SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF Price & Performance (XAR)

Northrop Grumman has seen its shares rise 1% over the past three months, outperforming the SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF's 3.9% drop. However, over six months, its stock fell 6.7%, trailing the ETF's 5.8% gain. Analysts remain cautiously optimistic, with a consensus 'Moderate Buy' rating and a 13% upside potential.1

The S&P 500 fell 0.5% on Monday to 5,983.25, while the Nasdaq dropped 1.21% amid tech sector weakness. Palantir plunged 10.5%, and Nvidia slipped 3%. Microsoft’s 1% decline followed concerns over reduced AI-related spending. Meanwhile, defense stocks continue to face headwinds, with the SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF down 7.7% month-to-date.2

Rocket Lab plans to raise $500 million through an equity offering to fund growth, including software innovations and multi-launch agreements. Analysts forecast a 38% revenue increase for 2025, though profitability challenges persist. Despite strong client confidence, competition and scaling hurdles remain significant threats to the company’s expansion.3