Latest news with #PrecisionStrike
South China Morning Post
17-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
How the Israel-Iran conflict changed the scope of 21st-century warfare
The Israel-Iran war , from June 13 to June 24, marks a watershed moment in modern conflict. Precision-strike technology, multi-domain operations and social media diplomacy converged in the direct combat between nuclear-capable adversaries. The confrontation has fundamentally altered strategic deterrence frameworks and validated new paradigms of 21st-century warfare. The conflict began when Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, military installations and key personnel . Tehran soon retaliated. According to Israel, Iran used 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones. The United States' June 22 strikes against nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow represented one of the largest escalations between nuclear-capable states in modern history. What distinguished this confrontation was the seamless integration of conventional strikes, cyber operations, electronic warfare and real-time social media diplomacy, which apparently compressed traditional military decision-making from hours to minutes. Israel's systematic targeting of both physical infrastructure and human capital marked a strategic evolution from destroying facilities to dismantling institutional knowledge. The precision-strike capabilities show that nuclear-capable states can engage in extended conventional combat without triggering a strategic nuclear exchange. This potentially encourages military adventurism by suggesting advanced conventional capabilities can achieve strategic objectives while remaining below the nuclear threshold. US President Donald Trump's initial ceasefire announcement on social media was quickly disputed by Iranian officials, leading to continued fighting. The real ceasefire came only after intensive behind-the-scenes diplomacy, highlighting how digital platforms are now forcing rapid crisis responses while traditional diplomatic channels remain essential for actual resolutions. Currency markets and energy futures rapidly reacted to leaders' social media posts, fundamentally altering how international actors assess geopolitical risks.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) on Substack by Steve Wagner. In this article, we will summarize the bulls' thesis on LMT. Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT)'s share was trading at $466.81 as of April 24th. LMT's trailing and forward P/E were 20.12 and 17.15 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Copyright: scanrail / 123RF Stock Photo Lockheed Martin (LMT) delivered an impressive first-quarter 2025 performance, reinforcing its reputation as a reliable and well-managed defense compounder. Revenues grew 4% year-over-year to $18 billion, while net earnings climbed to $1.7 billion, translating to an EPS of $7.28 compared to $6.39 in Q1 2024. All four of the company's business segments saw improved operating margins, with Missiles & Fire Control notably increasing its margin from 10.4% to 13.8%, helping drive a 19% boost in segment operating profit. Free cash flow stood at a strong $955 million, and Lockheed's order backlog remained at a formidable ~$173 billion—equivalent to more than two years of revenue—underscoring the resilience of its long-term demand pipeline. Alongside earnings, Lockheed reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting ~$74 billion in sales and $27 in EPS, demonstrating management's confidence in navigating what it described as a "highly dynamic geopolitical and technical environment." Recent contract wins provide concrete support for that optimism, with the company securing major new awards across its missile systems portfolio—including Precision Strike, THAAD, and JASSM/LRASM programs—as well as a significant Trident II award. These contracts, totaling up to $10 billion in potential future revenue, add further strength to the already robust backlog and enhance visibility into long-term growth. In a move that underscores its commitment to maintaining technological leadership, Lockheed also announced the acquisition of Amentum's Rapid Solutions business. This bolt-on acquisition expands Lockheed's capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), advanced communications, and tactical systems—particularly through assets like electronically steered array technologies. Though not transformational in size, the acquisition is strategically sound, providing Lockheed with niche technical capabilities that align well with its broader defense technology portfolio. The integration of Rapid Solutions into the Space segment will deepen Lockheed's ISR expertise and further support its mission to deliver next-generation solutions for high-priority defense applications. Taken together, Lockheed's first quarter results and its strategic acquisition strengthen the company's investment case. Execution remains tight, the balance sheet is healthy, and guidance is solid. Management's focus on backlog conversion, operational discipline, and incremental innovation suggest a durable growth trajectory. While not flashy, the Amentum acquisition adds depth to Lockheed's ISR suite and marginally widens its long-term runway in advanced defense technology. For investors, this is a clear reaffirmation of Lockheed's strength as a steady compounder with a growing technological edge. Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 65 hedge fund portfolios held LMT at the end of the fourth quarter which was 58 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of LMT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LMT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
