New York, March 2, 2026, 11:42 EST — Regular session
- RTX jumped roughly 4% in late morning, hitting a fresh intraday high along the way.
- Defense contractor shares climbed, with investors betting on an extended conflict in the Middle East.
- Traders look ahead to Friday’s U.S. jobs report, watching for fresh headlines out of the region.
RTX Corp rallied Monday, gaining roughly 4.4% to $211.51 as of late morning, with shares trading in a range between $208 and $212.40. The move came as defense names caught a bid, investors responding to rising Middle East tensions.
Stocks like Lockheed Martin and RTX both climbed more than 3%, with Kratos and AeroVironment among smaller defense names posting strong gains, according to Reuters. Wall Street’s main indexes, meanwhile, moved lower as traders looked for companies less vulnerable to fallout from rising energy costs. “The market is taking it relatively well,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial. Reuters
Oil and metals pushed higher, adding to the market’s tone. Brent crude jumped roughly 9% to $79.50 a barrel, with U.S. crude not far behind—up over 8%, settling at $72.75. Gold futures climbed close to 3%, coming in around $5,400 an ounce, as investors gravitated toward traditional safe havens during bouts of uncertainty.
RTX finds itself right at the center. The Raytheon division supplies a hefty share of weapons and air-defense equipment, so the stock usually shifts as expectations for government contracts change in response to geopolitical risk.
The company has already found itself linked to efforts to accelerate deliveries. Back in early February, RTX announced Raytheon had landed deals designed to boost annual production of Tomahawk cruise missiles, AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and SM-6 interceptors. The plan also includes a funding structure focused on safeguarding near-term cash flow. “These agreements redefine how government and industry can partner to speed the delivery of critical technologies,” CEO Chris Calio said. Reuters
RTX’s commercial aerospace presence is hard to miss, with Pratt & Whitney engines and Collins Aerospace parts spread across the industry. But if oil prices surge, that wide reach can backfire—airlines might trim capacity, and costs could climb throughout the supply chain.
The geared turbofan (GTF) engine problem remains a headache. MTU Aero Engines, a key partner, flagged that the recall over a powder metal defect is hitting cash flow and forcing Airbus A320neo jets out of service for quicker inspections. The drawn-out repair cycle stands out.
This rally’s running on headlines. Should hostilities cool, gains could evaporate in a hurry; a protracted conflict sending oil higher would just squeeze financial conditions further and weigh on stocks at large, though defense stocks might weather the storm a bit better.
Coming Friday, March 6, at 8:30 a.m. ET: fresh U.S. labor-market numbers. The February Employment Situation lands then—a data point closely watched by traders recalibrating bets on Fed policy and risk.
