General Electric Company (GE), Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT): Can Your Pacemaker Be Hacked?

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) has been the top provider of information technology services to the federal government for nearly two decades and it is partnered with the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center. Of greater interest, however, is the company’s Wireless Cyber Security Center. This facility allows for the safe testing of “wireless communications systems in a classified environment.”

Although the government is a good customer on the cyber threat front, adding the medical industry would be a huge boon and a great way to diversify. The company’s top line has grown steadily over the past decade, though the bottom line has been less consistent. Still, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) has earned more than $7 a share since 2007, with 2012 earnings coming in at over $8.30.

Despite a recent price advance, the shares still yield around 4.2% backed by more than a decade of annual dividend hikes. This is a solid option for income investors with or without an extension into the medical industry.

Don’t Need it, but…

The three companies above are all interesting in their own right. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) remains a turnaround story, Sourcefire’s shares have been hit recently despite solid industry prospects, and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is a high-yielding military industrial giant. However, each could find a new market in the medical space as the FDA gets a better handle on the hacking issue. Keep an eye on this sleeper issue, since it could make the stories at each of the above companies that much better.

Reuben Brewer has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Sourcefire. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Electric Company and Lockheed Martin. Reuben is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.

The article Can Your Pacemaker Be Hacked? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written Reuben Brewer.

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