Huntington Ingalls Secures $1.47B Deal To Construct LPD 30

Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:HII) has recently secured a $1.47-billion modification contract for the construction of Landing Platform Dock (LPD) 30, the 14th amphibious transport dock of the San Antonio (LPD 17) class. The contract was awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC.

Majority of the work related to this deal will be performed in Pascagoula, MS, and is scheduled to be over by February 2025. The company will utilize fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds for the task.

San-Antonio Class Ships & LPD 30

With a length of 684 feet and width of 105 feet, the San Antonio-class ships are designed to deliver equipment and supplies ashore to the U.S. Navy, using air cushion or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles. These, in turn, are supported by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey.

The LPD 17 class ships replace the functions of more than 41 amphibious ships, and provide the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, networked and
survivable sea-based platforms. Impressively, the construction of the newest LPD 30 is expected to further strengthen the Navy and Marine Corps’ future warfare requirements.

Our View

The fiscal 2019 defense budget provisioned for shipbuilding investment of $18.4 billion. Huntington Ingalls specializes in manufacturing amphibious
assault and expeditionary ships. The company also provides more than 70% ships to the U.S. Navy. Therefore, such budgetary developments should enable the company to procure more significant contracts related to ship construction, like the latest one.

Interestingly, per Technavio, the global naval shipbuilding market is expected to see a CAGR of 2% from 2019 to 2023. This, in turn, should increase the demand for various assault ships, including the LPD’s. Huntington Ingalls, being a major shipbuilding giant, should benefit from such favorable projections, going forward.

Price Performance

Shares of Huntington Ingalls have plunged about 20.2% in a year compared with the industry’s decline of 4.6%.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Huntington Ingalls currently carries Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the same sector are The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) , Spirit Aerosystems Holdings (NYSE:SPR) and Heico Corporation (NYSE:HEI) .

While Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Heico carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Boeing came up with average positive earnings surprise of 17.08% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has risen 11.3% to $20.13 in the past 90 days.

Spirit Aerosystems’ long-term growth estimates currently stand at 7.80%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has risen 3.7% to $7.56 in the past 90 days.

Heico Corporation’s long-term growth estimates currently stand at 12.10%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has risen 5.9% to $2.14 in the past 90 days.

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