RTX
RTX
$175.95
+2.79%
RTX Corporation is a premier aerospace and defense manufacturer, formed from the merger of United Technologies and Raytheon, operating through three core segments: Collins Aerospace (diversified aerospace supplier), Pratt & Whitney (commercial and military aircraft engines), and Raytheon (defense prime contractor for missiles, sensors, and communications). The company is a dominant market leader and a critical supplier to both commercial aerospace and global defense markets, leveraging its scale and technological depth. The current investor narrative is heavily driven by heightened global defense spending and specific program wins, as evidenced by recent headlines around multi-billion dollar missile contracts and strategic partnerships for next-generation missile defense systems, though this is juxtaposed against ongoing challenges in its commercial aerospace operations.…
RTX
RTX
$175.95
Related headlines
Investment Opinion: Should I buy RTX Today?
Rating & Thesis: Hold. RTX presents a conflicted picture where strong fundamentals are overshadowed by severe technical damage and valuation concerns, warranting a neutral stance until the price stabilizes or fundamentals reassert dominance. The lack of a clear analyst consensus target and a recent downgrade reinforce caution.
Supporting Evidence: The primary valuation metric, a forward PE of 22.65x, is elevated for the industrials sector but supported by a PEG ratio of 0.91 and expected earnings growth. Revenue growth of 12.09% YoY is robust, and free cash flow generation of $7.94B is a major strength. However, the recent -13.72% one-month price decline and breakdown in technicals signal a loss of investor confidence that fundamentals have yet to counteract.
Risks & Conditions: The two biggest risks are further multiple compression from the high trailing PE and a continuation of the severe technical downtrend. This Hold rating would upgrade to a Buy if the stock finds support above $170 and demonstrates a reversal in momentum, or if the next earnings report shows margin expansion and reaffirms growth guidance. It would downgrade to a Sell if the price breaks below the $170 support level towards the 52-week low, or if quarterly revenue growth decelerates below 8%. The stock is currently fairly valued to slightly overvalued relative to its near-term growth prospects, with the market demanding proof that recent weakness is not fundamental.
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RTX 12-Month Price Forecast
The 12-month outlook for RTX is balanced but skewed with downward bias due to recent momentum. The base case of range-bound trading is most probable (50%), as the company's solid fundamentals battle a damaged technical profile. The bull case (30%) requires a swift reversal of the negative price trend, likely catalyzed by a stellar earnings report. The bear case (20%) is a real threat given the stock's proximity to its lows and high starting valuation. The stance would upgrade to bullish on a confirmed technical reversal above $190 with volume, supported by strong quarterly results. It would turn bearish on a breakdown below $165, signaling the downtrend is fundamental, not technical.
Wall Street consensus
Most Wall Street analysts maintain a constructive view on RTX's 12-month outlook, with a consensus price target around $228.73 and implied upside of +30.0% versus the current price.
Average Target
$228.73
8 analysts
Implied Upside
+30.0%
vs. current price
Analyst Count
8
covering this stock
Price Range
$141 - $229
Analyst target range
Analyst coverage for RTX appears limited in the provided dataset, with only 8 analysts cited for EPS estimates, and no explicit consensus price target, buy/hold/sell distribution, or target range is provided in the analyst data object. This suggests that while RTX is a large-cap company, the specific data points required for a detailed consensus analysis—such as the average target price and implied upside—are not available in this data pull. The available institutional ratings show a mix of Buy/Overweight and Neutral actions from major firms like JP Morgan, Citigroup, and UBS in early 2026, with one notable downgrade from UBS from Buy to Neutral in January 2026. The absence of a clear target range and the recent downgrade signal some caution among analysts, and the limited quantitative target data implies investors should seek more comprehensive coverage summaries to gauge the full breadth of institutional sentiment.
Bulls vs Bears: RTX Investment Factors
The investment case for RTX is a classic tension between strong fundamental tailwinds and severe technical deterioration. The bull case is anchored in robust 12% revenue growth, powerful free cash flow generation, and a dominant position in a geopolitically-driven defense upcycle. However, the bear case is currently more compelling from a price action perspective, with the stock in a severe downtrend, significantly underperforming the market, and trading near its 52-week low despite these positives. The single most important tension is whether the recent price collapse represents a market overreaction to transient issues, creating a value opportunity, or a correct repricing of an overvalued stock whose growth expectations are too high. The resolution hinges on whether upcoming earnings can reaffirm the growth trajectory and halt the momentum breakdown.
Bullish
- Strong Revenue Growth & Defense Demand: Q4 2025 revenue grew 12.09% YoY to $24.24B, driven by broad-based demand across its three segments. Recent news highlights multi-billion dollar missile contracts and strategic partnerships, underpinned by heightened global defense spending.
