May 27, 2025 a 05:00 pm
HII: Analysts Ratings - Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) operates within a complex defense and shipbuilding sector, providing a broad range of services, including nuclear and non-nuclear ship construction for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. The company enjoys a significant, albeit competitive, position due to its specialized capabilities. Analyst ratings for HII suggest a mixed sentiment, reflecting industry challenges and regulatory dependencies influencing corporate performance.
Historical Stock Grades
| Recommendation | Count | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 2 | |
| Buy | 2 | |
| Hold | 8 | |
| Sell | 0 | |
| Strong Sell | 1 |
Sentiment Development
The sentiment for HII has been relatively stable, with a strong inclination towards holding the stock. Over recent months, there has been a slight increase in the 'Hold' recommendation, indicating analysts are cautious. While 'Strong Buy' and 'Buy' ratings have slightly fluctuated, this stability aligns with industry uncertainties.
- The total number of ratings has seen minor fluctuations but generally remains stable.
- A decline in 'Strong Buy' ratings was observed early in the period, followed by a recent small increase.
- 'Hold' ratings have consistently been the largest category, indicating a neutral stance by analysts.
Percentage Trends
The percentage distribution of analyst ratings shows a noteworthy shift from aggressive buying to a more cautionary stance. This is evident through an increase in 'Hold' ratings over the past few months.
- 'Strong Buy' percentages decreased from 2024 through early 2025, but have recently shown a slight recovery.
- 'Buy' ratings have seen a minor reduction, stabilizing around 20% of total ratings.
- Both 'Sell' and 'Strong Sell' remain low, demonstrating confidence in holding long-term positions rather than divesting.
- Analysts appear to demonstrate increasing caution, moving from optimistic decisions to maintaining existing positions.
Latest Analyst Recommendations
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-05 | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Barclays |
| 2025-05-02 | Buy | Buy | Goldman Sachs |
| 2025-04-11 | Buy | Sell | Goldman Sachs |
| 2025-02-10 | Sell | Sell | Goldman Sachs |
| 2025-02-10 | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Barclays |
Analyst Recommendations with Change of Opinion
Major shifts in analyst opinions are evident in several recent upgrades and downgrades. Notably, an upgrade from 'Sell' to 'Buy' by Goldman Sachs marks a positive outlook shift.
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-11 | Buy | Sell | Goldman Sachs |
| 2024-11-01 | Hold | Buy | TD Cowen |
| 2024-11-01 | Neutral | Overweight | Alembic Global |
| 2024-10-10 | Hold | Buy | Vertical Research |
| 2024-10-10 | Peer Perform | Outperform | Wolfe Research |
Interpretation
Current market assessments of Huntington Ingalls Industries seem rather cautious. The overall sentiment, dominated by 'Hold' ratings, suggests analysts perceive limited immediate upside potential, potentially due to industry-specific risks or broader economic concerns. The significant number of recent upgrades and downgrades indicates variability in market confidence, suggesting a period of reassessment. Consequently, while optimism exists, it is tempered with caution, emphasizing stability over aggressive growth expectations.
Conclusion
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. remains a key player in the defence and shipbuilding industry, backed by strong traditional naval contracts. However, despite a wave of recent industry upgrades, sentiment indicates a cautious optimism, tempered by potential challenges, including geopolitical tensions and changes in defense spending. Analysts appear to be leaning towards stable and conservative recommendations, reflecting a blend of long-term confidence supported by cautious near-term forecasts, suggesting potential growth with low immediate risks.