Jim Cramer’s Hottest Defense Technology Stock Picks

9. Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holdings in Q1 2025: 56

Number of Hedge Fund Holdings in Q4 2025: 71

Performance Since Cramer’s Remarks: 33.9%

Date/Month of Cramer’s Remarks: July 1st, 2025

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) caters to the defense industry by providing engine components, fasteners, and other items. Its shares are up by 73% over the past year and by 33% since Cramer discussed the firm in April. Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM)’s stock closed 12% higher on February 12th, on the day the firm reported its fiscal fourth quarter earnings report. As part of the release, the firm guided its first quarter profit per share to sit between $1.09 to $1.11, which was higher than the analyst estimate of $1.02. Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM)’s first quarter revenue and profit per share were $2.17 billion and $1.05 which beat analyst estimates of $2.13 billion and $0.97. However, the shares had closed 6.4% lower on July 31st following the firm’s fiscal second quarter earnings report, with the dip coming due to conservative guidance, according to media reports. As for Cramer, he was optimistic about Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) in July 2025:

“In third place, we’ve got another familiar name, Howmet Aerospace, that’s a prosaic aircraft component supplier… It’s with a 70% gain in the first half. This one’s straightforward. Howmet’s caught fire because we’ve got a raging bull market in aerospace…

Right now, the demand for new planes is off the charts, but supplies are limited, and we might see even more orders as President Trump conducts his trade negotiations all over the globe because buying a few jets from Boeing is the ultimate olive branch when you’re in a trade war with the United States. Aerospace is just a great place to be. If you don’t have any already, please get yourself some exposure.”