HII Successfully Launches Future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131)
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 01 2026
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Should l Buy HII?
Source: Newsfilter
- Launch Milestone: HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division successfully launched the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), marking a significant construction milestone for the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, showcasing the company's leadership in naval vessel manufacturing.
- Key Construction Completed: In the weeks leading up to the launch, the shipyard completed critical construction work, ensured major components were in place, and conducted inspections, which not only guaranteed the ship's readiness for launch but also highlighted the crew's expertise and efficient collaboration.
- Advanced Technology Implementation: As a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, DDG 131 features the latest AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, designed to effectively counter various threats in the 21st century, thereby enhancing the combat capabilities of the U.S. Navy.
- Next Construction Phase: Following the launch, George M. Neal will move into the next phase of construction, which includes outfitting, systems activation, and testing in preparation for sea trials, further strengthening HII's competitive position in the defense sector.
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Analyst Views on HII
Wall Street analysts forecast HII stock price to fall
6 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 394.810
Low
300.00
Averages
344.80
High
376.00
Current: 394.810
Low
300.00
Averages
344.80
High
376.00
About HII
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is a global, all-domain defense provider. The Company delivers ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation. It delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. It operates through three segments: Ingalls Shipbuilding (Ingalls), Newport News Shipbuilding (Newport News), and Mission Technologies. Through its Ingalls segment, the Company designs and constructs non-nuclear ships for the United States Navy and Coast Guard, including amphibious assault ships, expeditionary warfare ships, surface combatants, and national security cutters (NSC). The core business of its Newport News segment is designing and constructing nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines, and the refueling and overhaul and the inactivation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The Company’s Mission Technologies segment develops integrated solutions that enable connected, all-domain force.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Enhanced Mission Adaptability: The successful launch and recovery of REMUS 600 from the torpedo tubes of a U.S. Navy Virginia-class submarine significantly extends mission reach while reducing risk, thereby enhancing stealth and operational capabilities for submarine forces.
- Global Impact: More than 90% of REMUS systems remain in active service after 25 years, demonstrating their durability and lifecycle value, and they play critical roles in mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and seabed mapping, becoming essential tools for global ocean research and environmental monitoring.
- Future Strategic Partnerships: HII's strategic agreement with Babcock International Group to integrate REMUS UUVs with submarine weapon handling systems unlocks new deployment options, further advancing the application and development of unmanned systems across the maritime domain.
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- Expanded Partner Network: HII collaborates with shipbuilding partners from six states, utilizing 25 locations with available facilities and skilled labor to drive shipbuilding efforts, ensuring improved schedule performance in critical defense projects.
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- Outsourcing Structural Units: HII plans to outsource 37 of the 77 structural units for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, ensuring these units are ready for integration upon arrival at the shipyard, thereby enhancing overall production efficiency and schedule performance.
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- Massive Spending Impact: Economists from Harvard Kennedy School report that the U.S. is spending $2 billion daily in and around Iran, totaling $88 billion over 44 days, which exceeds RTX's annual revenue, highlighting the potential long-term implications of the conflict on the defense sector.
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See More
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See More
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- Technological Evolution and Reliability: HII celebrates the 25th anniversary of the REMUS unmanned underwater vehicle family, with over 750 units delivered to more than 30 nations, showcasing its leadership in defense, commercial, and scientific missions through modular and open architecture design.
- Enhanced Mission Adaptability: The successful launch and recovery of REMUS 600 from the torpedo tubes of a U.S. Navy Virginia-class submarine significantly extends mission reach while reducing risk, thereby enhancing stealth and operational capabilities for submarine forces.
- Global Impact: More than 90% of REMUS systems remain in active service after 25 years, demonstrating their durability and lifecycle value, and they play critical roles in mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and seabed mapping, becoming essential tools for global ocean research and environmental monitoring.
- Future Strategic Partnerships: HII's strategic agreement with Babcock International Group to integrate REMUS UUVs with submarine weapon handling systems unlocks new deployment options, further advancing the application and development of unmanned systems across the maritime domain.
See More
HII Expands Shipbuilding Capacity to Meet Urgent Demand
- Shipbuilding Capacity Increase: HII plans to outsource over 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026, a 30% increase from 2025, significantly enhancing production capacity through distributed shipbuilding strategies and expected to create over 1,000 new jobs, thereby strengthening U.S. Navy operational capabilities.
