Jan 8 (Reuters) – U.S. protection firms got here beneath hearth from President Donald Trump this week, after he pledged to dam them from paying dividends or shopping for again shares till they accelerated manufacturing.
“After years of misplaced priorities, conventional protection contractors have been incentivized to prioritize investor returns over the Nation’s warfighters,” Trump stated in his govt order launched by the White Home on Wednesday.
Protection shares fell after his posts, however recovered after he referred to as to extend the nation’s 2027 navy finances to $1.5 trillion from $901 billion in 2026.
This is how a lot high U.S. protection contractors have paid in dividends and share repurchases in 2025:
LOCKHEED MARTINDividends paid per share
Quarter Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 This fall 2025
$ per share 3.30 3.30 3.30 3.45
% rise from 4.8% 4.8% 4.8% 4.54%
2024
Cumulative dividend cost until September 20: $2.3 billion
Shares repurchased in 2025 until October 21: $2.3 billion
Remaining unused share repurchase authorization: $9.1 billion
RTX
Dividends paid per share:
Quarter Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 This fall 2025
estimate
$ per share 0.68 0.68 0.68 0.66 (LSEG
information)
% rise from 7.9% 7.9% 7.9% 4.7%
2024
Cumulative dividend cost until Q3: $2.7 billion
Shares repurchased in 2025 until September 30: $50 million
Remaining unused share repurchase authorization: $0.6 billion
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
Dividends paid per share:
Quarter Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 This fall 2025
estimate
$ per share 2.31 2.31 2.31 2.30 (LSEG
information)
% rise from 12% 12% 12% 11.6%
2024
Cumulative dividend cost until Q3: $964 million
Shares repurchased in 2025 until September 30: $1.17 billion
Remaining unused share repurchase authorization: $2.99 billion
BOEING
Boeing suspended dividends and share buybacks in March 2020, a couple of 12 months after its 737 MAX was grounded following deadly crashes. Dividend and buybacks are on maintain till additional discover, though the U.S. lifted its 20-month flight ban on the jetliner in November 2020.
L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES
Dividends paid per share:
Quarter Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 This fall 2025
estimate
$ per share 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.25 (LSEG
information)
% rise from 3.4% 3.4% 3.4% 4.2%
2024
Cumulative dividend cost until Q3: $678 million
Shares repurchased in 2025 until October 30: $998 million
Remaining share repurchase authorization: $2.4 billion
GENERAL DYNAMICS
Dividends paid per share:
Quarter Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 This fall 2025
estimate
$ per share 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.48 (LSEG
information)
% rise from 5.6% 5.6% 5.6% 4.2%
2024
Cumulative dividend cost until Q3: $1.19 billion
Shares repurchased in 2025 until September 28: $600 million