10 Most Undervalued Defense Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

In this article, we will discuss 10 Most Undervalued Defense Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

While investing in defense stocks, billionaire investors and hedge fund managers are not reacting to headlines; they are reacting to something far more enduring: a world in which geopolitical risk has become a permanent feature, not a temporary shock. In that environment, defense has quietly reasserted itself as one of the most structurally reliable sectors in global equities.

Unlike cyclical industries that rise and fall with consumer demand or credit conditions, defense spending is anchored by government budgets, strategic alliances, and national security priorities. For sophisticated investors, that makes the sector less of a trade and more of a long-duration annuity stream disguised as an industrial business. Investors in the mold of Warren Buffett have long appreciated this dynamic, with companies such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman offering predictable cash flows, multi-year contract visibility, and high barriers to entry.

Macro investors see an even broader picture. For managers like Ray Dalio, defense spending is not discretionary—it is a reflection of global order, power competition, and alliance commitments. As geopolitical tensions rise and military budgets expand across NATO and Asia, defense contractors increasingly benefit from structural demand rather than economic cycles.

Hedge funds are particularly drawn to this visibility. In an environment where earnings uncertainty dominates much of the market, defense offers something rare: order books that extend years into the future and revenue streams tied to sovereign priorities rather than consumer sentiment. That makes the sector especially attractive during periods of heightened volatility or geopolitical stress.

Yet this is not a momentum trade. The smart money approach is highly selective, concentrating on large, diversified defense primes with strong balance sheets, deep government relationships, and dominant positions in critical systems.

The bottom line is simple: defense stocks are not driven by innovation cycles or hype narratives. They are driven by something far more persistent—the cost of security in an unstable world. And for hedge funds navigating a more fragmented global order, that makes them one of the most quietly dependable allocations in the market.

With this context in mind, here are some of the most undervalued defense stocks to buy according to analysts.

Our Methodology

We used screeners to identify defense stocks with a forward P/E ratio below 20. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds. We have ranked the stocks in descending order of their forward P/E to make the list easier to navigate.

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 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).

10 Most Undervalued Defense Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

10. Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CDRE)

Forward P/E: 19.57

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CDRE) announced on March 26 that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Alien Gear Holsters, along with selected assets from Tedder Industries, LLC, for $10.3 million through a court-supervised bankruptcy auction process. Management highlighted that the transaction provides an opportunity to acquire a well-recognized holster brand with an established direct-to-consumer footprint, bringing in an experienced team with a customer-centric approach. The acquisition is expected to generate operational synergies under Cadre’s existing operating model, with completion anticipated in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory and bankruptcy court approvals.

On March 15, Jefferies reduced its price target on Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CDRE) to $45 from $55 while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The firm noted that Cadre’s fourth-quarter earnings missed expectations by 36%, with nuclear safety revenues declining 7% in fiscal 2025, although it also emphasized that the recent share price decline of 13% presents an attractive entry point. Despite near-term volatility, Jefferies reiterated that the company’s core investment thesis remains fundamentally intact.

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CDRE) is a global manufacturer and distributor of safety and survivability equipment used by law enforcement agencies, first responders, and military personnel. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and its modern corporate structure was established in 2012, although its operational roots date back to 1964.

The acquisition of Alien Gear strengthens Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CDRE)’s consumer-facing portfolio and enhances its exposure to the expanding tactical equipment market, supporting longer-term revenue diversification. Despite near-term earnings pressure highlighted by Jefferies, the combination of brand expansion and disciplined acquisition strategy reinforces Cadre’s positioning as a consolidator in mission-critical safety equipment markets.

9. AAR Corp. (NYSE:AIR)

Forward P/E: 19.53

AAR Corp. (NYSE:AIR) announced on April 22 that it entered into a multi-year commercial distribution agreement with Woodward, Inc., expanding an existing relationship between the two companies. Under the arrangement, AAR will act as the preferred distributor of Woodward’s high-demand consumable components, including fuel filters, gaskets, and seals, for the CFM LEAP, GEnx, and CF34 engine platforms sold directly to commercial airlines. These components are essential to engine reliability and operational efficiency, and the agreement allows airline customers to access inventory through AAR’s global warehouse network with faster fulfillment and dependable support, particularly during Aircraft on Ground events.