- Robust Free Cash Flow Generation: The company generates substantial cash, with trailing twelve-month free cash flow of $7.94 billion. This strong cash flow provides financial flexibility for dividends, share buybacks, and strategic investments.
- Attractive Forward PE & PEG Ratio: The forward PE of 22.65x is significantly lower than the trailing PE of 36.54x, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio of 0.91 suggests the stock may be reasonably priced relative to its growth rate.
- Solid Balance Sheet & Profitability: A debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61 indicates a manageable debt load, while a Return on Equity of 10.32% demonstrates efficient capital use. The company remains profitable with a Q4 2025 net margin of 6.69%.
Bearish
- Severe Recent Price Collapse: The stock is down 13.72% over the past month and 14.44% over three months, significantly underperforming the S&P 500. Trading at 48% of its 52-week range ($130.90 to $214.50) signals strong selling pressure and a breakdown in momentum.
- Elevated Trailing Valuation: A trailing PE of 36.54x is near the high end of its multi-year range, suggesting the market had priced in optimistic expectations. This creates a significant risk of multiple compression if growth forecasts are not met.
- Quarterly Profitability Pressure: The Q4 2025 net margin of 6.69% declined from Q3's 8.53%, indicating potential operational headwinds or cost pressures. The gross margin of 19.46% reflects the capital-intensive nature of the business, limiting upside.
- Analyst Caution & Limited Data: Analyst coverage appears limited, with no explicit consensus price target provided. A notable downgrade from UBS (Buy to Neutral) in January 2026 signals growing caution among institutional investors.
RTX Technical Analysis
The stock is in a pronounced downtrend from its recent highs, having declined 13.72% over the past month and 14.44% over the past three months, sharply contrasting with its positive 26.31% gain over the past year. Currently trading at $171.18, the price sits at approximately 48% of its 52-week range ($130.90 to $214.50), indicating it is much closer to its yearly low than its high, which may signal a value opportunity but also reflects significant recent selling pressure and a breakdown from previous consolidation. Recent momentum is decisively negative and diverging from the longer-term uptrend, with the 1-month decline of -13.72% far exceeding the S&P 500's 5.6% gain over the same period, resulting in a severe relative strength reading of -19.31; this suggests the stock is undergoing a significant correction or repricing independent of broader market strength, likely driven by company-specific concerns. Key technical support is at the 52-week low of $130.90, while resistance lies at the recent high near $214.50; a breakdown below the $170 level could accelerate a test of the 52-week low, whereas a recovery above the $200 level would be needed to signal stabilization. The stock's beta of 0.30 indicates it has been significantly less volatile than the market, but the recent price collapse suggests idiosyncratic risk is currently dominating its price action.
Beta
0.30
0.30x market volatility
Max Drawdown
-19.3%
Largest decline past year
52-Week Range
$131-$215
Price range past year
Annual Return
+29.9%
Cumulative gain past year
| Period | RTX Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | -10.4% | +4.0% |
| 3m | -13.5% | +8.2% |
| 6m | +1.3% | +11.5% |
| 1y | +29.9% | +24.3% |
| ytd | -6.0% | +8.3% |
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RTX Fundamental Analysis
Revenue growth remains robust, with Q4 2025 revenue of $24.24 billion representing a 12.09% year-over-year increase, continuing a multi-quarter acceleration from Q1 2025's $20.31 billion; segment data shows a balanced contribution with Pratt & Whitney at $17.13 billion, Collins Aerospace at $15.36 billion, and Raytheon Intelligence & Space at $14.66 billion for the latest period, indicating broad-based demand across commercial aerospace and defense. The company is profitable, with Q4 2025 net income of $1.62 billion and a net margin of 6.69%, though gross margin of 19.46% reflects the capital-intensive nature of the business; sequentially, the Q4 net margin of 6.69% declined from Q3's 8.53%, indicating some quarterly profitability pressure, but it remains solidly positive. The balance sheet is manageable with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, and the company generates substantial cash, evidenced by trailing twelve-month free cash flow of $7.94 billion; the current ratio of 1.03 indicates adequate short-term liquidity, and a Return on Equity of 10.32% demonstrates reasonable efficiency in generating profits from shareholder capital.
Quarterly Revenue
$24.2B
2025-12
Revenue YoY Growth
+0.12%
YoY Comparison
Gross Margin
+0.19%
Latest Quarter
Free Cash Flow
$7.9B
Last 12 Months
Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)
Revenue Breakdown
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Valuation Analysis: Is RTX Overvalued?
