Trump Announces New Navy Battleships, HII Shares Rise
Catch up on the top industries and stocks that were impacted, or were predicted to be impacted, by the comments, actions and policies of President Donald Trump with this daily recap compiled by The Fly.TRUMP CLASS OF NAVY BATTLESHIPS:President Trump on Monday announced plans to build a new fleet of Navy battleships, anchoring what he called the Pentagon's "Golden Fleet," CBS News' Kathryn Watson. The president said he approved plans to begin constructing "two brand-new, very large, largest we've ever built, battleships." He later said he expects to build a total of 10 ships in short order, and ultimately 20 to 25. He made the announcement flanked by renderings of ships that were referred to as "Trump class." Shares of Huntington Ingallstraded up following the news.NEW YORK TIMES:President Donald Trump, in a social media, said, "The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation. Their Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior, writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way, must be dealt with and stopped. THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Thank you for you attention to this matter."ECONOMIC NUMBERS:President Donald Trump, in a social media, said, "The TARIFFS are responsible for the GREAT USA Economic Numbers JUST ANNOUNCED...AND THEY WILL ONLY GET BETTER! Also, NO INFLATION & GREAT NATIONAL SECURITY. Pray for the U.S. Supreme Court!!!"DISTILLERY CLOSURE:Bourbon maker Jim Beamis halting production at one of its distilleries in Kentucky for at least a year as the whiskey industry navigates tariffs from the Trump administration and slumping demand for a product that needs years of aging before it is ready, Associated Press' Jeffrey Collins. Jim Beam said the decision to pause bourbon making at its Clermont location in 2026 will give the company time to invest in improvements at the distillery. The bottling and warehouse at the site will remain open, along with the James B. Beam Distilling Co. visitors center and restaurant, the author notes. Other publicly traded companies in the space include Brown Forman,, Diageo, Constellation Brands, and MGP Ingredients.CVOW PROJECT:Dominion Energyreleased a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Interior's Director's Order for a 90-day suspension of work issued for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, saying that, "The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project is essential for American national security and meeting Virginia's dramatically growing energy needs, the fastest growth in America. This growth is driven by the need to provide reliable power to many of America's most important war fighting installations, the world's largest warship manufacturer, and the largest concentration of data centers on the planet as well as the leading edge of the AI revolution. Stopping CVOW for any length of time will threaten grid reliability for some of the nation's most important war fighting, AI, and civilian assets. It will also lead to energy inflation and threaten thousands of jobs. CVOW is American-owned and benefits all of our Virginia customers. Our customers are paying for the project after a careful review of project costs and benefits by Virginia state regulators in 2022. These same state regulators, along with numerous federal agencies, oversee our cyber and physical security program, which is among the strongest in the energy industry. he project has been more than ten years in the works, involved close coordination with the military, and is located 27 to 44 miles offshore, so far offshore it does not raise visual impact concerns. The project's two pilot turbines have been operating for five years without causing any impacts to national security. CVOW enjoys bipartisan support and is within months of generating a massive 2,600 megawatts to support the fastest growing part of America's energy grid. This growth serves the largest concentration of critical infrastructure in the world. Virginia's All-American, All-Of-The-Above-Energy Plan requires a range of power generation assets, including natural gas, advanced nuclear, and renewables. Virginia needs every electron we can get as our demand for electricity doubles. These electrons will power the data centers that will win the AI race, support our war fighters, and build the nuclear warships needed to maintain our maritime supremacy. Virginia's grid needs addition of electrons, not subtraction."DRONE BAN:The Federal Communications Commission said on Monday it was adding China's DJI, Autel and all foreign-made drones and components to a list of companies determined to pose unacceptable risks to U.S. national security and would bar approvals of new types of drones for import or sale in the United States, Reuters' David Shepardson reports. The addition to the FCC's "Covered List" means that DJI, Autel and other foreign drone companies will not be able to obtain FCC approval to sell new models of drones or critical components in the United States, which is required, the author notes. Publicly traded companies in the space include Ondas, Red Cat, Draganfly, AeroVironment, and Unusual Machines.
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- Welding Efficiency Boost: HII signed a memorandum of understanding with Path Robotics to integrate Path's physical AI welding technology into shipbuilding operations, anticipating a 15% increase in ship production efficiency in 2026, thereby accelerating U.S. Navy shipbuilding processes.
- Innovative Technology Collaboration: The partnership will focus on developing autonomous welding capabilities, training a workforce to extend automation, and establishing an intellectual property framework for physical AI welding systems, aiming to enhance automation levels and production capacity in the shipbuilding industry.
- Addressing Labor Shortages: Path's Obsidian™ welding model can adapt in real-time to variations in complex shipbuilding environments, tackling challenges faced by traditional welding automation, thereby strengthening HII's technological capabilities and meeting the growing demands of the Navy.
- National Security Strategy: HII, as the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., collaborates with Path to not only enhance the automation of welding processes but also to advance national security objectives, ensuring naval manufacturing capabilities for decades to come.
