Chung Sung-Jun
Many are watching as conflict and war expand across the globe, and what those consequences might mean for various sectors of the economy. Everything from energy and finance to supply chains hangs in the balance, with spillover effects mostly acutely impacting defense production. Countries and companies alike are preparing by restocking their arsenals and inventories, as well as fast-tracking new technologies to give them the upper hand or banning their adversaries from acquiring them.
Bigger picture: The U.S. has already outlawed or effectively lobbied allies against selling cutting-edge semiconductor chips to China out of fear that the silicon could be used for precision-guided kits or other advanced military systems. Traditional arms are also back in fashion, with BAE Systems (OTCPK:BAESY) announcing on Thursday that it would restart production of M777 howitzer parts for the U.S. Army. Putting it in perspective, the last order that took place was five years ago, but with output back online, BAE (OTCPK:BAESY) expects to ink new contracts for the artillery cannons given inquiries from more than eight countries.
It’s not the only company going into overdrive. Thales is bringing back the Starstreak portable air-defense missile, while other firms like Raytheon (NYSE:RTX) struggle to ramp up production of the popular NASAMS, which helps protect crucial areas like the airspace over the White House. Demand may not be the only factor when deciding how to invest, with SA’s screening tool helping identify strong buys within the defense sector. Check out the Top Defensive Stocks For Turbulent Times by Steve Cress, Head of Quantitative Strategies at Seeking Alpha.
Conflict zones: It’s not only Russia-Ukraine, China-Taiwan, and an escalating war across the Middle East. Cartel chaos in Mexico has prompted mainstream discussion in the U.S. over whether military personnel should be sent south of the border, while a Venezuela-Guyana conflict could shake things up in Latin America. The U.S. is also preparing military options to secure international shipping in the Red Sea, as well as bases for drones in Africa to counter Russia and stop an Islamist insurgency across the region. Preparing for what might come ahead, President Biden and Congress signed off on a record U.S. defense policy bill in December that approved $886B in annual military spending.