We recently published a list of Goldman Sachs Defense Stocks: Top 12 Stock Picks. In this article, we will take a look at where TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) 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.
TransDigm Group Incorporated (TDG): One of the Top Defense Stock Picks from the Goldman Sachs Portfolio
An aerial view of an aircraft factory, showing a flurry of activity on the factory floor.
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.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) manufactures engineered aircraft components for commercial and military aircraft. It is one of the top defense picks from the Goldman Sachs stock portfolio.
On February 4, the company reported strong results for Q1 FY25, with net income surging 29% year-over-year to $493 million, while net sales increased 12% from last year to $2,006 million. Adjusted EPS was logged at $7.83, in line with expectations and up 9% from the prior year’s quarter.
Recent strategic acquisitions are positioning the company well for long-term growth, including major increases in future revenue. In June 2024, TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) acquired Communications & Power Industries’ Electron Device business, which manufactures electronic components and subsystems for the aerospace and defense industry. Later in July, it completed the acquisition of Raptor Scientific, a leading provider of complex text and manufacturing solutions.
TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) is an important player in the aerospace and defense industry, enjoying significant pricing power. Andvari Associates stated the following regarding the company in its Q1 2025 investor letter:
“TransDigm is a business with extreme pricing power. They make hundreds of different parts that go into commercial and military aircraft. Because TransDigm owns the intellectual property or is the sole source provider of nearly all its products, it can easily raise price increases when there is inflation or when its costs rise.”
Wall Street analysts are bullish on the stock, with a consensus Buy rating and an average share price upside potential of nearly 10%. According to Insider Monkey’s database for Q4 2024, 69 hedge funds held a stake in TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG).
Overall, TDG ranks 8th 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 TDG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
