We recently published a list of 12 Best Aerospace and Defense Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) stands against other best aerospace and defense stocks to buy according to analysts.
Defense Spending Uncertainty
On February 13, CNBC reported that President Trump’s statement regarding a potential reduction in US defense spending triggered a drop in defense stocks. During a White House event, the President proposed cutting the defense budget in half, stating that there is no need for the United States to spend nearly $1 trillion on the military. He mentioned plans to discuss this idea with China and Russia in future meetings. This sent mixed signals regarding military spending. On the one hand, he has emphasized the need for a strong military and proposed initiatives like the “Iron Dome of America,” a missile defense system. On the other hand, he also suggested significant cuts to defense spending, aligning with broader efforts to reduce government expenditures.
To discuss this, TD Cowen’s Roman Schweizer joined CNBC for an interview on February 14. He noted that setting aside all the mixed signals and uncertainty around the sector, the government would increase defense spending. This will be a result of the reconciliation plan of the Senate and House, however, the magnitude of this increase is still unclear. Schweizer also noted that some members of both the House and Senate are pushing President Trump to increase defense spending to 4% or 5% of GDP. Moreover, US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, reiterated that US defense should be pegged at 3% of GDP. Schweizer highlighted that this forms an interesting baseline for a potential $40 billion to $60 billion increase in spending over the upcoming years.
Regardless of the uncertainty in the White House regarding increasing or decreasing defense spending, the industry has been redefining itself with the help of technology and AI. On February 21, Morgan Stanley released a report highlighting megatrends for the industry. The report highlights that innovations in unmanned drones, robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence are not only modernizing military operations but also influencing how nations allocate and grow their defense budgets. In 2023, global military expenditures reached a record high of $2.4 trillion, marking a 6.8% increase from the previous year, the steepest annual growth since 2009.
Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Office views this resurgence in defense spending and technological innovation as an opportunity to enhance productivity and stimulate economic growth. They highlighted that the integration of new technologies can create investment opportunities not only in defense contractors but also in related sectors such as supply chains, transportation, manufacturing, energy, and cybersecurity.
Our Methodology
To curate the list of 12 best aerospace and defense stocks to buy according to analysts we used the Finviz stock screener and CNN as our sources. Using the screener we aggregated a list of aerospace and defense stocks for which analysts see more than 30% upside in the next 12 months. After sorting the list by market capitalization, we cross checked the analyst upside from CNN and ranked the stocks in ascending order of this indicator. We have also added the hedge fund sentiment around each stock sourced from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database. Please note that the data was recorded on March 27, 2025.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A satellite being released from a launch vehicle, heading into space.
Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
Analyst Upside Potential: 70.65%
Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) is a diversified space exploration company that provides a range of space products and services to support sustained robotic and human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The company has achieved significant milestones, including the first US commercial lunar landing since the Apollo missions, through its IM-1 mission with NASA’s CLPS initiative.
Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) has experienced significant strategic and financial developments over the past year. It enhanced its technical capabilities, particularly in areas like space communications, navigation, and autonomy. These advancements were demonstrated through successful lunar missions, such as IM-1 and IM-2, which showcased reliable data transmission and precision navigation systems. Moreover, the company is diversifying its customer base and services beyond lunar missions. It is expanding into areas such as National Security Space and leveraging its technologies for orbital transfer vehicles and in-space mobility logistics.
Notably, the company secured significant contracts, including NASA’s Near Space Network Services contract valued at up to $4.8 billion. It is also exploring opportunities with other government agencies and has appointed a Senior Vice President of Data Services to capitalize on these opportunities. During fiscal 2024, Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) reported a record fiscal year revenue of $228 million, exceeding previous guidance. It is one of the best aerospace and defense stocks to buy according to analysts.
Overall, LUNR ranks 2nd on our list of best aerospace and defense stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of LUNR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LUNR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.