moneyheap
HII · Analysis updated Nov 10, 2026, 6:00 PM ET
Why is Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) stock moving?
HII's Q3 2026 report on Oct 29 was the main driver of recent trading. Earnings per share of $5.48 beat the $4.42 estimate, and sales of $3.537B beat the $3.376B estimate. The company also raised FY2026 sales guidance to $13.5B-$13.9B from $13.2B-$13.6B, above the $13.387B consensus. The stock rose about 13% that day, from $279.26 to $316.21, on volume of 1.71M shares, roughly 2.5 times the recent average. It then reached a high of $327.75 before fading to a close of $288.74 on Nov 6, near the $281-$287 area where it had traded before the report. The stock has since recovered to $313.57 on Nov 10, though volume has been lower on the rebound. Analyst activity since the report is mixed. Bernstein raised its target to $352 and JPMorgan to $375, while Citigroup cut its target to $352 from $379 and kept a Buy rating. A 12-month target of $361.25 also appeared. The consensus targets remain above the current price, but the Citigroup cut and the post-earnings fade show the rally has not been fully sustained. The Harrisburg sea trial completion and the Thales autonomous mine countermeasure demonstration support execution and the unmanned systems story, but they are secondary to the earnings and guidance news. The Oct 30 CHRO appointment and the Oct 20 board addition of former CEO Mike Petters have little near-term financial impact.
News behind the analysis
- Citigroup Maintains Buy on Huntington Ingalls Indus, Lowers Price Target to $352Citigroup kept its Buy rating on HII but cut its price target to $352. The target was lowered from $379 on Nov 9.
- Citigroup Adjusts Price Target on Huntington Ingalls Industries to $352 From $379Citigroup lowered its HII price target from $379 to $352. The move came after the stock's post-earnings pullback.
- Analyst Adjusts Price Target for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.An analyst updated the 12-month HII price target to $361.25. The update is one of several target changes after Q3 results.
- HII Completes Builder's Sea Trials for Harrisburg (LPD 30)Ingalls Shipbuilding finished builder's sea trials for Harrisburg, the first Flight II San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock. The milestone supports the shipbuilding program's execution.
- Bernstein Maintains Market Perform on Huntington Ingalls Indus, Raises Price Target to $352Bernstein kept its Market Perform rating and raised its HII price target to $352 from $304. The target increase followed the Q3 results.
- JPMorgan Adjusts Price Target on Huntington Ingalls Industries to $375 From $370JPMorgan kept a Neutral rating and raised its HII price target to $375 from $370. It is the highest target in the recent set of updates.
- HII And Thales Demonstrate End-To-End Autonomous Mine Countermeasure Mission Using Expeditionary PathMaster, REMUS 620 UUV, SAMDIS 600 Sonar And ANGLER NeutralizationHII and Thales demonstrated an end-to-end autonomous mine countermeasure mission using several unmanned and sonar systems. The demonstration highlights HII's unmanned maritime capabilities.
- HII Appoints Renee Swan as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources OfficerHII named Renee Swan as executive vice president and chief human resources officer, effective December 7, 2026. This is a routine executive appointment with no direct financial impact disclosed.
- HII Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial ResultsHII reported $3.5 billion in Q3 2026 revenue and raised its full-year shipbuilding revenue guidance. The results were released in an 8-K filed Oct 29.
About Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is the largest military shipbuilder in the US. Northrop Grumman spun it off in 2011. It is the only company that builds the US Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, and it is one of only two companies that build the Navy's nuclear submarines.
How it makes money
Almost all of HII's revenue comes from the US government, mainly the Navy. It has three segments. Newport News Shipbuilding builds and refuels aircraft carriers and builds Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines with General Dynamics' Electric Boat. Ingalls Shipbuilding builds destroyers, amphibious assault ships and Coast Guard cutters. Mission Technologies provides defense IT, cyber, training and unmanned underwater and surface vessels. Shipbuilding brings in about 80% of sales, roughly $10.5–10.7 billion of the expected 2026 total of about $13–14 billion. Most work is done under long-term government contracts, and the company also pays a quarterly dividend.
What usually moves HII
- US Navy shipbuilding budgets and defense spending bills
- Large contract awards, such as submarine and carrier contracts
- Labor hiring and shipyard production speed
- Profit margins and cost overruns on fixed-price ship contracts
- Supply-chain delays and program schedule problems