On April 21, AAR Corp. (NYSE:AIR) also introduced Airvoyant, an artificial intelligence-driven aviation procurement platform designed to modernize sourcing and purchasing workflows. The solution enables buyers to connect directly with suppliers, search available inventory, obtain and consolidate quotations, and complete purchasing decisions through a simplified one-click process. Built on infrastructure provided by Amazon Web Services, the platform integrates with Aeroxchange’s network of more than 5,000 suppliers, significantly broadening procurement reach and efficiency for customers.

AAR Corp. (NYSE:AIR) is a leading independent aerospace and defense contractor that provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, aviation parts supply, and integrated operational solutions to commercial airlines and government customers worldwide. The company is headquartered in Wood Dale and was founded in 1951 by Ira Allen Eichner before being incorporated in 1955.

AAR Corp. (NYSE:AIR)’s expanded partnership with Woodward strengthens its recurring parts distribution business while increasing exposure to some of the most widely used commercial aircraft engines, supporting long-term revenue visibility. At the same time, the launch of Airvoyant demonstrates the company’s ability to leverage digital innovation to improve procurement efficiency, positioning the stock as an attractive way to gain exposure to both aerospace aftermarket growth and technology-driven margin expansion.

8. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)

Forward P/E: 19.07

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) received a $207.89 million contract modification on April 23 to extend logistics support services, increasing the total contract value to $596.01 million. The agreement supports foreign military sales to countries including South Korea, Japan, and NATO members, with work scheduled through 2027 and funded primarily through international defense budgets.

On the same day, Citi lowered its price target on Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to $742 from $807 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing peer multiple compression. However, the firm emphasized that the recent selloff appears overdone given strong underlying demand and expanding program execution across the company’s defense portfolio.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is a global aerospace and defense technology company specializing in advanced military systems, including aircraft, missile defense, space systems, and autonomous technologies. The company is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, and was formed in 1994 through the merger of Northrop Corporation and Grumman Aerospace.

The continued inflow of multi-year international contracts reinforces Northrop Grumman’s strong position in global defense modernization programs. Combined with resilient demand signals, these long-duration contracts support stable revenue visibility despite near-term valuation adjustments.

7. TAT Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:TATT)

Forward P/E: 18.25

TAT Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:TATT) faced mixed analyst revisions on April 25, with Stifel lowering its price target to $53 from $60 while maintaining a Buy rating due to supply chain disruptions affecting auxiliary power unit components. The firm noted that these headwinds are expected to persist into the first half of 2026, impacting near-term revenue and margins.

On April 8, B. Riley initiated coverage of TAT Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:TATT) with a Buy rating and a $61 price target, describing the company as an underfollowed aerospace aftermarket opportunity. The firm highlighted strong secular growth potential through 2035, driven by increasing demand in maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.

TAT Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:TATT) is a global provider of aerospace and defense solutions specializing in heat exchangers, environmental control systems, and related components for commercial, business, and military aircraft. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was founded in 1969.

While near-term operational disruptions may weigh on performance, the company’s exposure to long-cycle aerospace aftermarket demand supports a resilient long-term growth profile. Its forward P/E of approximately 18, combined with structural tailwinds in aircraft maintenance and modernization, places TAT Technologies among the most undervalued defense stocks to buy according to analysts, and it remains positioned for sustained expansion over time.

6. Mobilicom Limited (NASDAQ:MOB)

Forward P/E: 17.79

Mobilicom Limited (NASDAQ:MOB) announced on April 21 that it received $2.2 million in new purchase orders from a major U.S. drone manufacturer with over $5 billion in annual sales. The customer has integrated Mobilicom’s SkyHopper PRO and ICE cybersecurity suite into loitering munitions systems supplied under a $249 million U.S. Department of War program, with shipments already underway and continuing into 2026.

On April 14, Mobilicom Limited (NASDAQ:MOB) secured its first order from a new customer in the Asia-Pacific region for integration into an ISR drone platform. The deal includes multiple systems such as ground control units and secure datalinks, reflecting growing international demand for the company’s cybersecure autonomous solutions and potentially opening the door to further expansion across deployed platforms.

Mobilicom Limited (NASDAQ:MOB) is a provider of end-to-end cybersecurity and autonomous system solutions for drones, robotics, and unmanned platforms. The company is headquartered in Shoham, Israel, and was founded in 2006 by Oren Elkayam and Yossi Segal.

The increasing order flow from both U.S. defense programs and international customers demonstrates accelerating adoption of Mobilicom’s secure autonomous technologies. This expanding customer base and integration into large-scale defense programs strengthen its long-term revenue visibility and growth trajectory in a rapidly expanding drone ecosystem.

While we acknowledge the potential of MOB as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MOB and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Undervalued Defense Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.