Is Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) the Best Defense Dividend Stock to Buy?

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) is among the 7 Best Defense Dividend Stocks to Buy. On December 12, Citigroup initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $376.

As of the close of business on December 22, Wall Street analysts have a consensus Moderate Buy rating on the stock, with a one-year average share price target of $331.33, representing a downside of 6%.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) is considered to be a major dividend payer in the defense industry, with the shipbuilder having consistently increased its payout every year since 2013, according to information available on the company’s website. It has a dividend yield of 1.56% as of December 22.

In October, the defense contractor announced to increase its quarterly cash dividend by three cents to $1.38 per share. The amount was paid to shareholders on December 12, 2025.

In other news, on December 19, the company was chosen by the U.S. Navy to design and manufacture a new class of small surface combatant (SSC) ship. The stock market responded positively to the news, with shares surging 5% on Monday to close at $353.52.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) is an American defense company with expertise in shipbuilding.

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