Given a positive net income, the primary valuation metric is the Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio. The trailing PE is elevated at 36.54x, while the forward PE is substantially lower at 22.65x, indicating the market expects significant earnings growth to materialize over the next year, partially justifying the current price. Compared to the Industrials sector, a forward PE of 22.65x likely trades at a premium to the broader market average (often around 18-20x), a premium that may be justified by RTX's dual exposure to resilient defense budgets and a recovering commercial aerospace cycle, though recent price weakness suggests this premium is contracting. Historically, the stock's own trailing PE has ranged dramatically, from below 20x in early 2023 to over 38x in late 2025; the current 36.54x is near the higher end of this multi-year range, suggesting the market had priced in very optimistic expectations which are now being reassessed, creating potential for multiple compression if growth forecasts are tempered.
PE
36.5x
Latest Quarter
vs. Historical
Low-End
5-Year PE Range -26x~299x
vs. Industry Avg
N/A
Industry PE ~N/A*
EV/EBITDA
21.6x
Enterprise Value Multiple
Investment Risk Disclosure
Financial & Operational Risks: RTX faces profitability pressure, as evidenced by the sequential decline in net margin from 8.53% in Q3 to 6.69% in Q4 2025. While the balance sheet is manageable with a 0.61 debt-to-equity ratio, the company's operations are capital-intensive, reflected in a gross margin of just 19.46%. Revenue, though growing, is subject to the cyclicality of both commercial aerospace and government defense budgets, creating earnings volatility. The valuation relies on continued high growth to justify its premium forward PE of 22.65x, which is above typical industrials multiples.
Market & Competitive Risks: The primary market risk is valuation compression. The stock's trailing PE of 36.54x is at the high end of its historical range, making it vulnerable to de-rating if growth disappoints. While its low beta of 0.30 suggests lower market correlation, the recent -19.31% relative strength vs. the S&P 500 over one month shows it is facing severe company-specific repricing. Competitive risks include disruption from newer defense contractors and potential supply chain issues, as highlighted by news regarding rare earth metal dependencies. Sector rotation away from industrials in a rising rate environment is an additional macro threat.
Worst-Case Scenario: The worst-case scenario involves a combination of a defense budget slowdown, persistent issues in commercial aerospace, and a failure to meet elevated earnings expectations, triggering multiple compression. This could be exacerbated by a broader market downturn. In this adverse scenario, the stock could realistically retest its 52-week low of $130.90, representing a downside of approximately -23.5% from the current price of $171.18. A drawdown to this level would be consistent with the stock's recent max drawdown of -19.32% and the absence of strong analyst price support in the provided data.
FAQ
The key risks are: 1) Valuation & Momentum Risk: The high trailing PE of 36.54x creates vulnerability to multiple compression, exacerbated by the severe -13.72% one-month price decline. 2) Operational Risk: Sequential decline in net margin (Q3 8.53% to Q4 6.69%) indicates potential cost pressures or inefficiencies. 3) Sector & Macro Risk: Dependence on government defense budgets (subject to political shifts) and cyclical commercial aerospace demand. 4) Sentiment Risk: Limited analyst coverage and a recent downgrade (UBS to Neutral) reflect growing institutional caution. The momentum risk is currently the most acute.
The 12-month forecast presents three scenarios. The Base Case (50% probability) sees the stock trading between $170 and $195, as steady growth battles recent negative momentum. The Bull Case (30% probability), targeting $200 to $214, requires earnings beats and a recovery in investor sentiment. The Bear Case (20% probability), targeting $130 to $165, involves growth disappointment and a test of the 52-week low. The base case is most likely, implying limited near-term upside from the current ~$171 price until the technical picture improves. The key assumption is that defense spending remains resilient enough to support current earnings estimates.
RTX sends mixed valuation signals. Its trailing Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio of 36.54x is elevated and near the high end of its historical range, suggesting overvaluation based on past earnings. However, its forward PE of 22.65x and PEG ratio of 0.91 point to a more reasonable valuation relative to expected growth. Compared to the broader industrials sector, a forward PE in the low 20s likely represents a slight premium, justified by its defense exposure but challenged by recent performance. The market is currently re-pricing the stock from an optimistic premium to a more cautious level.
RTX is a Hold, not a clear Buy at this moment. While its fundamentals are strong with 12% revenue growth and robust free cash flow, the stock is in a severe technical downtrend, down over 13% in a month. The valuation is at a crossroads with a high trailing PE but a more reasonable forward PE. It could be a good buy for very patient, long-term investors who believe the defense spending cycle has years to run and are willing to average in during weakness. However, traders and those sensitive to volatility should wait for a confirmed bottom in the price action.
RTX is primarily suitable for a long-term investment horizon of 3-5 years. Its low beta of 0.30 indicates lower long-term volatility versus the market, and its business model is tied to multi-year defense and aerospace cycles. However, the extreme short-term volatility (-14.44% over 3 months) makes it a poor candidate for short-term trading. The dividend yield of 1.45% provides a modest income component for holders. Investors should be prepared to hold through cyclical swings and require a minimum horizon of 18-24 months to allow the fundamental growth story and potential multiple expansion to play out.