- Expanded Partner Network: HII collaborates with shipbuilding partners from six states, utilizing 25 locations with available facilities and skilled labor to drive shipbuilding efforts, ensuring improved schedule performance in critical defense projects.
- Production Efficiency Gains: Through distributed shipbuilding, HII achieved a 14% increase in shipbuilding throughput in 2025 and is targeting similar gains in 2026, further accelerating delivery speeds to meet U.S. Navy demands.
- Outsourcing Structural Units: HII plans to outsource 37 of the 77 structural units for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, ensuring these units are ready for integration upon arrival at the shipyard, thereby enhancing overall production efficiency and schedule performance.
See More
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- Surge in Defense Spending: The U.S. is spending $2 billion daily in and around Iran, totaling $88 billion after 44 days of conflict, which exceeds the annual revenues of RTX, GD, and Lockheed, indicating significant growth opportunities in the defense sector.
- Weak Defense Stock Performance: Despite ongoing conflict, major defense contractors like General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and RTX have not seen significant stock price increases, reflecting market expectations for a short-term peace that may dampen investor interest in defense stocks in the near term.
- Textron Investment Opportunity: Textron's stock is trading close to 1x sales, and as a manufacturer of various military and civilian products, its V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft may see increased usage in the conflict, highlighting its potential in the defense sector.
- Naval Shipbuilding Expansion: Leidos and Huntington Ingalls, as key military contractors, have competitive advantages in unmanned vessels and nuclear submarines, respectively, and are expected to benefit from the U.S. Navy's fleet expansion, showcasing significant long-term growth potential.
See More
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- Defense Stock Performance: Major defense stocks like General Dynamics (GD), Lockheed Martin (LMT), and RTX have seen declines over the past six weeks despite ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, indicating weakened investor confidence amid expectations of a short-lived war and imminent peace.
- Massive Spending Impact: Economists from Harvard Kennedy School report that the U.S. is spending $2 billion daily in and around Iran, totaling $88 billion over 44 days, which exceeds RTX's annual revenue, highlighting the potential long-term implications of the conflict on the defense sector.
- Investment Opportunities: Despite the overall poor performance of defense stocks, investors are advised to consider buying during this downturn, with Textron (TXT) trading at 1.06 times sales, indicating its potential in meeting future military demands, especially as tensions in the Gulf escalate.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Companies like Leidos (LDOS) and Huntington Ingalls (HII) show promising growth potential, with Leidos averaging 20% annual earnings growth over the past five years and Huntington expected to achieve a 15% long-term growth rate, suggesting a potential recovery for the defense industry ahead.
See More
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- Naval Operations Framework Innovation: At the Sea-Air-Space Expo, HII showcased a next-generation naval operations framework that integrates naval warships, unmanned systems, and open architecture technologies, aimed at enhancing U.S. military capabilities across multiple domains, thereby strengthening its competitive edge in global maritime warfare.
- Autonomous Systems Coordination: Utilizing the Minotaur Mission Management System and Odyssey Autonomous Control System, HII achieves centralized command and control over various unmanned platforms, enhancing data collection and operational reach while shortening the sensor-to-shooter timeline, significantly improving survivability and lethality in contested environments.
- Modular Capability Deployment: HII emphasizes rapidly deployable containerized mission payloads that support flexible force reconfiguration and quick responses, reducing integration timelines and costs, enabling the Navy to conduct distributed joint operations without platform dependency, thus enhancing tactical options for commanders.
- Support for Naval Strategic Transformation: HII's framework aligns closely with the U.S. Navy's Hedge Strategy, providing more flexible combat options that enhance the operational capabilities of aircraft carrier strike groups, expanding their operational reach and awareness while presenting additional strategic dilemmas for adversaries.
See More
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- Earnings Release Schedule: HII is set to announce its Q1 2026 financial results on May 5, 2026, with a conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, expected to provide key financial metrics and business outlook, aiding investors in assessing the company's financial health.
- Live Webcast and Materials: The conference call will be webcast live on HII's website, and investors are encouraged to view accompanying slide materials during the call, enhancing transparency and fostering effective communication with stakeholders.
- Company Background: HII is America's largest shipbuilder with over 140 years of history, focusing on delivering powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies to U.S. and allied defense customers, showcasing its leadership and technological prowess in the defense sector.
- Employee Scale and Market Position: Headquartered in Virginia, HII employs 44,000 people and is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy, solidifying its significant position in the global defense market and enhancing its competitive edge.
See More
