitment to readiness, munitions, and modernization.
Fundamentals backdrop: what RTX told investors last quarter
Even though the market’s “this week” conversation is dominated by price action and new notes, RTX’s most recent quarterly results remain the anchor for many forecasts.
In its Q3 2025 update, RTX reported:
- Sales of $22.5B, up 12% year over year
- Adjusted EPS of $1.70, up 17%
- Backlog of $251B (commercial $148B, defense $103B)
- Raised full‑year 2025 outlook to $86.5B–$87.0B adjusted sales and $6.10–$6.20 adjusted EPS, while confirming $7.0B–$7.5B free cash flow [18]
A simple way markets translate this: guidance increases plus backlog strength can support a higher “confidence multiple,” but the stock’s move into the high-$170s also puts more pressure on execution—particularly across commercial aerospace ramp-ups and defense program delivery.
Analyst forecasts: what Wall Street expects for RTX stock from here
Price targets are generally above today’s price—though the spread varies by data source
Recent coverage and aggregator data suggest a broadly constructive sell-side stance, but not everyone sees massive upside after the 2025 run.
- MarketScreener lists a mean consensus rating of Outperform, with an average target price around $194.65 versus the $178.66 last close (roughly ~9% implied upside). [19]
- StockAnalysis (which tracks a smaller set in its snapshot) shows a “Buy” consensus but an average target around $177.57 (near the current level), illustrating how targets can diverge depending on coverage lists and update timing. [20]
- Citi’s newly published target of $211 stands out on the bullish side of the range highlighted in major write-ups this week. [21]
How to read it: In late 2025, RTX looks less like a “deep value defense stock” and more like a premium aerospace/defense compounder—which can keep targets elevated, but also makes the stock more sensitive to any signs of execution friction or margin pressure.
Technical analysis snapshot into the week ahead
Technical indicators aren’t fundamentals—but they do influence short-term flows, especially into year-end.
Investing.com’s daily technical summary for RTX showed:
- A “Strong Buy” technical stance on daily signals
- 14‑day RSI ~63.3 (often interpreted as bullish momentum, but not extreme overbought)
- 50‑day moving average ~173.57 and 200‑day moving average ~174.05, both below the current price [22]
Separately, daily pivots cited there cluster in the high‑$170s (roughly the zone where buyers stepped in multiple times this week). [23]
What that suggests heading into next week: traders are likely watching whether RTX can hold above the mid‑$170s on any market pullback, while longer-term holders will focus more on policy, contracts, and the January earnings runway.
Week ahead: catalysts to watch for RTX stock (week of Dec. 15, 2025)
1) Senate action on the NDAA
With the House leg advanced, investors will watch for Senate progress and any late changes that could affect procurement priorities or program funding assumptions. Reuters expects Senate passage next week, with Trump saying he will sign. [24]
2) U.S. macro data that can move rates (and equity multiples)
Even defense-heavy stocks feel market-wide volatility when rates and inflation expectations jump. The New York Fed’s economic indicators calendar shows several market-moving releases in the coming week, including:
- Empire State Manufacturing Survey (Dec. 15)
- Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization (Dec. 16)
- Advance Retail Sales (Dec. 17)
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) (Dec. 18) [25]
Strong inflation or consumption prints can pressure bond yields and compress multiples; softer data can do the opposite. For RTX specifically, the bigger effect is often through broad risk appetite rather than company fundamentals.
3) The post-Fed narrative after this week’s rate cut
San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said the Fed’s quarter-point cut was “the right move,” but emphasized uncertainty about the economic outlook. [26]
The market will continue parsing Fed commentary alongside next week’s data.
4) The “next big date” for RTX: earnings window
RTX has not confirmed a date, but multiple market calendars estimate the next earnings report around Jan. 27, 2026. [27]
That matters because December strength often transitions into January positioning ahead of earnings—especially for stocks sitting near highs.
Key risks investors are still pricing in
No week-ahead outlook is complete without the downside list—particularly for a stock trading near the top of its range.
Pratt & Whitney operational headline risk
Pratt & Whitney continues to navigate operational scrutiny around its engine portfolio. For example, Reuters reported Airbus recently imposed cold-weather takeoff restrictions for certain aircraft using Pratt & Whitney engines, with the manufacturer working on a solution. [28]
More broadly, the GTF inspection issue has been a multi-quarter overhang across the industry, and investors remain alert to any new fleet-impact updates. [29]
Defense funding politics and timing
Even with NDAA momentum, actual spending still depends on appropriations and execution timing. The market usually rewards contractors that convert backlog into revenue and free cash flow consistently—regardless of headline authorization totals.
Valuation sensitivity
With RTX now near its 52-week highs, the stock may be more sensitive to “small disappointments”—whether that’s a margin guide nuance, a delivery bottleneck, or a market-wide risk-off event.
Bottom line: RTX stock heads into next week with momentum—now it needs catalysts to match the price
As of the Dec. 12, 2025 close, RTX stock is finishing the week with strong momentum, outperformance versus the broader market, and fresh bullish framing from Wall Street—most notably Citi’s Buy initiation and $211 target. [30]
For the week ahead, the biggest swing factors are likely to be defense policy headlines (Senate NDAA progress) and macro data that shifts rate expectations—while company-specific attention gradually builds toward the late‑January earnings window. [31]
References
1. www.investing.com, 2. www.investing.com, 3. www.marketwatch.com, 4. www.investing.com, 5. www.investors.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.rtx.com, 8. www.rtx.com, 9. www.investors.com, 10. www.barrons.com, 11. www.rtx.com, 12. www.rtx.com, 13. www.rtx.com, 14. www.rtx.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.rtx.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.rtx.com, 19. www.marketscreener.com, 20. stockanalysis.com, 21. www.investors.com, 22. www.investing.com, 23. www.investing.com, 24. www.reuters.com, 25. www.newyorkfed.org, 26. www.reuters.com, 27. www.marketbeat.com, 28. www.reuters.com, 29. www.flightglobal.com, 30. www.investing.com, 31. www.reuters.com
