The Tightrope for Defense Contractors

“U.S. weapons makers are fighting a battle on two fronts: ensuring strong returns for investors and trying to satisfy their biggest customer—the Pentagon,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris Technologies said they were working to step up production of missiles, rocket parts and other weapons systems, following pressure from the Trump administration to beef up U.S. arsenals.”

“At the same time, executives said, they aim to keep setting aside enough cash to reward shareholders who count on the big contractors to deliver steady payouts.”