New York, March 2, 2026, 05:00 (EST) — Premarket
- Lockheed Martin shares up about 8% in early premarket trade, ahead of the New York open
- Defense peers RTX and Northrop Grumman also higher before the bell
- Stock goes ex-dividend on Monday ahead of a $3.45 quarterly payout due March 27
Lockheed Martin shares rose sharply in premarket trading on Monday as investors moved into defense names after the weekend’s flare-up in the Middle East. The stock was indicated at $708.95 at 4:28 a.m. ET, after ending Friday at $658.08. 1
The move matters because it puts defense contractors in focus just as broader markets wobble. Traders are weighing the prospect of higher weapons demand against the drag from rising energy prices and a risk-off tone that can hit most stocks.
Oil jumped about 10% in over-the-counter trade on Sunday after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and disruption risk around the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane, Reuters reported. Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS, said prices could open “much closer to $100 a barrel” if the disruption drags on. 2
RBC’s Helima Croft warned that “$100+/bbl oil was a clear and present danger,” according to a separate Reuters roundup of analyst reactions. She also pointed to limited spare capacity across OPEC+ producers if the supply shock deepens. 3
Lockheed’s peers moved in the same direction in early premarket trade. RTX was up 6.9% at $216.67, while Northrop Grumman rose 5.2% to $761.99. 4
Lockheed is also set to trade ex-dividend on Monday. That means investors who buy the shares from Monday onward will not receive the company’s next quarterly dividend. Lockheed declared a $3.45-per-share payout due March 27 to shareholders of record as of the close of business March 2, the company said. 5
The wider tape looked rough before the open. U.S. stock index futures slid more than 1% early Monday as investors pushed into traditional havens such as gold and government bonds, Reuters reported, with markets also braced for a busy week of U.S. economic data. 6
Lockheed, based in Bethesda, Maryland, is a major supplier to the U.S. government and allies, with exposure to fighter jets, missile defense and space systems. That mix can make the stock a magnet when geopolitical risk jumps, even if the rest of the market is slipping.
Still, the early bid comes with caveats. Premarket volume is thinner than regular-session trading, and the stock’s ex-dividend shift can muddy headline percentage moves, especially if broader equity selling accelerates.
The next marker for investors is Lockheed’s scheduled earnings report on April 21, when guidance and delivery updates will be back in the foreground once the immediate shock fades. 7
