We recently published a list of Goldman Sachs Defense Stocks: Top 12 Stock Picks. In this article, we will take a look at where General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) stands against other top defense stock picks from the Goldman Sachs Portfolio.
After a subdued start to the year, American defense stocks are beginning to see improved returns. Investors are buoyed by President Trump’s plans for a $1 trillion defense budget for fiscal 2026, adding to the momentum from last month’s unveiling of the F-47 and announcement to resurrect the country’s shipbuilding industry.
The sector has received another boost after market chatter that tariff negotiations to address trade imbalances could include commitments from foreign countries to buy weapons from the US. In a statement released on April 8, Vietnam’s prime minister asked for a 45-day delay in the imposition of tariffs and stated his country would buy more American goods, including weapons, to tackle the trade gap.
On April 11, Goldman analyst Noah Poponak adjusted his ratings and price targets for defense stocks, and the most notable adjustment was a prominent Navy shipbuilder receiving a double upgrade on the back of an executive order signed by Trump to revitalize the sector. Poponak expects the stock to benefit, with shipbuilding expected to be a high priority within the defense budget.
The firm is known for its expertise in stock recommendations, helping investors identify high-potential companies. GS boasts a vast network of analysts, covers a wide range of stocks. It also has a research team led by analysts and economists from around the world, offering insights on the economy and the broader market.
In a report released in March this year, Goldman Sachs Research projected a significant increase in defense spending by EU member nations. Military expenditure in the euro area accounted for 1.8% of the GDP in 2024, and is projected to rise to 2.4% by 2027. The firm’s analysts estimate the increased spending to positively impact GDP growth, with every €100 spent on defense to boost GDP by approximately €50.
Defense stocks have rallied in Europe this year, as regional capitals unlocked billions to supercharge their militaries. While recent tariffs have sparked a major plunge in shares over the past couple of weeks, this has been a year to remember for several European defense contractors, with significant returns so far in 2025.
With that said, let’s head over to the list of the top defense picks from the Goldman Sachs stock portfolio.
General Dynamics Corporation (GD): One of the Top Defense Stock Picks from the Goldman Sachs Portfolio
A financial adviser looking over a portfolio of securities and stocks.
Methodology
For this article, we scanned Goldman Sachs’ 13F portfolio as of December 31, 2024. From there, we picked the top 12 defense stocks according to their stake value and ranked them in ascending order.
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General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is a leading global aerospace and defense company, operating through its Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies segments.
In March, the company was awarded a $1 billion contract modification from the Department of Defense, allowing its Electric Boat business unit to purchase long-lead-time materials for the Virginia-class submarines. It is the prime contractor and lead design yard for these submarines and constructs them in a teaming arrangement with Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.’s Newport News Shipbuilding.
On April 16, General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD)’s subsidiary, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp, announced that the G800 business jet had received FAA and EASA certifications, which will allow the company to begin customer deliveries of the jet in the United States and Europe.
Despite recent positive developments, several analysts have lowered their price targets for General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) due to concerns over potential tariff headwinds. However, the overall outlook for the company is encouraging, with analysts having a consensus Buy rating for the stock, with an average upside of nearly 10%.
It is also one of the top defense picks from the Goldman Sachs stock portfolio, with the firm’s holdings valued at over $337 million in General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) as of December 31. According to Insider Monkey’s database for Q4 2024, 46 hedge funds held a stake in the company.
Overall, GD ranks 6th among the Goldman Sachs Defense Stocks: Top 12 Stock Picks. While we acknowledge the potential of defense companies, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GD but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
