Missiles, money & momentum: EU's $850 billion plan resurrects defence stocks
Defence stocks, once the darlings of the market in 2024, are roaring back to life after a brutal correction. The sector, which witnessed a blistering rally last year amid rising global tensions and surging exports, saw a sharp selloff as high valuations, budget disappointments, and profit-booking took hold. Just when investors were questioning the long-term growth trajectory, Europe’s stunning $850 billion defence rearmament plan has flipped the script in Dalal Street’s favour.
With Europe scrambling to fortify its military capabilities, Indian defence giants are in prime position to ride this global wave of rearmament.
So far in the month of March, Zen Technologies is up about 20%, followed by Bharat Dynamics (16%), Data Patterns (13%), and Mishra Dhatu Nigam (13%). Larger players such as Bharat Electronics (12%) and Hindustan Aeronautics (12%) also saw strong buying interest. However, despite these gains, several defence stocks are still trading well below their 52-week highs—Data Patterns (-55%), Zen Technologies (-52%), and Cochin Shipyard (-55%) remain significantly off their peaks.
EU’s Game-Changing Defence Spend
The EU's move comes in response to the US suspension of military aid to Ukraine, signaling a potential shift in global defence priorities. To fortify its own military capabilities, the EU has asked member nations to raise their defence spending by 1.5% of GDP, unlocking a cumulative spending of EUR 650 billion ($683 billion) over the next four years.
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