In recent years, particularly under the current administration as of early 2026, the U.S.

For the defense and mining industries, 2025 was a standout year. The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF BATS: ITA tracks the performance of a basket of over 40 U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

We are transitioning from a globalization-focused world to one prioritizing resilience, autarky, and supply chain security. Heightened geopolitical risks and deglobalization support investment in defense, resource, and infrastructure sectors for portfolio resilience. Stock exchange operators, defense contractors, resource producers, and infrastructure enablers are positioned to benefit from this new world order.

Aerospace-Defense stocks like LHX, HII and LUNR are poised to gain from increased defense spending and rising global air travel.

The president ordered future contracts to ensure base salaries for defense company CEOs are capped at current levels if contractors fail to perform.

A massive policy shift just sent an unexpected signal to income investors. Some of the biggest winners from Trump's defense budget proposal may not be who everyone thinks they are. My portfolio was built for this, and the market hasn't noticed yet.

The geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically as of Jan. 5, 2026. Following the collapse of the Argyle Accords and the failure of diplomatic channels regarding the Essequibo region, the U.S. Department of Defense has initiated military operations in Venezuela.

The U.S. government is increasingly funding deficits with short-term debt, making interest expenses highly sensitive to Fed policy. A declining average maturity in the sovereign bond index tightens the link between fiscal and monetary policy, amplifying market complexity. Artificially subdued long-term bond supply likely keeps long-term yields lower than they would be with more balanced issuance.

The Trump administration is planning an executive order that would limit dividends, buybacks and executive pay for defense contractors that are over-budget and delayed, according to three sources briefed on the order.

Subscribers to  Chart of the Week  received this commentary on Sunday, November 2.