LMT has outperformed the broader market this year
Sikorsky, a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), is challenging a defense contract awarded to Textron (TXT). Sikorsky is seeking a review of the U.S. Army's decision to award Textron the helicopter contract, after the company's president Paul Lemmo said the proposals for the $1.3 billion contract weren't properly evaluated.
The shares are flat in response, up 0.3% to trade at $484.63. Overall, the defense stock has outperformed this year, unfortunately thanks to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. LMT soared to an all-time high of $498.95 on Dec. 2, and since then has consolidated above $475. Year-to-date, the stock is up 36.6%. Despite this outperformance, analysts are pessimistic. In fact, eight of the 13 brokerages covering LMT maintain a "hold" or worse rating.
Those looking to weigh in should consider options, as they're are affordably marked right now. Lockheed Martin stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 21% sits in the 21st percentiles of all other readings from the past year. This means options players are pricing in relatively low volatility expectations at the moment. It's also worth noting the equity's
Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) ranks at 77 out of 100, meaning LMT tends to outperform volatility estimates -- a good thing for buyers.