Lockheed Martin Corporations (LMT) first-quarter results, reported on Tuesday, topped market expectations, as support was drawn by a stronger performance of its F-35 jet program. The company also revised up its full-year earnings forecast.
Lockheed Martin shares closed lower for the second time in the past seven trading sessions on Tuesday. It has also been the steepest daily loss in more than six years. The stock went down 6.17% ($22.11) to $336.49, after touching an intraday low at $330.76, or a price level not seen since April 4th ($327.50).
In the week ended on April 22nd the shares of the global security and aerospace company added 2.74% to their market value compared to a week ago, which marked a second consecutive period of gains. It has also been the best performance since the week ended on February 18th.
However, due to yesterdays loss, the stock has neutralized earlier advance and is now down 0.43% so far during the current month, following a 4.12% slump in March. The latter has been the steepest monthly retreat since December 2016.
For the entire past year, Lockheed Martin shares rose 28.45% following another 15.10% surge in 2016.
Lockheeds total revenue increased to $11.64 billion during the first quarter ended on March 25th from $11.21 billion in the year-ago quarter. In comparison, analysts on average had anticipated $11.6 billion in revenue.
Revenue from Lockheed’s aeronautics division, which manufactures the stealthy F-35 aircraft, went up 6.7% to $4.4 billion during the past quarter, which accounted for 38% of total revenue.
At the same time, the companys net income was reported to have surged to $1.16 billion ($4.02 per share) during the first quarter from $789 million ($2.69 per share) during the same period a year ago. The median analyst forecast had pointed to adjusted earnings of $3.40 per share.
As a result of the recent US tax code reform, Lockheeds effective tax rate was reduced to 14.9% during the first quarter from 23.8% during the same three-month period a year earlier.
The company also said it now expected full-year 2018 revenue within the range of $50.35 billion to $51.85 billion. It had previously forecast full-year net sales within the range of $50.00 billion to $51.50 billion.
Additionally, full-year 2018 earnings are now expected to be within the range of $15.80 and $16.10 per share, a revision up from $15.20-$15.50 per share, as forecast previously.
According to CNN Money, the 20 analysts, offering 12-month forecasts regarding Lockheed Martin’s stock price, have a median target of $372.50, with a high estimate of $457.00 and a low estimate of $300.00. The median estimate is a 10.70% surge compared to the closing price of $336.49 on April 24th.
The same media also reported that 14 out of 24 surveyed investment analysts had rated Lockheed Martin Corporation’s stock as “Hold”, while 9 – as “Buy”.
Daily and Weekly Pivot Levels
With the help of the Camarilla calculation method, today’s levels of importance for the Lockheed Martin stock are presented as follows:
R1 – $339.35
R2 – $342.22
R3 (Range Resistance – Sell) – $345.08
R4 (Long Breakout) – $353.67
R5 (Breakout Target 1) – $363.70
R6 (Breakout Target 2) – $368.26
S1 – $333.63
S2 – $330.76
S3 (Range Support – Buy) – $327.90
S4 (Short Breakout) – $319.31
S5 (Breakout Target 1) – $309.28
S6 (Breakout Target 2) – $304.72
By using the traditional method of calculation, the weekly levels of importance for Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) are presented as follows:
Central Pivot Point – $350.51
R1 – $356.48
R2 – $360.96
R3 – $366.93
R4 – $372.89
S1 – $346.03
S2 – $340.06
S3 – $335.58
S4 – $331.09
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