- Icebreaker Gap Warning: The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard have highlighted a significant icebreaker gap with Russia, having only two operational icebreakers compared to Russia's 40, including six nuclear-powered, indicating a critical shortfall in U.S. polar maritime capabilities.
- New Icebreaker Contracts: The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded contracts for the construction of 11 new Arctic Security Cutters, with a total investment of approximately $9 billion aimed at addressing the icebreaker deficit, although major U.S. shipbuilders are excluded from these contracts.
- Construction Plan Details: The first six new ships will be built by Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland and Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana, with the first delivery expected in 2028, reflecting a shift towards international collaboration in shipbuilding.
- Market Potential and Investment Opportunities: While the companies involved are privately owned, the total contract value of $14 billion could lead Bollinger to consider going public, presenting potential investment opportunities for those looking to profit from these significant contracts.
- Current Fleet Status: A decade ago, the U.S. had only two icebreakers, now increased to three, yet still significantly lagging behind Russia's fleet of 40, highlighting a critical gap in U.S. polar navigation capabilities.
- New Contract Awards: The U.S. Coast Guard recently awarded contracts for the construction of 11 new Arctic Security Cutters, with a total investment of approximately $9 billion, indicating a strong governmental commitment to enhancing polar capabilities.
- Construction Plan Details: Six of these vessels will be built by Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland and Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana, with the first expected delivery in 2028, thereby strengthening U.S. strategic presence in the Arctic region.
- Market Impact and Investment Opportunities: Although the total contract value reaches $14 billion and Bollinger may consider an IPO, currently all involved companies are privately held, prompting investors to monitor future market developments for potential opportunities.
- Defense Budget Increase: Congress has passed an $839 billion defense spending bill, marking the Pentagon's first full-year appropriation since fiscal 2024, with $9.8 billion specifically allocated for the development of autonomous and unmanned systems, highlighting a commitment to modern military technology.
- AI Market Outlook: The global AI market in defense and aerospace is projected to grow from $4.2 billion in 2026 to $42.8 billion by 2036, with a compound annual growth rate of 26.4%, indicating that defense budgets are driving rapid advancements in related technologies.
- Accelerated Corporate Investment: The DoD's IT budget for fiscal 2026 reached $66 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion from 2025, with every service branch boosting its AI allocations, and the Navy's AI spending alone rising by 22.7% year-over-year, reflecting a strong demand for intelligent technologies.
- Strategic Partnership Opportunities: VisionWave Holdings' subsidiary Solar Drone held meetings in Italy with potential customers in the Middle East to discuss drone cleaning solutions, indicating the company's pursuit of new business opportunities in the rapidly growing solar market in the region.
- Defense Budget Increase: The U.S. Congress has passed an $839 billion defense spending bill, marking the Pentagon's first full-year appropriation since fiscal 2024, with $9.8 billion allocated specifically for the development of autonomous and unmanned systems, which is expected to drive investment and market growth for related companies.
- AI Market Outlook: The global AI market in defense and aerospace is projected to grow from $4.2 billion in 2026 to $42.8 billion by 2036, at a compound annual growth rate of 26.4%, indicating a rapid acceleration in demand for autonomous platforms and intelligent command systems, attracting significant institutional capital.
- Howmet's Strong Performance: Howmet Aerospace reported $2.2 billion in revenue for Q4 2025, a 15% year-over-year increase, with full-year revenue reaching a record $8.3 billion and adjusted EPS rising 40% to $3.77, reflecting robust growth in commercial and defense aerospace sectors.
- Curtiss-Wright Contract Win: Curtiss-Wright has been selected by Boeing to supply mission computers for the U.S. Air Force's C-17 Globemaster III, with an estimated contract value exceeding $400 million, enhancing the operational life of this critical military platform and reinforcing Curtiss-Wright's pivotal role in defense modernization.

- Rating Upgrade: Bank of America upgraded Huntington Ingalls (HII) from Underperform to Neutral, reflecting improved fundamentals in the U.S. shipbuilding industry and increased Navy budgets that are expected to mitigate execution risks at the company's shipyards.
- Price Target Increase: Analyst Ronald Epstein raised the price target from $300 to $400, implying modest upside from recent levels, which reflects a higher valuation multiple tied to a strong macro backdrop for naval construction.
- Defense Budget Boost: The fiscal 2026 defense budget proposal includes $27.2 billion for 17 ships, with speculation that fiscal 2027 defense spending could exceed $1.2 trillion, positioning Huntington Ingalls to benefit from increased Navy procurement, particularly in upcoming contracts for submarines and frigates.
- Improving Execution Risks: While macro trends have improved, Huntington Ingalls still faces challenges such as labor shortages and supply chain constraints; management plans to boost shipyard throughput by 15% in 2026, with free cash flow projected to recover from $530 million in 2026 to $642 million in 2027.










