Lockheed Martin provides advanced technology systems, products, and services to the U.S. government and international defense customers. The company is organized into four businesses: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space Systems. The shares are a component of the S&P 500. The company has 122,000 employees.

Monday Tee Up: Fed, Jobs, Earnings This week features more earnings from corporate giants, key jobs data, and a Fed rate meeting. It doesn't get much busier than that, especially for a week in the heat of summer. But spoiler alert on the Fed: no one thinks a rate move is coming this week and odds are at zero. Last week, the markets were again volatile. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 0.8%, the S&P 500 lost 0.8%, and the Nasdaq fell 2.1%. Year to date, the DJIA is higher by nearly 8%, the S&P is up 14%, and the Nasdaq is higher by 15%. On the economic calendar, the Federal Reserve rate decision comes on Wednesday and economists expect no movement. As usual, analysts will dissect what Chairman Powell says in the press conference. Odds are high for a rate cut in September, so Wall Street will be looking for verification that the Fed is leaning in that direction. On Friday, the important July jobs report is due. In June, Nonfarm Payrolls came in at 206,000. Argus sees that declining to 185,000 for July. The unemployment rate was 4.1% in June. We expect no change for July. Meanwhile, Job Openings, Consumer Confidence, and the Case-Shiller Home Price Index will be reported on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the ADP Private Employment report is due out, and on Thursday, ISM Manufacturing and Construction Spending hit the tape. On the earnings calendar, Monday brings news from McDonald's. On Tuesday, Microsoft, Advanced Micro Devices, Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, Merck, and Starbucks report; on Wednesday, Meta, Qualcomm, Boeing, Altria, and Kraft Heinz; on Thursday, Apple, Amazon, Moderna, Booking Holdings, and Coinbase; and on Friday, Chevron and Exxon Mobil. Earnings so far have been coming in 12.1% higher this quarter than a year ago, and 41% of S&P 500 companies have reported. Expectations are for earnings growth of 8%-12% for 2Q. This follows 8% growth in 1Q and 10% in 4Q23. At Argus, we expect EPS for all of 2024 to come in roughly 8%-9% better than last year. Last week featured good news on inflation and economic growth. The Personal Consumption Expenditures Index showed that inflation slowed to 2.5% in June versus 2.6% in May. Core PCE didn't budge, sticking at 2.6%. The initial reading for second-quarter GDP came in at 2.8%, a big jump from 1.4% in 1Q. Mortgage rates ticked up a hair to 6.78% for the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Gas prices fell 3 cents to $3.47 per gallon for the average price of regular gas. The Atlanta Fed GDPNow indicator is forecasting for 3Q and calls for expansion of 2.8%. The Cleveland Fed CPINow indicator forecasts 3.01% for CPI in July. After this week's Fed rate decision, the next one is in mid-September -- and odds at 99% for a cut at that meeting. Of that, 88% expect a 25-basis-point (BPS) cut, while 11% expect a 50 bps cut. As the probability is so high for a rate cut at the September meeting, odds are at 68% for a second cut in November, but a higher 98% for that second cut to take place on December 18. All of this data is according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since it won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. Lockheed’s largest segment is aeronautics, which derives upward of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed’s remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, mainly encompassing the Sikorsky helicopter business; missiles and fire control, which creates missiles and missile defense systems; and space systems, which produces satellites and receives equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture.

Rapidly rising inflation in 2022 knocked stocks into a bear market. While growth strategies suffered the most, value strategies also declined. Even bond prices were lower that year. Stocks have recovered and a new bull market has started, but gains have been largely driven by only a handful of high-tech companies. Inflation remains an issue and the Federal Reserve has yet to lower rates. Is a recession in the offing? With all the uncertainty, what's a potential equity strategy for investors amid all the uncertainty? Argus believes that Min Vol is an all-weather strategy that is timely in any investing climate. Academic literature and, more to the point, returns history, indicate that Min Vol can deliver market-matching returns on an absolute basis and superior returns on a risk-adjusted basis over various time periods.